I also mention The Fallen Stars and their new CD, Jim Pipkin’s bumper stickers, and house concerts – which are a great way to support songwriters and put on a unique and cool event.

I also discuss our upcoming show at The Talking Stick with Rick Mizuno’s Indie Roadshow, and introduce you to my song, Escape. You can hear, see, and read about the song here.

I have this dream to own a 45 foot sailboat and leaving from Mallory Square, the Southernmost tip of the United States, and heading down to the islands. I call it my “Jimmy Buffett Mecca”.

I was thinking about that one day and thought, “I’m going to write an island song.” And while I favor myself as the protagonist in this song, I don’t smoke dope, have bonds to turn into cash, or drink rum. But I like my character and I even like my femme fatale, Belize – whose swaying to the music lets you know everything you need to know.

The lyrics are below the video – and on the video as well. Enjoy!

Escape
Copyright © 2010 – Matthew Moran

VERSE:
I’ve got this old duffle bag full of Colombian stash
Made a trip to the bank, turned my bonds into cash
Cuz I got me this Captain and he got him a boat
Gonna make my escape and keep my dreams afloat, keep my dreams afloat

Cuz this man’s gotta be what this man’s always been
I’m a dreamer of dreams, I’m a lover, a friend
And I make no excuses, so excuse me my faults
It’s safer asking forgiveness than permission I’m told, then permission I’m told

CHORUS:
Am I losing ground or winning it back
Have I lost my way or am I on the right track
I’ve taken some falls. Imagine that
Been handed some bruises now I’m giving them back (givin’ ‘em back)

VERSE:
Well the bartender told me her name was Belize
The way she swayed to the music it was easy to see
That she was promise and danger. She’s salvation and sin.
She’s a whirlpools pull and I was falling right in, I was falling right in

I’d love to tell you about passion. I’d love to tell you about love
But past our 2nd dance you know I don’t recall much
When those 3 local boys darkened the door to this bar
You know I should have stopped dancing, it would have been the wise call, would have been the wise call

VERSE:
I woke up on the beach to the sounds of the sea
It seems Belize and the boys they got the better of me
My head it aches from the rum, my body aches from the fight
And from the what I can’t recall it was one hell of a night, it was one hell of a night

Now my pockets are empty, my stash blown to the wind
and like a sail through the storm my dreams are tattered and thin
but I know me a captain and he’s in need of a crew
So when you make your escape I might be shuttling you, I might be shuttling you.

I discuss our upcoming gigs, CD’s, and a few other things. Enjoy!

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The Tribal Cafe in Los Angeles

This is an impromptu acoustic show. Last week, Anita Lee, who puts together a monthly event called Stone Soup invited me and the band to come down this Saturday and perform. Alas.. the band won’t be able to make it, so it is just me and my guitar.. and some songs… and a few CD’s… and.. you?

Stone Soup? I don’t know much about it either – but if you are familiar with the story.. it is a mixture of this and of that – and voila – tasty! I believe she has spoken word artist, perhaps some other musicians, and who knows what else. So.. make a day of it, come down for a veggie burrito or a smoothy and chill.

Looking at the picture of the Tribal Café, it has an almost movie set appearance to it. Marlon Hoffman – a fellow songwriter – turned me onto it and says the insides make for a perfect photo opp.

Details:

The Tribal Café  - Stone Soup (3pm-7pm)
I’m playing music at 5:00PM
http://www.tribalcafe.com
1651 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA  90026

As a technology and online presence consultant, I whole-heartedly agree. But as I read it, I thought about songwriting as well.

I get the chance to hear a lot of artist – either when I speak to a songwriting group or online in discussion groups or with email.  Many times I’ll hear someone’s music and their clear desire and push to be “different” or “experimental.” At the same time, they will bemoan the fact that they cannot find listeners.

They believe it is because “listeners” just don’t get it. That the fault with the lackluster response their music gets is a lack of understanding or sophistication of the listener. Don’t get me wrong.. I’m not against the idea of someone learning to appreciate other musical styles by taking the time to listen, learn the nuances, etc.

Many years ago, a sociology teacher brought a tape (does that date me) of a-tonal and  a-rhythmic music to our class. I’ll be honest.. it was not listenable. It was noise. Under the guise of exposure to a cultural experience.. to appreciate what an individual wanted to create, I was subjected to noise for 20 minutes.. well… more than noise, there were notes.. but it might as well have been a child randomly hitting various instruments.

I have no great desire to experiment with “music”… I’m more interested in “listenable” music. I’m not against stylistic experimentation – and mixing and matching forms. But in the end, listeners – or the lack thereof – are telling you something.

Experimentation for the sake of “being different” rarely produces something that is listenable – and I would suggest – rarely produces something worth producing.

Frameworks are not the enemy

One of the pieces of advice I give songwriters (and writers) for that matter is to write to a simple, tried and true, form.

Essay:

5 paragraphs with each paragraph being 5 sentences. 3 primary points – 1 per each body paragraph. A 1 paragraph intro and a 1 paragraph conclusion. Simple.

Song:

Verse – two 4 line stanzas, Chorus – 4 lines, Verse – 2 4 line stanza , Chorus, break, Chorus.

Yep.. not real original. No experimentation. But.. an economy of words and space force the issue of conveying your message. Also, listeners know (mostly) what’s coming. You can vary it by throwing in a bridge before or after the break.

Songwriters have effectively reached listeners with this form for years – and continue to.  Once you’ve reached listeners with that form – once you’ve proven your ability to convey the message and engage your fans – then you can experiment. They’ll be more receptive to it.

I suspect you’ll find that you can do a LOT of great things within a standard framework.

The other benefit of a framework, in writing or music, is that when you remove the question of what is the framework, you are left only with the creative process of generating ideas and words. It is actually very liberating to work within a framework. It lends itself to creativity rather than hindering it.

That’ my opinion! Your mileage may vary.

I got back from my short trip out to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City a couple weeks ago. I’ve been remiss on writing and posting my recap. So.. here it is.

Vegas Baby – Freakin’ Workshops and Freakin’ Music

I got into Vegas and spoke at Sam Ash Music for Songsalive! I met Candace Kruse and the rest of the Songsalive! Vegas team. We discussed booking, promotion, social media, blah blah blah.. Then I got to review and critique some songs. I performed “South to Mexico” and spoke about my songwriting process.

The next day I spoke at The International Pizza Expo and then on Thursday evening, I performed at The Freakin’ Frog.

“The Frog” is a cool off-strip venue in Vegas. Interestingly enough, after I got booked there a couple years ago I discovered it was owned by a friend from High School. So, I got the chance to sit with him for an hour or so and catch up on old times.

Lodging with Vampires

I left late Thursday evening and drove North toward’s Salt Lake. In Mesquite I stopped at a Casino to get a cheap room. They were completely booked but were booking some $20 overflow rooms in the now closed Oasis casino.

It was weird because it was almost 3:00AM. At the first casino – the one with no rooms, they looked at my license and took a $20 bill for the room. No deposit. I was told there were no amenities. Basically, a bed, running water, clean towels, and a clock.

I drove back to the Oasis – found my way to their parking garage..  It was dimly lit, demolition everywhere. I parked and walked through the parking structure – realizing that it was mostly vacant. It looked like the precise spot you die in a horror movie. I kept moving…

Then I got into the hotel lobby – signs indicating everything was closed. The carpet was tattered and folded over. Down a long-hallway to my room.. there was the occasional paper or Styrofoam cup on the floor and other debris.

I looked over my shoulder, back up the hall, half-expecting some werewolf looking creature to be waiting there.. not to mention my fear that two young girls were going to appear in the hall and ask me to play with them, forever and ever and ever..

As it turns out, I survived the night without a vampire or bed bug bite.. so all was well. Fortunately, Pam, my house concert host in Salt Lake provided my wakeup call and got me back on the road so I would make it to Salt Lake in time for the evening’s performance.

Salt Lake City and MusicGarage.org

I made it up to Salt Lake and that evening played a small house concert type gig at MusicGarage.org.  It was going to be a house concert but we moved the venue to Steve Auerbach’s place at his request. Very cool room and as you can see, his dog Buddy loves the stage as well.

The next night I performed as part of a benefit back at the MusicGarage.org.

Then I stayed up until about 3 in the morning talking with my ex ex sister-in-law and her daughter. Ex ex, as in, my ex-wife’s brother’s ex-wife… :-/  family…

We talked about songwriting and I’m going to write another blog entry about my experience songwriting while driving… Suffice to say, I wrote lyrics for 3 different songs this trip. Two on my way from Los Angeles to Vegas. One – Ashley’s song – on my drive back from Salt Lake to Los Angeles.

More on this later. Plus the band is going to be performing several times in the next couple months, so look for those blog entries too.

We’ll refer to this as the first of a Kitchen Concert Series. Find the lyrics below the video:

Next Song

Copyright © 2010 – Matthew Moran (All rights reserved)

VERSE 1
I wrote a song about when we first met
I wrote a song about our first kiss
I wrote a song about breakin’ up
I wrote a song about makin’ up

CHORUS:
But you look so beautiful
as the sun sinks in the sky
Baby let’s write the next song tonight

VERSE 2
I wrote a song about having kids
I wrote a song about losing friends
I wrote a song about the sweetest things
I wrote a song that don’t mean anything

BRIDGE:
And every note I ever wrote  seems to come down to
This moment here with you.  Our hearts beat perfect time
And I can’t let go, so I’ll let you know, I love you

VERSE 3
I wrote a song about unfaithfulness
I wrote a song when my life’s a mess
I wrote a song about a broken heart
I wrote a song about a brand new start

VERSE 4
I wrote a song to dance to late at night.
I wrote a song about the morning light.
I wrote a song but it was out of tune.
I wrote a song that ended way to soon.

First, I got sick right at Thanksgiving and it carried through most of December. Second, I had to address some business requirements for my coaching and writing the 2^nd edition to my career book.

A third reason was to assess and plan what this year is going to look like. More on this later this week.

Independent Music Conference Recap

I spoke at the Independent Music Conference organized by Noel Ramos. It took place at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and was a great event. The second day of the conference, I attended performance and vocal coach Steven Memel’s workshop. I wrote about that here in Embrace Your Inner Rockstar.

My topic: Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media – can be found here as 4 videos.

That night, the band performed at the IMC showcase. (see photos below). More importantly, I expanded “Team Matt”.

The Team

I am working with Steven Memel on a few things. I am serving as a coach and mentor to him on Online Presence/Social Media. He is working with me on my vocals and performance dynamics. We are mentoring each other on some of the coaching and speaking we both do and can see the huge potential in this relationship.

I also met producer Steven Leavitt at the conference. We connected recently – he is looking for some social media and online presence ideas and guidance – both for his business and some artists he is associated with.. I am seeking a producer’s ear on our recordings.

I am interviewing some people for the role of Booking & Marketing Assistant – both for solo and band gigs.

Photos from the Independent Music Conference Showcase

Australian songwriter, Fiona Porch, attended the IMC conference and showcase. She sent me these photos from the band’s performance. Thanks Fiona.

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Kali at her post

Becky’s son Ian just returned from Iraq. During his time there, I would listen to the two of them talk. This some came out of those conversations.

Right now, the band and I are in the studio recording this song with the goal of releasing it as a single. The plan is to find a charity through the VA or USO to provide a portion of any proceeds to an organization supporting and assisting the troops.

…

This Star-spangled Life of Mine

Copyright © 2011 – Matthew Moran

I’ve included a video of me performing the song the morning after I wrote it.

VERSE:
Boots on the ground
Dust in the air
Sometimes I wake up at night and think what the hell am I doing here

But day after day
I toe the line
Dreamin’ about the girl back home, my family, and those friends of mine

CHORUS:
Some days I’m lonely, some days I’m scared
Most days I’m just bored out of my mind
I’ve seen the red glare of rockets, bombs bursting in air
I pray that proof will see me through the night

I’m not trying to be a hero. I’m just trying to survive
This Star-Spangled Life of Mine

VERSE:
My buddies John and Del,
Both served their time
One is pushing paper down in New Orleans, one is pushing up daisies in Birmingham

I promised both I’d visit (them)
It’s what I hope to do
A promise born of selfishness. I hope to God I make it through

BRIDGE:
This is for the ones who never make it home
This is for the ones who do but leave something of themselves behind
This is for the prayers of those who wait for the return
The fear, the pride, the worry, and the love….