Of special note: If you can help with a house concert in San Francisco on April 2nd, let me know. See the newsletter for more details.

It has been a wild couple of months. I’m not complaining.. just saying.
I am looking forward to the few scheduled shows coming up and getting back to recording.

One thing I’ve tried to internalize is that momentum can be established quickly by better monitor and control of your schedule.

This past month, with several projects hitting at once, I found that it eased my mind to put away all my recording gear. The fact is, having it available was a constant reminder that I wasn’t getting to it – and would not be able to dedicate the time to focus on it for awhile.

The schedule is still a bit hectic but we have created some space (both physically and time-wise) to re-initiate the recording project.

Additionally, I have started interviewing/auditioning band-members. I’ll be looking to perform with a full-band or some accompaniment by March 27th – the Oak Park Farmer’s Market gig.

Look for a new “behind the song” post soon. All about songs and lyrics and how they came about.

~ Matt

from a house concert in Arizona

My latest newsletter is available – read it here.

It includes lyrics and information on a couple recordings and house concert information. Most important, my new “One Page Guide to House Concerts”.

It also has a link to a video of me performing a new song, Decision Road

The past couple years have been, if nothing else, “introspective” – sometimes painfully so.

This song, Decision Road, was written early one morning – driven by two lines..
”One step forward, two steps back, it seems the way I go.

Navigate life’s messy path, the only way I know”

Lyrics & Video below:

Decision Road – video.
recorded on December 3, 2009 – 6:00AM – in my room…

Decision Road
Copyright 2009 (c) – Matthew Moran – Sounds Like Life

VERSE
One step forward, two steps back, it seems the way I go
Navigate life’s messy path the only way I know

I don’t seek forgiveness
I don’t pray for my mortal soul
I don’t make excuses
I just keep dragging my bones down Decision Road

VERSE
Is love just a warm caress that time turns dark and cold
Is sugar sweet just bitterness at the final curtain call

I just wanted your soft kiss
I just wanted a hand to hold
I just wanted devotion
Now I just want to carry my heart down Decision Road

BRIDGE
& every night I face my demons
Mistakes & regrets I can’t let go
& with the light, life and the living
One more event I can’t control

VERSE
With each mistake a lesson learned, I’ve filled my textbook full
With each word I’ve had to eat, I’ve swallowed that crow whole

I’m asking forgiveness
Please pray for my mortal soul
Take my excuses
& help me find me way down Decision Road

One of the items on my plan – a logical next step – is for me to open for some more established acts. I am still booking some shows on my own and will be announcing some house concerts in the next several weeks but am also starting discussions with some booking agents about opening for one or more of their acts..

I hope to leverage and offer assistance with their artists web updates, social media, editing and publishing video, and more. For the more established act, they could have video and images from a performance being added to their website during – and within hours of completing their show.

Really, with my laptop and a video camera at a show, I could be getting pictures of and from their fans, and publishing them in an online album or on Facebook – tagging that person at the same time. This is a great way to get the fan even more engaged.

In poking around online over the past several months, it is surprising how many great acts do not have much presence here. And so, an idea was born.

In return I will have the opportunity to play a 6-8 song set to open their show, have merchandise available, and build my personal mailing list. My hope is to create the ultimate win-win and build great connections with forward thinking artist and music professionals.

I’ve already starting talking to some “friends” of another artist – who might be able to use me in this capacity plus as a rhythm guitarist/accompanist for their set.

Look for more announcements soon. While you are here, sign up for my mailing list or connect with me at one of the social media below..

twitter	facebook	facebook	Myspace
youtube		reverbnation

next para

Check it out here:

In it I announce the work I am doing on my house concert resource page. I am greatly simplifying it because there are many of you who do not know what a house concert is or have expressed fear out how much work they must be.

They really aren’t a lot of work. Think casual, think fun, think unique.

I also update everyone on the progress of the CD, tomorrow’s showcase in Westminster, some other upcoming plans, and the song, “Little Bit of Everything” from the prior entry.

A Little Bit of Everything
Copyright © 2009 – Matthew Moran (Sounds  Like Life Music)

And a pure audio recording:

Lyrics below..

A Little Bit of Everything
Copyright © Matthew Moran (Sounds Like Life Music)

VERSE
She’s the midday sun, it burns me with its heat
She is midnight when the darkness calls to me
She’s the sunrise casting light across my eyes
She is sunset with the promises of the night
(Chorus)

CHORUS
She’s a little bit
She’s a little bit
She’s a little bit of everything
{repeat}

She’s an argument on a crowded city street
She’s making up and making love and oh so sweet
She’s her hair a mess on a rainy afternoon
She’s a fantasy when she walks into the room
(Chorus)

-acoustic bridge

She’s a martini in a little black evening dress
She’s tequila when she puts me to the test
She is fine red wine having dinner with some friends
She’s Sangria with her toes stuck in the sand
(Chorus)

She’s a book half read, you never reach the end
She’s a song I sing and I’ll sing it once again
She’s a villain full of danger and charm
She’s a lover, so inviting, soft, and warm
(Chorus)

~ view online ~

In it, I discussed some of the challenges I had with my current recording and a rush of creativity.
 
I’m writing a lot of new songs – and while I am happy with the output, it sort of seemed to be derailing me from recording the current CD.
 
The fact is, it really isn’t derailing me. I am making headway with the new CD. A friend and fellow songwriter (Jim Pipkin) said to me, “Don’t bemoan the muse, Matt. She can be a jealous bitch!”

I’ll take his word for it. He’s been writing songs a lot longer than I have.

As a side note: I mentioned that my muse looks like Raquel Welch in 1 Million Years BC. He replied that I was lucky – his looked like Ma Barker.

Also, in fairness to the recording schedule, I have been interviewing/meeting with potential band-members. They have all expressed a desire to be part of the recorded project – and that makes sense.

So rather than simply plow through the recording process, I wrote up chord charts, arrangement ideas, and made demos for them to listen to and work out their respective parts.

One of them is recording at his home studio – remotely collaborating. The other, a female vocalist, is hopefully going to come by this weekend to record.

Needless to say, I really am not bemoaning the muse. Whether she looks like mine or Jim’s, as long as she feeds the mind and pushes the fingers, I’ll welcome her in.

The question are very much the same as non-songwriters…

What is a house concert? How do you book a house concert? How do you organize a house concert?

Fortunately, there are a ton of resources on the web, on youtube, and elsewhere.

I wrote a simple House Concert Resource Page and downloadable guide to make it simple for listeners to organize and schedule a house concert but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

The short answer to the above questions are:

What is a house concert?
An actual concert (not a party) where friends, family, fans, and lovers of music listen to and support a songwriter. Typically, it involves donations (not tickets), 2 40-45 minute sets, and a break for the songwriter to talk to listeners (connect) and perhaps sell CD’s and other merchandise.

How do you book a house concert?
There are standard house concert “venues” – where they book musicians regularly (perhaps 8-10 a year) but, if you wish to make this a mainstay of your music career, reach out to current listeners, family, and friends. Book them on your own and make sure you build your mailing list as you do. Attendees to a show are your future house concert host.

How do you organize a house concert?
I’ve played house concerts where the host rent tents, chairs, and lights for outside and others where I play in a small living room to 20 people. You do not have to make it such a production that it is a burden.

Put out some snacks – if you are going to allow alcohol – ask guest to bring a bottle of wine.

Invitations can be simply emailed (EVITE.COM, EventBrite.com,etc.) or you can print them up. My guide has some sample language – but I am sure you can come up with your own.

My advice is to make it simple but follow up. I always try to make myself available to help my hosts with their invites.

If you have any questions, look at my house concert page (link above) or simply contact me…