Oblivion And The State Of The Rock Album

We did it.  We made a full length "story album" that clocks in at 57 minutes or so.  The story is called The Beginning Of The Endless Search For Oblivion and I'm really proud of it. It was NOT easy to make.  I think part of the pressure was that it had a format and structure throughout that hour long period that needed fierce attention or run the risk of being a weak link in a nice looking chain.  Now in the making of this album, or maybe even before, it dawned on me how dead the album format itself seems and how individual works seem much more practical for many reasons in the current day.  This is convenient as the next record I was planning was consisting of a bunch of songs anyway.  Now, instead of pressuring myself, locked into the need to put 12+ songs together, I can just release all sorts of different things periodically as they get finished. I never run out of ideas and at this point couldn't imagine stopping recording and creating...There is now enough material in the bucket to play a 2 hour + rock show of all original music.  By the time a few new songs are recorded, some songs would have to be dropped in order to make it in time.  Anyway, there's been no urgency in booking the band so I'm still sorting out who will play what in a live scenario and will continue to rehearse with whoever's around....on Wednesday nights.  Have been offered some cool playing opportunities where I can do original music only, which is my deal.  More on that to come.  It will be original Carribean flavored music played on classical guitar. Another project I have planned includes mainly drumming and singing.  By the way, don't get it twisted, there will be more albums that I will do, but while the state of music consumption is in such flux, best to stay loose, certainly as a drummer!  Leibowitz will be featured in next month's Rocktologist with an interview Tony and I did last week and some other stuff.  Aside from that, the record will be played in its entirety, by a soon to be named DJ at a soon to be announced time. The album will be available in a week or so and will be available at www.leibowitz.bandcamp.com .  You can check out Guitar For Money, our 1st LP while you're there. For even more news and clips, or to just become a supporter by being a "fan" you can visit www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic .  Thank you so much for your support and friendship.

Leibowitz

Gigs, Albums, Changes.

It's been a crazy week and a new one is starting with me driving down to Miami to play a few songs at the Van Dyke Cafe.  That's if someone cancels.  It's a long drive to make to see if I'm going to play or not but music itself is a journey.  Even if I don't play tonight, I look forward to meeting those who are as I find musicians and performers entertaining...well most!  Regardless of cancellation, I will be playing an hour or so long show at the Capris Lounge in Boynton Beach, Fl...my hometown, on Thursday February 2nd! I get to play all of my own tunes and I'm gearing up for that, perhaps doing a web concert last minute on Tuesday or Wednesday or both.  This has been a long time coming with many false hopes and sinking efforts but I'm not a quitter and all I really want to do is play for people and for it to sound great.  The Beginning of The Endless Search For Oblivion will be completed in the next few months as Tony's other band is really taking off and his time is limited. I'm lucky to have been able to work with him this long and get this thing done...actually both this and Guitar For Money. Tony has been solid in the studio in both the capacity of engineer and bass and keyboard playing.  I'm not sure even he knew how fast his band would take off and to what heights and I'm really happy for him and time permitting, he'll be on recordings and stuff.  For now, it is impossible to have him in the live act as his committments to many are growing.  I'm really excited for him as he's such a great guy and has shared this journey with me up to this point.  If I thought we were writing wacky tunes, Tony didn't say so!  Anyway, us South Florida musicians need to stick together and when you meet selfless, artistic and talented people....you need to take note and respect their goals as well.  We all want our projects to get done the way we want, when we want, but today's musical climate can be barren so opportunities must be seizes and chances must be taken.   With that, I pick up my abbreviated setlist and get practicing and see if I can pound out some nice notes tonight.  As my schedule is getting sorted with solo acoustic shows, I will be slowly putting a live band together with the best local players I can find to play the music.  There will be more and more exposure as people are just starting to really grasp what I'm trying to do and when there are gigs, there is promotion done, beyond the word of mouth and my own interweb efforts.  I'm excited to see how I do with all this but I can't imagine backing down to any of it after 18 years or so of trying to make a spark!  Show me the way to the stage!

Best As Always,

Leibowitz

Happy 2012, Now Where's Oblivion?

I don't feel like a rock star anymore...not like I ever was, but it felt that way in 2011 at some times.  We finished and released Guitar For Money, which has been an experience.  I have a stack of albums to send out this week as I type this.  It has been entirely a web and word of mouth thing.  As far as results, I've done zilch on Bandcamp thus far but just by understanding a bit more of how sites like that and ReverbNation, SoundCloud, etc. work none of the effort has been in vain.  It's simply a starting point or a mile marker if you're in the Florida Keys!  There has been TONS of encouragement by other artists that I admire as well as from my friends, who can be the toughest critics of all---which I do appreciate.  The music is out there and not for everyone but it takes guts to say that to me face to face but people do have their favorites.  I think until I completely satisfy my musical urges I'll continue.  There are new instruments I am considering really digging into. I've been practicing like crazy as Tony and I have taken a holiday intermission and then some before tying a lasso around the rest of the new album.  I'm extremely excited about it and can't wait until it is done to our satisfaction.  Tony will be in Los Angeles for the next month focused on his band Brass Knuckles, who are really doing great. He's one of the most natural musicians I've ever been around so I'm lucky he's in my band in the first place and has become a great pal as well. As for the concept of The Beginning of the Endless Search For Oblivion, this is the most structured and thought out work I have ever produced.  We even have "guest stars" on it from another country on 1 track so far.  Great ones at that! During this time now, I've been practicing electric guitar and its relationship within my rig, syncing up with numerous effects and the like.  I'm preparing to play live when I get the right gig so this is quite important but just as important for studio time in terms of practicality.  It sure helps to become a good techinician and electrician if you play any instrument....It's also been month after month of getting my drumming up to snuff as well which has me so sore and hopefully a better player!!! I've been exercising and strengthening my voice too so when we do final versions I'm handing it out like I should.  If this was a football game it's the 3rd quarter with 1:56 on the clock and I don't plan on this going into overtime since the story is set, as is the music.  The 4th quarter looms and since I write the script, keep the beat and so forth, I've saved the most exiting and radical stuff for last.  Hey, I put up stuff on ReverbNation but those are teasers....I have lots of extras in the vaults too.  Oh, we need reviews for Guitar For Money as we only had one done..a great one at that.  We even were featured on the Rocktologist in August so we know people are listening and some even love it.  Please blog up if you have the slightest interest in doing so, no matter how negative your comments are. Haven't been blasted yet and it would make me laugh and I'd like to get the 1st bad one out of the way as well! Well anyway, enough about me, I wish you and yours an amazing 2012...a safe, healthy and prosperous one at that.

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic
www.leibowitz.bandcamp.com

\m/ \m/

Josh

Back To The Fronton

Work continues today on the new record just like it has, in spurts, just like since we started in July.  As we get closer and closer to the album being done, my checklist usually shrinks but in this case as I finish something, new ideas crop up and sometimes toy with the idea of making this one even longer.  There aren't any rules anyway and the feedback with regards to the demos thus far has been even stronger than on the last record.  Although I am eager to have every last song finished for this and sit with it and make it what it will be as a finished entity, I'm enjoying the ride and want it to keep going!  Anyway, to all of the people who keep cheering me on and enjoying the music, thanks for listening and for your continued support...and some of you have been brutally honest which is great.  All I really needed was to know that some people would be kind of interested and you are!  Take care of yourselves and don't be afraid to press record and make your own music as it is rewarding and doable for anyone who cares enough to make it happen.

Breaking The Musical Barrier...Updates

Hi there!  I hope everyone is doing well where this finds you and not far from a good time.  Perhaps maybe actually catching you while having a good time, while listening to Guitar For Money?  Well, I have to tell you, making an album is fun...or at least it could be and should be.  I'm annoyed as a gig I was hoping to get fell through as the place was sold.  Times are tough for many and music is intangible so it doesn't NEED to be for sale to be heard and enjoyed...but I'd really like to get out and play a full set of original music in front of people as planned...like real humanoid folks but it might have to wait.   This is kind of convenient as we are in the midst of putting together a monster of an album and I've never had more musical ideas to capture.  Lately, I've been practicing every aspect of playing guitars and drums, composing, arranging and recording...There is no end goal to practicing but to improve and there is always room for improvement.  That and I've got the time!  For the past 3 months I've been traveling so much that I'm still getting used to being in one spot.  Haven't been to the studio in a few weeks but that is because I am backed up with all sorts of things to sort out before throwing more paint on the canvas.  I've been recording to the IPad and getting used to practicing for sessions for even better time management.  This comes in handy as I try to make every take count.  Every time I can figure out an arrangement at home, it saves me an hour or 2 of directional confusion once I get what I want down in the studio.  Weaving a song together to have an interesting structure is a real art form and one that I'm trying to explore.  The best results always seem to come out from studio work but to be prepared for that work and simply go in and not think and feel it and knock it out is always what I aim for.  Tony and I have around 5 more songs in production and 5 more after that--I've written one more for it that fills out the story nicely and I was surprised about that as I felt the main set was in stone.  You have to make a concept album on your own to know what that feeling is like, I guess!

Still Lost In Oblivion-New Album Update

Ten down and 6 to go for the most part. That doesn't even give a hint at how much work is left to do on this 16 song record.  The damn thing is going to go over an hour and I'm going to spend endless hours pondering what to add, color/uncolor, arrange, remix, redo you know the deal.  I've taken more risks this time around and probably prepared 3 times as much as the first album.  The drumming has been fun and has come around to making me play the guitar a bit differently.  I have to admit, it makes my triceps and shoulders sore as hell but the muscles in my wrists seem to have beefed up which has helped with all sorts of possibilities with the guitar.  Fitness and exercise play a big part in what I do since I sing, play guitar and am doing all of the drums in the studio on this release.  There would be no way for me to do the things I'm trying to do without being in good condition.  A lot of it comes down to simply breathing correctly--as singing, drumming and playing guitar all require strict attention to this to get the job done.  And it gets done!  But I'll tell ya, at all points I've been enjoying creating the moments on the album that have been in my head and the more tracks that have been laid out, the better.  The writing and composition have been pretty easy this time out but there are definitely areas in my department that need housekeeping.  I expect that to be the case every time out as I try and do things differently, or I intend to, so it's par for the course.  The biggest challenge will be to sit back and look and listen to the whole thing and have that definite feeling that it is finished in a way that I'm 100% satisfied with.  That is the goal.  I've given myself reminders to not overlook plot points or their relevance for inclusion.  This is one of the challenges one faces when doing a concept or story album...Hey, I know from experience!

Hope you are doing well and thanks for joining me for the ride.

Leibowitz

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic

What does it sound like?

If Mozart was ever asked this of his music, I wonder if he would have said something exotic, like "the sound of a waterfall hitting a cliff wall" or "tears on loaf of bread" or "kind of like Handel".  It is a fair question and a difficult one to answer, regardless of if someone is trying to play rock, metal or whatever. For an artist or composer to commit to making the comparison it puts them at risk of sounding more advanced or developed from a successful career standpoint than they are, yet it provides a reference point for the person asking the question to decide whether or not to give the music a listen, even if they don't outright say that.  I think if one dodges that question altogether it could ruin the chances of getting someone to listen so I always give a whack at it...even if it comes out as being borderline faux hipster like "it sounds like Sargent Pepper got Pet Sounds pregnant" or "it's like Jimmy Buffett meets Warren Buffett".  If you really have to give that one a straight answer I'd just say play the averages and be like...."Celine Dion" or "Guns and Roses"....or both!  Anyway, I guess it's human nature or force of habit to want to categorize things.  For an artist this serves as a benefit, if for no other reason, to know what direction to point potential long term listeners, your crowd, to find out how to access the music and possibly buy it or see a concert or both or neither, even if you don't outright say that.  There are no stupid questions.

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic