Ok...so I have been slacking on this blog...but the truth is, I can barely keep up with my personal blog...anyway...here's a little video for all to enjoy...hope you learn something?
Truck Break in after Emily & Mike's Wedding! from ezra ayala on Vimeo.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
It's All a Process
Ron:
“It’s pretty sickening.”
I laughed when I heard Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich make that statement in an interview. He was describing the scene backstage at one of their shows and not in the way you might think. The band once dubbed “Alcohollica” now enjoys tea and lattes before shows and the level of civility and the irony of it, was enough to make Lars laugh. It made me laugh because I thought about the arc of my own life and found a commonality that rang true.
Arrrr matie! - Lars Ulrich (R), here with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, doing his best pirate impersonation.
I started to think about the number of famous musicians who share that same story, who have been through the process of redemption. Countless musicians who've lived in excess and found salvation, including myself and others I know personally. We share this same experience. Apparently, it doesn’t really matter what level of success you’re on because it’s part of the human condition.
At some point, the excess falls away and you boil it down to two things… being the best musician you can be and playing gigs. Pretty cool.
The last time I blogged I wrote about a new song that I had been working on…. more hard rock sounding and different than what I had done before. It is still in the writing process, believe it or not. Or at least I can’t. This has been my greatest written musical challenge to date. The working title is called “Elevated” and has been in the works since 2004, officially.
At one point, it already had lyrics and was called “Haunting Things”. (Click here and scroll down if you'd like to read the lyrics to "Haunting Things") Then it lived as a different song in an original band and was called “Amends”. In its many different incarnations, I never felt like the melody of the lyrics worked with the music. I also never felt like the music was given its due. But now, I think I’m getting the song where it deserves to be.
In the process, it’s making me grow as a songwriter which makes it even sweeter. Songwriting is definitely a “feel” thing for me. An idea works when it “feels” right. It also helps to have an open mind about trying different ideas especially if you want to grow in your songwriting.
"Elevated"?!?!?!
Speaking of trying different things, I wrote a new song this past week that started with a poem that my wife Melissa wrote years ago. The poem spoke to me the first time she shared it. Usually, I write the music first and the lyrics kind of fill the spaces in between the music. This time it was the lyrics and the vocal melody that came first.
I started humming a melody and found the first chord and then the song just started writing itself. It was cool. I like to create new ideas when I write music… a cool riff or turn-around or something that’s new to me. But for this, there was no need to be clever or cute, just good. The "magic" is in the dynamic of the vocal melody over the chord progression but you'll have to be the judge of that. The song is entitled “Her”. I’m hoping to get a demo version up on my myspace page very soon.
“It’s pretty sickening.”
I laughed when I heard Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich make that statement in an interview. He was describing the scene backstage at one of their shows and not in the way you might think. The band once dubbed “Alcohollica” now enjoys tea and lattes before shows and the level of civility and the irony of it, was enough to make Lars laugh. It made me laugh because I thought about the arc of my own life and found a commonality that rang true.
Arrrr matie! - Lars Ulrich (R), here with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, doing his best pirate impersonation.
I started to think about the number of famous musicians who share that same story, who have been through the process of redemption. Countless musicians who've lived in excess and found salvation, including myself and others I know personally. We share this same experience. Apparently, it doesn’t really matter what level of success you’re on because it’s part of the human condition.
At some point, the excess falls away and you boil it down to two things… being the best musician you can be and playing gigs. Pretty cool.
The last time I blogged I wrote about a new song that I had been working on…. more hard rock sounding and different than what I had done before. It is still in the writing process, believe it or not. Or at least I can’t. This has been my greatest written musical challenge to date. The working title is called “Elevated” and has been in the works since 2004, officially.
At one point, it already had lyrics and was called “Haunting Things”. (Click here and scroll down if you'd like to read the lyrics to "Haunting Things") Then it lived as a different song in an original band and was called “Amends”. In its many different incarnations, I never felt like the melody of the lyrics worked with the music. I also never felt like the music was given its due. But now, I think I’m getting the song where it deserves to be.
In the process, it’s making me grow as a songwriter which makes it even sweeter. Songwriting is definitely a “feel” thing for me. An idea works when it “feels” right. It also helps to have an open mind about trying different ideas especially if you want to grow in your songwriting.
"Elevated"?!?!?!
Speaking of trying different things, I wrote a new song this past week that started with a poem that my wife Melissa wrote years ago. The poem spoke to me the first time she shared it. Usually, I write the music first and the lyrics kind of fill the spaces in between the music. This time it was the lyrics and the vocal melody that came first.
I started humming a melody and found the first chord and then the song just started writing itself. It was cool. I like to create new ideas when I write music… a cool riff or turn-around or something that’s new to me. But for this, there was no need to be clever or cute, just good. The "magic" is in the dynamic of the vocal melody over the chord progression but you'll have to be the judge of that. The song is entitled “Her”. I’m hoping to get a demo version up on my myspace page very soon.
Friday, April 17, 2009
"Her"
Lyrics by Melissa Rodriguez & Ron Rodriguez
Music by Ron Rodriguez
This side of her you are looking for
Hides deep down inside
As long as she blinks back the tears
You’ll never know she cries
Keep looking for her
Keep wasting your time
You’ll never find her
No matter how hard you try
She’s hiding from the world
Set apart for the time
Her eyes are closed
Her face relaxed
Her smile is posed
She feels that no one else exists
Except her… only her.
This side of her you are looking for
Is crying to be free
Her heart is longing for deeper love
A place she wants to be
So live in love today
Live in love today
She cries for love
(instrumental, solo)
She’s searching further
She’s taking her time
You’ll never find her
No matter how hard you try
She’s hiding from the world
Set apart for the time
Her eyes are closed
Her face relaxed
Her smile is posed
She finds a deeper love… in her.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wow!
ezra:
I'm reading this book by Dane Sanders called "Fast Track Photographer." Within this book, Dane describes creating your business with you as the center and not your fotos. So he asked a series of questions that would help the reader possibly define themselves as a PERSON. One of the questions he asks is, "What do you honestly think will make you happy?" I thought of money, living in a super cool place, and even traveling...but all those don't necessarily make you happy...and I know that. So I thought about it for another 1/10000000th of a second, and my TRUE answer is CONNECTING with other PEOPLE and HELPING PEOPLE. Well isn't that what I do everyday as a Social Worker? Well, if I do, it doesn't make me happy. So I mentioned this to my wife and I came to realize something very important.
Social Work is a Synthetic form of this natural, Holy, and righteous "thing" called LOVE!
This may offend some of my colleagues, but if they are so intrigued by repetitive paperwork and appointments by the hour, so be it. I prefer to help people outside of those boxes!
And a picture for Ron. Lay off the Pork...this guy will appreciate it.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Runnin' Down The Repeat Offenders: Episode #1
Ron:
Clips from this past weeks gigs @ Mellow Mushroom, TGIFriday's and Boston's Gourmet Pizza.... Ezra and I contemplate the benefits of a gig at Hooters; Steve and I discuss how an acoustic trio can rack up so many noise complaints; Dan shows up on the internet... AGAIN and Stephen serves up some ham at Bostons.
Clips from this past weeks gigs @ Mellow Mushroom, TGIFriday's and Boston's Gourmet Pizza.... Ezra and I contemplate the benefits of a gig at Hooters; Steve and I discuss how an acoustic trio can rack up so many noise complaints; Dan shows up on the internet... AGAIN and Stephen serves up some ham at Bostons.
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