"Storyhouse" is not a typo. If you've got a multitude of good stories to tell...or, a storehouse of stories for purposes of this posting, almost half the battle of creating an engaging piece of art is through. 

If you came to this posting because of the twitter/facebook posting that I put up, "When I walked out of the theater, no joke, I saw this" - you probably clicked on the link that brought you here because you wanted to know how the story ended (sorry for that little bit of deception, to not leave you hanging though - I saw the content of this posting!). It's wired into the history of humans to want to hear stories - whether through oral tradition, through song, or more recently, through print and through film.  All of the means I just listed are vehicles that can certainly enhance the presentation of the story, but if the story at it's root isn't appealing or heartfelt, people will lose interest and it will not have longevity.

I have to give a nod to Mark Fergus (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1318843/) - I saw his film First Snow at the Albuquerque Film Festival this past weekend, and he did some Q&A afterwards. First Snow was his directorial debut, and after the project was finished he was offered numerous other directing gigs, but respectfully declined them. "I would have to direct an adaptation of a story that I didn't want to tell," Mark petitioned. 

For those of you who are artists - you're probably going in one direction or the other here. One direction argues that Mark missed out on a big opportunity to direct some other larger budget movies, while the other praises him for sticking to his guns about telling good stories.  I'm going to agree with the latter in this case. 

Whether you're an author, songwriter, filmmaker, etc. - some of us know the tricks to make our writing sound good, but whether we're writing a great story from the heart that has impact is another matter. For example, here's a short story that's not interesting, but I'll try to use word pictures that make it sound interesting:

Example (bad story, bad writing): I went to the store. I bought a loaf of bread. I went home.

Example (bad story, better writing): My journey began with a pang of sleepless inspiration coupled by a hunger that I couldn't deny. The twisting road that lead to the grocer was only rivaled by the twisting that was taking place in my stomach. Once the whole-wheat answer was in my hands, I rushed by the clerk with little-to-no chatter, traded coin for food, and was swiftly en route back to where the other sandwich condiments made a palace in my mind. Home.

So, I'm obviously not an author (some of you are thanking God this very moment for that truth), but you can see that I gave a little more detail, which made the story more engrossing, but by the end, it's the same meaning as the first example. We as artists should strive to have both good stories that deliver powerful messages, and good writing. 

"Well duh, Matt.  If I could do that all the time, I wouldn't have to read you're dumb posting about buying bread."

This is just an encouragement - it's probably more meant for me than anyone else, but whatever you're involved in, do your best to tell stories that matter, and do your best to tell them in a way that people can hang with you, and want to stay with you.

Put mortar on another brick in storyhouse, and I'll see ya'll soon.

-TRMJ 

Short and sweet - I like those! Read the write up on our show at Low Spirits in Albuquerque on 8/21/10 here:

http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/56320/the-noms-the-real-matt-jones.html

-TRMJ

When I'm planning a trip, it's not unusual for me to try to find the least expensive, fastest, easiest way to get to my destination. Most of us are probably like that - there are the inevitable "take the scenic route" people (why do they always end up being our dads when we're on vacation with the family?), but for the most part, people don't want to waste time, and they want to get to where they're going the fastest way possible. That's understandable.  The journey through life, love, careers, etc. doesn't always work that way, however...

I'm often surprised by the number of bands/artists that will contact me and without any prior relationship and will say, "Let us play a show with you." To which, I will almost always reply, "Have you played any shows on your own? What have you done to try to get your band exposure on your own?"

95% of the time, the band/artist will cease all communication after that. Why is that? Well, if we take into account the quick rise to fame that American Idol or Youtube seem to offer any person out there, why work for it?  This, my friends, is the "Jet Pack" approach.  

You have to get to the top of the mountain? Why climb like a sucker?  Just get the jet pack and rocket all the way to the top. There's no need to learn lessons along the way, right? There's no need to have an appreciation for all the small steps that are in between, right? (My apologies if my sarcasm in the previous questions was not blatant!) 

Some people handle the quick rise to success well, but for the most part, people need to see where they've come from in order to be able to have an appreciation for where they are. This is where "The Mountain Crawl" approach comes in.

Almost any person that I've met that has success (I realize this term has VAST differences in definition, but insert your definition in there) in their field with any sort of longevity, has come to it from a background of hard work. That's not necessarily the sexy American way, but it is realistic. It's never fun to stay up late, get up early, do all the tedious paperwork/manual labor that may be involved in your endeavor, but one day, you wake up and realize you're halfway up the mountain, and you've seen each and every mistake and triumph you've made along the way. You have great ideas about what works. You have even better ideas about what doesn't work. Most importantly, you have a deep appreciation and a respect for where you are and where you've been.

So, I would encourage almost everyone (except those few who know how to handle a jet pack) - when given the opportunity to either take the fast way to the top with little to no experience, or to take the slow way up that will knock you around and give you some well-earned character...I say, grab a backpack and some hiking shoes. 

-TRMJ

Gu

Hey guys - I know this seems like it would be a post updating you on fashion sense and how to host a dinner party (you might be looking for Gentlemen's Quarterly), but I wanted to give a quick update to those of you who were wondering one of two things:

1. How is music treating you? (number 1 question I hear)

2. What are you up to besides music? (number 17 question I hear, but I have some fun stuff coming up)

How is Music Treating You?

I'll try to give you all some quick bullet points, this year has been incredible so far...

- See You at the Movies: I have been fortunate enough this year to have placements (that means a musical composition was "placed" in a film or TV Show) in 3 different films and to have been the composer for another.  Check out the IMDB.com page here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3901065/ 

There will be much more going on when these are released, so I'll keep everyone in the know on that!

- Gambling and Clothes for Teenagers: Back in April, I released a song on Itunes called "You Don't Lie When You're Lonely" and a month later, my roommate called me from Vegas at 12:30am and said, "Hey dude - your song is playing on the radio here in Caesar's Palace." 

Around the same time, we found out that "You Don't Lie When You're Lonely" was also going to be featured on Hollister Clothing Company's summer playlist alongside songs like "Billionaire," so that was some exciting news as well. Check out my original blog post about the song here:

http://www.therealmattjones.com/news/2010/3/31/top-10-reasons-to-download-you-dont-lie-when-youre-lonely.html 

- A Really Big Shoe: Wow - I'm not sure how many of you ever watched the Ed Sullivan show...anyway, it's not important.  The band and I have had some killer shows this year, we've been privileged to open for Austin-based entertainer supreme, Guy Forsyth, and just recently opened for former Men at Work frontman, Colin Hay.  We're heading out to Dallas, TX next to play the Hard Rock Cafe for the first time, and heading back to Chicago and Seattle later this fall to play other standard venues like The Elbow Room and The Showbox.  Check out the show schedule here:

http://www.therealmattjones.com/shows/

- The Beat Goes On: The new record, History, now has 11 songs on it, and will probably end at 12. So, that means, if I can get one more great tune written and we have time to mix, master, and get artwork on the record finished, I'll have a new record out!  It will be the first original record since Passerby was released in 2008.  

Also, I've been working on a number of songs for other projects, and am considering releasing these tunes as part of a collection that has a different vibe. It's and ambient/acoustic type thing, and could be really cool as an EP.

What are you up to outside of music?

Fantasy football: It's that time of year again; I have the draft for my first 12-person fantasy football league this coming Sunday...we'll see how I can fare! I need to get some research in this week so I can figure out who my top 5 picks are at least.  Should I go quarterback or running back first?! 

Fantasy Fiction: Some of you know, I have been reading (when I have time on flights and odds and ends here and there) the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.  I am now on book number seven, A Crown of Swords, and can't wait to keep moving the story along.  Nerd points for reading this series? 432, approximately...

Running: I'm trying to like doing it. Ugh.

Jammin' in the Name of the Lord: This is technically still music-related, but I have been playing a lot more electric guitar at the church where I regularly attend, Desert Springs Church. I'm surrounded by some other awesome musicians there and by some people there that would just as soon help you through a life-crisis, as they would go grab a beer with you.  Check out the church here:

http://www.desertspringschurch.org/

That's what's shaking for now, thanks for sticking it out with me, there's more exciting stuff to come! Hope this finds you all well, I'm out for now...

-TRMJ

Hello friends, brothers, sistas, stalkers -

Albuquerque the Magazine does an issue once a year that features the "best of" the city, please take 2 minutes to go by the page and fill in the category "Best Local Vocalist" with "The Real Matt Jones" Here's the link to go there:

bit.ly/trmjabqthemag

I'll try to get something up here on the website that you guys get for helping me out...maybe an acoustic version of a tune soon :o)

 Thanks so much, please feel free to vote even if ya don't live in Albuquerque, and check the podcast page tomorrow for the next episode!  

Cheers,

-TRMJ