New Music Tuesday #1

Yeah, it's new music Tuesday! You know what that means, right? I spent all day Monday on Pandora and BandCamp listening to some fantastic tunes!  Here are two albums that I think you have to check out!

First up is a new artist I just found today. His album has been out since November of 2003, so I consider this quite the find. Ladies and gentlemen, Jim Guthrie. His album, "Now, More Than Ever" is like running through a tall wheat field on a partly-cloudy sunny, summer day. It's calming and moving all at the same time. I wish I could give you a genre like folk, indy, or soft rock. I can't. Promise me you'll click this link and give him a listen. And! He's from Canada. What's not to love about that? eh?   "Now, More Than Ever" has broken dishes, string arrangements, sirens wailing in the rain soaked night, squeaky floors, empty bottles, and something wise & hopeful amongst it all. "Easy listening for hard times", says Jim.

I'll do my best to take all of my bias out of this next review, but I don't know if that's possible. Forgive me. Engine surprised me with how much I like their sound. If you're looking for solid, creative melodies and an addictive mix of fuzz and phenomenal-- look no further. "With lyrically driven songwriting, fuzzy roland synth, and a smattering folk accompaniment, this Louisiana band creates a good blend of traditional and experimental." The harmonies are beautiful. The attention to detail. Oh! I could just go on and on. But then you'd stop reading, and I just can't have that. You can buy their album on iTunes, BandCamp (for $5) and Like them on Facebook.

hook, line, and sinker

There are very few things in life to which I'd say that I'm addicted. (Note the correct grammar in that sentence.) By nature, I don't think I have an addictive personality. However, I came across something a few years ago that has alienated my friends, strained my relationships, and cost me money.

Netflix.

Yes, this seemingly perfect piece of entertainment convenience has become the wormhole into which all my time disappears. Oh, don't judge me! It's like I was culturally predisposed to my e-substance abuse. Think about it; I'm always stretched for time, and I work strange hours. Netflix was the perfect fix, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

I can quit whenever I want. (Really, I can. There are not contracts and I can cancel any time.)

But I won't quit. There are 126 episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and a cornucopia of documentaries beckoning me to come. Oh yeah, and Netflix now streams episodes of "Glee". I'm doomed.

Joseph Meets Meisner #1

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end." - Ursula le Guin

I feel like I have started a journey that I have wanted to take for so long. In part, I feel like the character, Samwise Gamgee, in The Lord of the Rings.  There is a scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring where Samwise and Frodo are walking in a field. Sam pauses to Frodo's surprise. When Sam is asked why he has stopped walking, he states, "If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." That's what I feel like right now as an actor. Every time I walk into the studio it's the farthest I've ever been as an actor. It's scary, and it's exhilarating, and it's exactly where I want to be.

I'm two classes into this journey, and I can honestly say that I am in great company. Everyone is so enthusiastic. My teacher is fantastic. The most refreshing thing about working and learning with these people is that I feel like I'm in an environment where it's alright to make mistakes. We need mistakes. To quote my teacher, Mary T., "Mistakes are beautiful."

The approach to acting that I am learning, the Meisner technique, focuses on being in the moment. As actors, as humans, we think that this is simple. It's not. If you pause to consider it, our minds dwell on the past and the future far more than the "now". That's the goal of the Meisner technique-- bringing a fresh, "now-ness" to memorized lines and rehearsed blocking. That's what I'm working towards.

So, welcome to the ride. I'll make every effort to blog and vlog every week to keep anyone who is interested updated. Have you ever thought about taking a risk and learning something new? Do it. I did, and I'll never regret it. You can view "Joseph Meets Meisner: Episode 1" below and on subscribe on Youtube.

new shows, vlogs, and more!

joseph is on flickr?!

 

Hey guys, I'm on Flickr now! Just look at the picture column to the right to see a live feed of what I'm seeing. Exciting right? I'll try to take pictures of really cool, everyday things. Hope you enjoy!

rainy days and homecomings

There's something about me that I must confess. A lot of you have suspected this for a long time, but I have to get this off my chest.
I love rainy days.
Phew, there, I said it. Wow, that feels so much better.
Yes, dear reader, I love rainy days. There is something about the way the air smells, the way the wind blows just a little bit colder, the way things feel cleaner. I love the rain. My favorite days will start off with a thunderstorm and lots of rain. Gah! I love driving in it.
Enough of that random thought. Look at this picture now.

Great right? On a different note, some of my friends got back in town after a month-long west coast tour. From what I've heard so far (and I've heard quite a bit) it was a trip filled with twist, turns, great nights, and many-a-waking up in cars. For some reason (and I've yet to discover why) that all sounds perfect to me. Yes, I do appreciate cleanliness and order. Yes, I don't like the more-often-than-not hotel room. But it all just feels so free. Welcome home Ben and Landon. I missed you guys.  Lucky.

makers fair cut a rug

www.josephdrinkard.com

Chelsea got to feed a newborn puppy!

Hoop it up, smalls!

This past weekend myself and a group of friends went to the 2nd Makers Fair in downtown Shreveport, LA. It was Danielle (who was selling art), Chelsea, Adam, Alan, and other friends we happened to meet along the way. Most memorable Saturday I've had in a while. So much fun. There was great food, live music, and a ton of local artists!

I remember, when were all hoola-hooping, this guys came up to me and started telling me the history of the hoola-hoop and how he could remember when the first came out. After a while it got kind of awkward. I'm not gonna lie. Oh, and check out the sweet video the right of Chelsea and Danielle hoopin' it up. 

 

Oh, and by the way, don't come to Makers Fair if you don't want to dance. Check out the awesomeness that follows. You be the judge. Let me know who you thought the best dancer was!

  

You can't deny this girl definitely has the charm factor.

This man has inspired me to not care about what people think. You can dance if you want to!

This video needs no introduction. 

Seriously? Made from shells?!

I wish I had taken pictures of all the local art and food. There was a juicing booth, delicious tea and coffee from Heliopolis Coffee, a crepe booth (watch the crepe video), and lots of other stuff!

So what's the moral of this story? Explore your city, enjoy the things that make it unique and special. There's something to find-- I promise. Life is too short, so enjoy the small things like nutella crepes, dancing in the street, and good friends. 

To see all the pictures and videos from my Makers Fair weekend, find me on Facebook!

Inappropriate Questions

As most could have guessed from my blog, I get a lot of my inspiration from people around me. Today's blog is no different thanks to facebook. I was looking through my news feed and couldn't ignore the post that I saw. Priceless.

This post got me thinking. It can be annoying when people assume that they can do, ask, tell, or suggest something personal to you when they haven't earned the right to do so. It happens to me sometimes. Scratch that. It happens to me a lot.

So how do I deal? Well, I've learned that being rude is not the answer.
No matter how off-putting, annoying, vexing, or unsolicited the advice/suggestion/life-change idea may be, I just remind myself that they mean well. My god do they mean well.

Grin and bear it. Oh, and don't be one of those people that makes a dramatic, ambiguous post on facebook book about it. Tweet it, duh.

I'm A Dreamer, So What?

www.josephdrinkard.com

Don't follow your dreams. Chase them.

Dead Baby Pigs + the royal wedding

www.josephdrinkard.com

Creepy blog title, huh? just pretend you're interested, ok?


One of my co-workers and I have started to smell this sour, repugnant smell. Little did we know, the school that meets down the hall is dissecting dead. baby. pigs. Needless to say, this got me thinking, and this random, nonsensical blog ensued.

Three new developments in my life:
1. Twitter is the new Facebook. Myspace is dead.
2. My girlfriend and I have been dating 1 year, 26days. (I had to do the math, I didn't just know that.)
3. I still don't feel like an adult.

www.josephdrinkard.com

So, Leah (my girlfriend, who I just realized I have never blogged about) is legit freaking out about the royal wedding. Leah's planning this whole night where her best friend, her best friend's boyfriend, Leah, and I will stay up and watch the ceremony. It's a big deal. Being the kind, awesome boyfriend that I am, I have to buy her a Royal Wedding Party Present, right? It's on it's way as I type. She's going to flip!

Alright, back to the dead. baby. pigs. I forgot my whole point with that train of thought. You make up something about not being able to control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it. Something like that. Circumstances don't define you. How's that?



Five things you can do if you're bored:
1. Find me on facebook.
2. Follow me on Twitter.
3. Follow this blog.
4. Leave a comment on this post.
5. Have a genuinely awesome day.

www.josephdrinkard.com

The Show Goes On

just pretend you're interested, ok?

Well, I finally did it. I hit the "New Post" button.
And I have something to say... the show goes on.

I'm twenty-two years old, I love Jesus, I'm a sad excuse for a student, I'm a graphic designer, I'm an [interim] worship pastor, for some strange reason I still want to be an actor, my album is on pause now... and I have no idea what the heck I'm doing.

I've been in a really confusing place. Half of me knows what I want my life to be like, the other half has no idea. Some could say it's my age. I'm twenty something. I don't even know who I am yet. This will pass.

That may be true, but it doesn't really help. However, what does kind of make it comical is that I'm pretty sure at least one of the thousand people that have taken a look at this blog might just feel the same way.

So yeah, I have no clue. But, the show is going on. The only thing to do is wake up, put one foot in front of the other, choose to be positive, and pray that I get it right eventually. I know this entry may come off as morose, but I'm laughing as I write this.

Even though my emotions aren't co-operating, I'll say this, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." And you can, too. We can.

Well, that's all. I wanted to take a shot at honesty on this blog. I figured you'd appreciate it more than the blog on my love/hate relationship with Starbucks I was planning.

If you're in the dark and wondering when you'll see the sun know this: you'll see the sun, the show goes on, and you're not alone. I promise.

I'm busy, but happy.

Breaking news: Joseph Drinkard is alive. I can honestly say that I have never been busier in my life. However, I can, with upmost sincerety, say that I have never been happier. So much is going on!

A few days ago, I auditioned for a new Channing Tatum movie, "21 Jump Street". Click the link to view so more info on iMDB. I'd play "Delroy", one of the nerds that helps hack a cell phone to wire tap it. Keep your fingers crossed. If all goes well, this could be the biggest role I've had so far. I try not to think about it too much. It stressed me out!

In other news, I've been working on my album and things are going spectacularly! If you like a tight beat so a few vocal runs now and then, I think you'll really dig what we're coming up with.

Right now, I'm enjoying the finer things of Greek culture and a night to myself. Life is good. Friends are good, and God is great.

demo preview & foxtrot

Well, I think that it goes without saying that I so very excited about my album that will be coming out soon! My weekends have been spend writing, and correcting, and colaborating-- and I know it's going to be worth it in the end. It'a so exciting to hear people asking about the album! I wish I could have it in all of your hands tomorrow, but good things take time. If you'd like to stay up-to-date on any album news or upcoming shows, become a fan on facebook.

Last night, I was up at Foxtrot Production & Studios rehearsing with Derek (friend & guitarist) for our show coming up March 4 in Shreveport, LA. By an awesome course of events, rehearsal turned into demo-recording using some pretty $weet equipment. There was also some talk about further recording at Foxtrot, but I'll have more to say when... well... when there is more to say.

Back to the demo-goodness...

We recorded the (unfinished) vocals and an acoustic track for "Same Mistake Again"-- the title track for the album. "Same Mistake Again" was inspired by Bonnie & Clyde-- the infamous crime duo that swept the nation. I always wondered how Clyde talked her into crime after crime, knowing that they'd eventually get caught. My ponderings persisted, and "Same Mistake Again" was born. Most people think it's about a couple who never learns their lesson. I'll leave the decision up to you. Enjoy!

Photoshoot?! What?

Recently, I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot with Kelly Cathey of Kelly Cathey Photography. It was incredible. Not only did I have a great time, but (as you'll see) the quality is amazing! I came away with great head shots to send to my agent, and even better memories. Below are only a few of the amzing shots that she got! Click on a photo to view a larger version.

Oh, if you have any photo needs... give Kelly Cathey Photography a call.

Click the link below to check out her fantastic website. But be warned, you'll be addicted.



http://www.kellycathey.com/



Sushi Love

 

So, Derek, Chelsea & I were at Sushiko @ the Boardwalk this past Tuesday, and had an... interesting time. Instead of trying to explain it all, I'd rather just show you our idea of a great time! Aside from Chelsea almost choking, this was an epic food-off! Hope you guys enjoy the video! I put tons of work into it. (Note the awesome effects, lol)

Needless to say, this was obviously one of the best nights ever. This post isn't long, just a snippet of my life. Just pretend you're interested. ok?

A quick thanks...

Hey everybody! This post won't be long. (I know, cue the group sigh now.) It's alright. A pretty epic one is coming up soon. No, today I wanted take a moment to say thanks to everyone who has been reading my blog. The month of February is only halfway done, and we've already had more readers in these 2 weeks that we've had total in the past. JosephDrinkard.com has regular readers in 7 countries! Don't hesitate to recommend this blog to people, share it on facebook, and retweet it-- or comment!

I'll shut up now.

You guys are awesome-- couldn't ask for a better group of people to share with. Have a great day.

an infographic of my blog experience-- thanks to you

When I Grow Up

Just pretend you're interested. ok?

Today is a beautiful day in Louisiana. It's a sunny 68 degrees, I've had sushi and Naked Juice today, and have a fresh outlook on life that has put me in a great mood.

Sometimes I think that we all get so consumed with the future-- what are we going to do with the rest of our lives, how are we going to make money, how to handle the expectation others. For years, I struggled with questions like these. However, sitting in the warm sun with a cool breeze and two great friends helped me remember something that I seemed to have forgotten along the way: life is in the small moments-- the little miracles that go by almost undetected.

I encourage you to take some time today, go outside, and do nothing. Spend time alone with God, don't speak, and just be. Just be with Him. There's joy to be found-- even in hard times. 

Psalm 46:10 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

 On a very different note, I found my facebook comment of the week while I was browsing on my phone one morning. I hope you find it as off the wall and funny as I did. I'm not saying I laughed out loud-- just a small internal chuckle.

**edit: this is not MY comment. this is one I found in my news feed. Wow, definitely should have said that. **

Just a quick video update!

friendship and new glasses!

new glasses. impromptu photo op. why not?

It's a rainy day, but my heart is full. I've realized just how awesome my God and my friends are. A quick quote for you guys:

"Every relationship goes through periods of testing, times of boredom, times when those involved in the relationship must decide whether they are going to develop it to its fullest potential or slide off sideways and begin a new one. Developing a true friendship means digging deep. The stuff of which it is made comes from the depth of our souls. Those who dare to make the commitment discover not only the treasure of a true friend, but the truth about themselves as well." 

A quick thanks goes out to all of you who have been reading my blog! So far, we have readers in USA, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore. If you just finding this blog, just pretend you're interested. ok? If you haven't commented or "followed" this blog, give it a shot! You can do it without an account or use the other options available!

In other news, Gateway Church has a big Bilingual Signs & Wonders Conference coming up next weekend. Know what that means? Yes! I get to lead worship in both Spanish and English! I'm so excited! I've never had the opportunity to lead bilingually, so I'm pretty stoked!

cough drops, music, and belief

epic hot sauce packet. leaves from a photo shoot i did with danielle. me & a typewriter.

I'm not sick anymore. Thank God. All that I am left with is a sore throat and a new appreciation for Hall's cough drops, chicken broth, and hot showers. I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. I get like this every time the winter hits and the seasons begin to change. I guess my body is more conservative than I once thought. #whowouldathought.

Speaking on changing seasons-- I've found myself in a pretty cool season of life. It's like I woke up one day and found myself surrounded by artists, musicians, chefs, and genuinely beautiful people. I keep learning more about grace and love. I feel so moved at times when I think about the opportunity that I have to love people-- not just for who they are, but who they can be. I love believing in people.

Psalm 2:8 (NIV, ©2010) Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 

 

Well, I don't want to babble on. To keep you all informed, my friend Landon and I have continued writing for the album. He leaves for a tour in February, so there's the crunch time. I'm getting excited. Also, just finished another song for the worship album coming later this year!