Joshua Ingram

My grandfather served in WWII.  He didn't speak often of his service, but I know he was proud of what he did for his beliefs and the needs of our country.  My father-in-law served during Vietnam and I never hear him talk about that.  I've had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of veterans over the years from WWII to Korea to Vietnam to various operations during the Cold War to Desert Shield/Storm to Enduring Freedom and even events I didn't include in this list.  I have personal friends who have seen things on the other side of the world that I would never even want to imagine.  Some are outspoken about their service and some are more reserved.  Sometimes, I'm surprised to learn from a person that they served.  I'm gonna use words like "they" and "them" many times in this piece because I never served in the military and they did or do.

Every eighteen year old makes the choice after graduation.  For some, it makes the most sense to serve before college or career because there are some decent programs available.  Some have a sense of duty to their country, family heritage, or conscience.  No matter why someone chooses to serve in the armed forces, it is honorable in a way that is hard to describe.  It's honorable because whether they fight in a war or not, they are ready to.  See, the military is a powerful institution that trains its men and women to be disciplined, resourceful, and loyal- and, sadly, to be ready to endure and enact unspeakable harm.  We need a military because we live in a world that is still infected with evil.  And when they take that oath, they are choosing something that I never had to choose.  They are choosing the country, this country, first.

I know we have lots to disagree about in today's day and age.  It seems that's all we do now is argue.  We can do that because Germany and Japan didn't win WWII.  We can have the freedom we still have because the American military has been serving throughout the world to keep the fight over there and try to establish freedom and human dignity everywhere.  We even have the right to disagree about that.  Some people think we should only worry about this country and bring our troops home.  Some people think we should police the entire world.  No matter what you think, I hope we can all remember to treat our veterans with honor and respect.  I hope we never ever get as confused as the country was during Vietnam.  I hope no matter who is in office and what the military is doing, we will remember to honor those who serve.  I hope, no matter what you think about our flag, our national anthem, and other symbols of our country, you'll understand that someone who wore that flag on their shoulder might not like to see it disrespected.  

They, from the first shot at Lexington and Concord to now, have made a choice to serve and protect this country. Not just freedom and democracy, but these United States of America.  They are a group comprised of individuals.  Some like to talk about their service, some don't.  Some are proud and some are haunted by sixty year old memories.  Some will tell you they didn't do much and some will tell you more than they should.  Some appreciate being thanked for their service, some do not.  ALL of them deserve our respect. 

On this Veterans Day, I hope we can unite as a country and show thanks to our service men and women no matter when or how they served.  For a minute, let's take down the flags that are anything but the American flag. Just for today, let's stop arguing about shots and masks.  For today, let's not worry about whether Christmas season starts too early, the price of gas, or what Aaron Rodgers thinks about anything.  For today, let's enjoy the freedom and protection that has been, is, and will be provided by the American military.  They deserve our affection and respect- each and every one of them.

Thank you to all who have served.  Thank you to the parents, siblings, spouses, and children of those who have served.  Know that anytime you are at a show of mine, your first beer is on me.   Know that anytime you need a listening ear or a friendly face, all you have to do is call.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for protecting this country from the evils in the world.  Thank you for doing your duty.  Thank you for not slapping us when we argue about dumb stuff that you fought for our right to argue about.  

God bless you all and God bless the United States of America!

Hello there! 

I have a show Wednesday night at the Ranch in Las Colinas, a couple of private events, and my regular 2nd Thursday night and every Saturday at Filthy McNasty's. 

Some weeks are like that, and some are like last week where I'm driving all over the place and playing a variety of venues.  I often compare being a singer/songwriter to selling vacuums door to door, even though I've never done that.  There's an amount of uncertainty every week because you know how many doors you'll knock on, but you don't know how many times you'll hear the word yes.  There's an amount of certainty because you know you're depending on yourself to knock on a certain number of doors every day, and banking on the averages you've come to know in the past to determine that there will be some yes answers in there.  Reminding myself that I am the one in control by controlling my work ethic is the only way I've been able to feel comfortable raising a family in an industry like music.   

I'm not even really in the music industry because I don't look for record deals, pay radio promotions, hire Nashville agents, write for publishing companies, or tour with promoters.  I'm really in the Joshua Ingram business, and music happens to be my product. There are challenging times, sure, but there is nothing like working for yourself.  There's no sick pay, but I've learned how to manage that.  There's no vacation pay, but I take a percentage every week and set it aside so I can take time off.  There's no retirement but I have my own, independent long-term investments that will serve that purpose if I ever retire.   

I've started to feel a little older.  I don't recover like I used to.  I'm developing some arthritis in my knuckles and probably some nodes on my vocal cords.  I definitely don't always understand the music that is popular today.  I am however, finding myself in conversations with lots of younger songwriters and can see that same spark I had years ago.  There's a dream and a naiveté that goes along with setting out down this road.  There are plenty of people who will tell them it's not responsible, dependable, or sensible.  That's all true.  I enjoy that, since others will be telling them those things, I'll be able to look at them through 20 years of experience and tell them they can do it.  I also enjoy the idea of getting to share some of the wisdom I've gained like; It's not about being famous, it's about being able to do it for as long as you want. 

Thanks for listening and for being part of why I can keep making music for a living.  Thank you for giving me 20 years that I can share with the next bunch.  In 20 years, I'll be close to retirement age in America, but I bet I'll be nowhere close to retiring.   

I've got five more songs we're putting together right now and I'll get them to you as soon as I can.  Until then, keep streaming and sharing the music and let me know when you're coming to a show!

We're happy to announce that "Starring, Me" is released on all streaming and download platforms world wide.  The video will debut on YouTube tonight.  If you don't already subscribe to my channel, here is the link: www.youtube.com/joshuaingram 

please subscribe, and share with your friends! 

There are 4 shows this week: 

Wednesday, Big Fish in Grapevine at 6:30 

Thursday Chill in Grapevine at 7:00 

Friday Fox Hollow Resort in Graham at 8:00 

Saturday Filthy McNasty's in Fort Worth at 4:00 

Hope you can help listen to "Starring, Me" and I hope to see you at a show this week!

The Longest day

June 21, 2019

9AM-8PM

Sundance Square, Fort Worth, TX

Benefitting: The Alzheimer's Association (To Donate: http://act.alz.org/goto/joshuaingrambrainvsbody )

I’m not sure how many songs I can play from memory. After 20 years of performing for a living, and literally 29 of playing guitar, I have amassed quite a catalog.  There was never a design to learn a bunch of other artists’ songs but over the years of learning requests, having certain songs stuck in my head, and actually wanting to learn some for myself, it just kind of happened. Now I can play several shows a week while taking requests and, for the most part, keep venues and audiences satisfied. But I never set out to be just a human jukebox. 

While my goal of writing songs and hoping to entice people to like them, download them, listen to them, and share them has not changed, this Friday will offer me a unique opportunity to do some good with this weird talent for memorizing songs. I’m going to sing for 11 hours (or technically 9.3 with the 10-minute breaks) without using any sheet music or repeating a song. I will be showing the power of the human brain in an effort to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.  

We will be setting up on the stage in Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth so I can play this highly unusual and FREE show. I’ll start at 9AM and play till at least 8PM. Yes, it’s going to be difficult. I feel seeing my body growing weary as the day goes on, yet my mind still coming up with songs, will be a testament to how great the human brain is, and how awful this disease that takes it away can be. 

I am asking for support in several ways: 

1.    Please click the link below to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association as they are trying to eliminate the disease. 

2.     Be in attendance at some point during the day to show support and encourage me to keep going. 

3.     Share the event on your own social media so more people can be aware. 

4.     Watch and share the live streaming on Facebook, which will also have a donation link, so we can raise as much money as possible. 

Here’s one more thing that I’m only asking my fans for: 

The production team that is putting on this event is donating their time, equipment, and experience, while also using their connections to have the event hosted by Sundance Square. Typically, this kind of show would carry a cost upward of $2500. I will be contributing $100 to help the technicians who will be on site get a little payback for their time. Even though they’ve offered to donate their time for this event, I KNOW what it’s like to do a benefit on a day you’d normally make money. Please consider helping me help them, and if you’d like to donate to the technicians just send me a message. Thank you for considering it. 

I hope we’ll see you at some point Friday as we pull together to help eliminate Alzheimer’s. Let’s show Fort Worth what we can do! 

Joshua 

Good day all,

    I often have people suggest places for me to play shows and I really love the input, and especially when it comes from someone I consider a friend or fan.  I know sometimes people will post a series of pictures on Facebook with captions like, "What mom thinks I do...What spouse thinks I do...What I really do."  I hope you know what I mean by that; if not I don't know if I can explain it any better and don't feel like googling it to post a link as an example.  I'll let you do that.  It occurs to me some of you may not be aware that there's a process by which I select venues.  Some people recommend the newest place in town because they're popular, full of patrons, and really fun.  Some people recommend a place they really like, and I completely understand that.  If I could get a musician I liked to play at my favorite place to go out it'd be a good day.  Some people recommend venues based on who they know that could, "get me in."  It's always helpful to have connections in this business so that sometimes can play a factor in whether or not I reach out.  Just a few weeks ago I had a friend and fan help connect me with a venue I'd been trying to connect with.  My point is, suggestions come from many sources for many reasons.  

   When I look for a venue, I try first to focus on whether I would be a good fit for the room, whether I have a relationship with a competing venue or not, and whether it will be good for my fans to be in that venue.  Then, after they've passed the gut check on that, I have to decide what the business potential is for when we work together.  For instance, on June 13th I'll be playing a place in Springtown called Maddie Lou's Bar and Grill in Springtown, TX.  The young lady who booked me contacted me directly and we had a long conversation about how to make the best of having live music in the bar.  Whereas, some places will just tell you the time and the pay without giving a thought to ask the artist what their experience might suggest.  We reached what I think is a really good plan for that night.  My expectations for the night are that venue, patrons, and artist, will all feel like they had a great experience.  Win, win, win, right?

   There are some other places that I already have a great relationship with so they get first priority when I'm booking.  These are places like: Boomerjack's/Bedford Icehouse, Rock & Brews, Filthy McNasty's, Blind Horse Saloon, and others.  Those are based on long-running, communicative relationships built on reputation; theirs and mine.  It takes a long time to build that kind of trust in this business.  I always look for new places but these that have been working with me for years are like finding diamonds in the rough.  

   There's another place that deserves mentioning.  They somehow beat out my aforementioned gut test because I don't get what I normally would require from them.  I play in a corner, barely visible, in a loud room.  When they go on a wait the people waiting stand right in front of me and sometimes crowd so much it's hard to not feel jammed up.  Sometimes I get asked to turn it down because people often aren't really there for the music.  Sounds awful, right?  So why do I keep playing this joint?  The list of good reasons way out weigh the bad.  The food is amazing and I tell my fans to come hungry.  The staff, ownership, and management are among the best I've ever worked with, and I just can't imagine going a few weeks without stopping in.  The biggest reason, however, is that they were one of the first places to take a chance on me when I set out to make music for a living.  I'm talking about Big Fish on Main St. in Grapevine, TX.  If you haven't been there, you are missing out.  I mean, big time.  Tell Mike, Brock, and everyone else I sent you.

I say all of this to tell you how excited I am to announce a new venue for me coming in May; and an old standby also in May!  On May 11, I'll be playing at Shady Oak BBQ off 35W and Western Center.  When I met with management, we had a great talk about concepts, what they want from music, what they dream for the future, and more.  We agreed on almost everything and I told them I would put everything I have into getting a large group there on May 11.  They made sure to let me know it was kid friendly so, those of you who have been waiting for one of these, here it is.  Also, on May 31 we'll have the band at Filthy McNasty's in the Stockyards.  This has been one of my favorite stages over the years because of who they are, how they treat my people, and that they know I'll work my butt off to fill the joint.  Oh, FYI, this one is NOT family friendly :-)  We will feature some brand new original songs and all your old favorites on May 31.

If you're still reading, thanks!  Come to a show soon and pick up one of the new T-shirts.  Keep watching this website for updates and shows, follow Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and highjinks, and tell your friends.  If you're streaming on Spotify or Amazon music give a shout out online to say you are.

Thanks for Listening,

Joshua 

Hello all, 

     I'm pleased to let you know that the band I will soon start work on a new album.  To those of you who have already heard "The Distance" and "I Wish It Would Rain", I'll let you know this will be another different style of record with the same focus on meaningful lyrics and music.  To those who haven't, they are available in the music section at www.joshuaingram.com I've grown, over the years, as a writer and every time I start a new project the same feelings of excitement and worry return so I'm getting ready to take this on big time.  I've also learned much about what to do and what not to do in the studio so hopefully this will be my truest and most successful album yet.  

     I'm sorting between about 20 songs to figure out which ones I want to include on the record and wondered if any of you would like to have some input into the choosing.  Over the next few weeks I'll upload demos of the songs to a hidden page here on the site and will be able to share a link to that page with anyone who wants to vote for their favorites.  Just comment here and I'll keep a running list of everyone who wants to help.  It just means that you'll get to hear demos of the songs before we even take them into the studio.  If this sounds like fun to you, let me know.

     As always I'll be updating the shows here on the website and on social media so stay tuned for the latest.  Watch for:

• more how and why videos on youtube
• updates on the new album
• new T-shirts and other merchandise
• and more information on the adventures of Joshua Ingram

See you at a show soon!

Hello everyone! 

I have three shows this week and possibly a fourth so check the social media and calendar on the web site.  Links to all the social media are also on the website so pick you're favorite! 

I'll be working on the youtube channel over the next few weeks with what I think will be some un new content like: 

my favorite cover songs 

songs from other DFW artists 

stories about songs I've written 

new songs that will be on the next record 

Thanks for staying connected and for sharing with your friends.  See you at a show sometime soon! 

Joshua Ingram

I've decided to do a new series on my YouTube channel that I'm calling "How and Why".  In each episode I'll take one of my songs and explain the meaning behind it or the inspiration for it.  After I play the song live, I'll also pull back the curtain on some of the fun or interesting stories or production decisions made in studio.  I hope it will be something fun for those of you who have been singing the songs for years and something you might like to share with your friends.

I don't know how often I'll be posting them but please check out the first episode and let me know what you think. Thanks for the support and I hope to see you at a show soon!

https://youtu.be/e9JH7drPAHg

I have just released the newest single called See. It's an emotional waltz dealing with finding love in a place you thought you'd looked before. This one is completely self produced with the input of some trusted friends. It's the first installment of what I plan to be a new release every couple of months. Please give it a listen and if you like it, share it with your friends, add it to your Spotify play list, come hear it live!  As always the calendar is at www.joshuaingram.com as well as information on what will be happening with the band as we move forward. Thanks for your support and I hope you dig the new single!

Hello all,

A couple of weeks ago I attended the NAMM convention in Anaheim, CA.  I didn't know what to expect but one of the guys I went with said it's like the world's biggest Guitar Center.  Man, that was one, very undersold, way to describe it.  The entire Anaheim Convention Center (over 800,000 square feet) was full of booths offering equipment.  Every horn, guitar, keyboard, drum maker, every speaker, light, stand, and mic maker had a booth and wanted to show off their product.  It took a long while to work my way through the deluge.

I have been looking for a new vocal mic for awhile but haven't been able to find one that I really, really liked.  I tried lots that were ok but didn't seem good enough to justify spending the money when I had plenty of mics I could use already.  I've been on this hunt for a new mic ever since I dropped my favorite one in the pond at Gas Monkey Bar and Grill.  That was a sad day-I'm about to tell you about an awesome day.

Back at the convention, there are two hotels located right at the heart of it.  That meant there was space for live music and of course, the hotel bar.  One night at one of the bars I met a guy named Derek and found out he was working one of the booths at the convention.  He bought me a beer and we started to talk about Heil microphones.  I hadn't heard of the brand before but said I would stop by the booth in the morning,  Man, I was not prepared for what would happen.

The next day I made my way to the Heil booth,  Derek and I were both a little groggy from having staying out so late the night before but that didn't stop us.  They had a nice display and he played a couple of promotional videos for me.  I found out that Jakob Dylan uses a Heil PR35 and his sound man says that since Jakob likes to get really close to the mic its a god fit cause it doesn't lose clarity even when you're close.  I wanted to demo the PR35 because I also like to get really close to the mic.

Y'all, I put the headphones one and said "check, one, two,..." and by the time I got to "three" my credit card was already out.  It was the sweetest, clearest sounding mic I'd ever heard.  I bought it on the spot and had them ship it to me.  I've used it three or four times now and it's just incredible.  The loud notes are clearer, I can sing quiet notes because you can now hear them, and it doesn't feedback, like not at all.  If you need a mic, check into Heil Sound.  If you want to hear me sound better than I ever have, check out the show calendar.