Cody Joens

A really happy birthday to a really classy guy. Happy day my...

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:13:22 -0800

A really happy birthday to a really classy guy. Happy day my dear brother, @caseyjoens #instragramonly #birthday #happyday #dork http://instagr.am/p/G42IXGrH4M/

The creation location. A.K.A “The Lab”...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:38:56 -0800

The creation location. A.K.A “The Lab” #instragramonly #workin #iphoneonly http://instagr.am/p/G1x_tGLH3H/

You Lost Me Live Event… #workin #davidkinniman...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:53:45 -0800

You Lost Me Live Event… #workin #davidkinniman #brittmerrick #reallife #instragramonly http://instagr.am/p/GzN5lprHxK/

mulchstetson: BAJA // $1000 Great adventure.

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:56:59 -0800

mulchstetson:

BAJA // $1000

Great adventure.

Duct tape is Duct tape. No matter the color. #bossgram...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:52:53 -0800

Duct tape is Duct tape. No matter the color. #bossgram #montanagram #iphoneonly #ighype #jeep #tonycruz http://instagr.am/p/nayci/

This has changed my life. #thankful #instahype #bossgram...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:22:45 -0800

This has changed my life. #thankful #instahype #bossgram #iphoneonly #juice #meangreen http://instagr.am/p/nErK7/

just do it. nevver: Instructions:1. Stare at the red dot on the...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:36:19 -0800

just do it.

nevver:

Instructions:
1. Stare at the red dot on the girl’s nose for 30 seconds.
2. Turn your eyes to a plain surface (your ceiling or blank wall).
3. Blink repeatedly and quickly.
4. WTF! one+infinity

Just another day at SB Whole Foods. #fabiosighting #fabio...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:08:47 -0800

Just another day at SB Whole Foods. #fabiosighting #fabio #wholefoods #SB #iPhoneography #iPhoneonly #icantbelieveitsnotbutter (Taken with instagram)

You may or may not have run across this movie already. If you...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:09:40 -0800

You may or may not have run across this movie already. If you have not… watch it. If you are a creative professional in any way, do yourself a favor and please watch this. I had a full write up in mind for this, but decided to let it speak for itself. It’s a full film so give yourself some time. Enjoy.

Instagram: Weekend Hashtag Project: #stairstare

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:43:31 -0800

Instagram: Weekend Hashtag Project: #stairstare : check out my boy @tonycruz featured picture here,...

Seth Cox: The Heart-Winning Brand

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:39:42 -0800

Seth Cox: The Heart-Winning Brand: brilliant write-up by a great friend. sethaddison: Long before...

Triple Flash Back Friday @caseyjoens @jjoens #flashbackfriday ...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:22:55 -0800

Triple Flash Back Friday @caseyjoens @jjoens #flashbackfriday #modesto #theremightbeapageronmyhip http://instagr.am/p/g53G9/

He just loves MID… @mattandbree #flashbackfriday #modesto...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:12:56 -0800

He just loves MID… @mattandbree #flashbackfriday #modesto http://instagr.am/p/e9g2L/

It’s a new year! But I’m digging into the archives...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:28:00 -0800

It’s a new year! But I’m digging into the archives for today’s audio post. I was listening to an NPR music show called “50 Great Voices” recently and was reminded of the genius that is was and will always be Luther Vandross. There’s a lot of things that have been said about the “Luther effect” in music but I was thought it was said best in the program that I was listening too when they played a clip of Luther saying, “One thing that I love about what’s happened in my career is that I was never heralded as the new Otis Redding, the new Sam Cooke, the new Teddy Pendegrass or Smokey Robinson, I wasn’t the new anybody, I was just Luther”. This in-fact is so true, I did a little digging and listened through a few of those guys and few others and boy there is just something about Luther that you can not deny. Silky smooth is the best way I think to say it.

I grew up with his music in our house, the only full album we owned was “Power of Love”, the title track is and will always be a great performance and if you crank that up on the right set of speakers you can’t help but smile. But I’ve collected a lot of his stuff over the years and my respect for his talent has only grown.

With Luther’s remarkable catalog of essentials for any music lovers library it’s really tricky to pick out one, but I think after listening to it today you’ll have to agree that his performance of a song that Dione Warwick originally preformed and brought to light was taken leaps and bounds beyond her original version. The song is “A House is Not a Home”, he debuted it live at the 1988 NAACP Image Awards to what turned into a Jaw-Dropping crowd. You’ll notice in the video that he is essentially singing the song to Dione Warwick and she is so blown at his performance, also shown in the video is Anita Baker just in awe and a young Janet Jackson soaking it all in. I love watching this video to study his performance and his pick out his reasoning for holding back at certain moments and then letting loose at others as well as interaction with the crowd and just plain getting lost in the song. This moment is certainly a moment that most artists hope to have in their careers, it typically takes them to a more respected and certainly timeless place among their peers.

His music has always made me look deeper into the vocal performance of others and to encourage others to not be afraid to pull out the measuring stick from time to time and stay with in a certain range but when the time is right unleash the moment and allow yourself to remember why you love what gift you have been given by having a voice.

We lost Luther in July of 2005 after a life-long battle of diabetes and hyper tension his heart just gave up. But he leaves with us so many great songs and great memories.

Enjoy this tune today and be challenged to listen to something you might not normally listen too, as a lover of music I seriously challenge you today to not be afraid to turn on something you haven’t listen to in years and remember why music is still a part of your life. All love.

Viva la Mexico boys… Viva la Mexico…...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:33:39 -0800

Viva la Mexico boys… Viva la Mexico… #baja1000dollars #iphoneonly #iphoneography (Taken with instagram)

A Joens house once stood here… Lost but not forgotten...

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:46:45 -0800

A Joens house once stood here… Lost but not forgotten #dadshouse #fire #tragedy #afreshstart #iphoneonly (Taken with instagram)

Seasoned and proven, a hero of war. #war, #grandparents,...

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:15:31 -0800

Seasoned and proven, a hero of war. #war, #grandparents, #christmas2011 (Taken with instagram)

Just takes the right christmas party… #christmas #party...

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:31:18 -0800

Just takes the right christmas party… #christmas #party #santa+helicopter=awesome #greatday #iphoneonly #iphoneography (Taken with instagram)

Moto for life. #iphoneedited #dope #rideurbike (Taken with...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:34:04 -0800

Moto for life. #iphoneedited #dope #rideurbike (Taken with instagram)

Let the music keep flown this week… There’s not much...

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:05 -0800

Let the music keep flown this week… There’s not much that needs to be said here. But if I had a platform to say something that someone might actually listen to me I would say this. More music than you can calculate in your typical digital library these days has some sort of Motown roots and connection. Whether its the catchy hooks or the nearly perfect rhythm and overall timing of the genius of an era of music that had to be great otherwise folks wouldn’t bother spending their hard earned cash on. Not to mention the sincerely solid sounding equipment that we have all been chasing since it was invented and perfected in those days. I know this album was recorded past the prime of Motown but the Temptations backing band made up of brilliant musicians and artists in their own right never cheesed out, this is the real deal.

So please enjoy the Tempations spot on version of “Silent Night” from their Give Love at Christmas album as they wish you a very merry Christmas. This is the reason I still listen to music, just dreaming that the next “timeless” musician or group is right around the corner and going to garner out attention makes me excited to keep hunting. Let’s stay on the hunt people! Merry Christmas all!