Tough Mudder 2014

In February, a few of my pals talked me into signing up for Tough Mudder this year.  We did the "let's do this!" high five sort of camaraderie build up one night as a team of 10.  As I was a spectator 2 years before for year 1 in Whistler I thought based on my running training regime I probably could get through the event and it looked cool and fun and a challenge.

Here's the thing: it is difficult.  Loose stones, bad gear because you don't want to ruin your good gear in mud, and the obstacles that everyone hears about really do make it a challenge.

Here's the take away for me.  I hear a lot of people talking about things like "live in the moment" or "be present" or these types of concepts ring really true today. It's valuable advice in my opinion to live a life within the moment but something that I would add is "execute".   As an independent musician "going solo" I've been thinking that executing a plan is more important that coming up with an initial idea. 

We had the idea to do Tough Mudder and we completed it as a team.  It's an accomplishment almost more in the sense that we said we'd do it, and we followed through.   The experience is important but it begins with an idea and then execution and then follow through.

I like that.  I try to follow through on the ideas more.  Sometimes the idea isn't the most original or the newest or the sexiest or even the highest tech.  Whether it's "I want to start a small business", or "I want to lose 10 pounds", or "I want that new job" my advice just get out there and do it.  Get in there, get dirty and go.   Make a few mistakes on the way.  Today is the day to turn the entire thing around.  Massive drastic change will cause massive drastic results.

love,
-Marty
@martyzylstra

10 AMAZING songs to download right now! (#10: Blues) ***Guest Post feat. David Bosma (of the Sweet Endings Blues Band)***

When I started playing guitar I wanted to be Stevie Ray Vaughan. I wanted to play those high flying electric blues like lightning but unfortunately for me my fingers just didn’t move that fast and I ended up turning into kind of a folkie indie singer songwriter. But then I heard Robert Johnson and I thought I’d become an acoustic folk blues master and slide slinger, again though I didn’t end up being able to sound just like I wanted and I joined a punk band playing bass. I heard BB King and I tried to play just one note that could make you cry but this time I ended up singing in an indie rock band and it wasn’t too bad.
No matter what style of music I ended up playing my original intention always comes back to the blues. And now, finally, I do play blues. I don’t sound like any of those guys I wanted to be when I was younger but I get to lay it down at the local pub twice a month with a great band that’s just loose enough and just tight enough too. The blues is just that pure feeling for me, whether it’s hard rockin’, plaintive spiritual acoustic, New Orleans jazz influences, rhythm and blues-as they say.....it is a pure emotion with poetic form devoid of illusions. It is heartbreak, poverty, regret, anger, sex and drugs and guns and blades and you can dance to it. These are some cuts I would recommend to anyone, these folks had the blues.

1. Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)-Robert Johnson
2. Hobo Blues-John Lee Hooker
3. Poor Black Mattie- R.L. Burnside
4. Sweet Little Angel-B.B. King
5. Double Trouble- Otis Rush
6. Don’t Mess With My Baby-Howlin’ Wolf
7. Can’t Be Satisfied- Muddy Waters
8. Nine Below Zero- Sonny Boy Williamson
9. Careless Love- Bessie Smith
10. Hoodoo Lady- Memphis Minnie
11. Ball and Chain-Big Mama Thornton
--
Thanks David!
love,
Marty
@martyzylstra

iTunes

If you haven't already, make sure you go here and grab my 2 songs on iTunes:

1) Nothing goes my way

2) Seven

Thanks for listening!

-Marty

@martyzylstra

Interview with Go! Vancouver

Nothing Goes My Way - Live (Acoustic Version)

Get "Nothing Goes My Way" on iTunes here!