R.I.P Bob Weir

Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead performing "The Last Time" in Landover, Maryland. On January 10, 2026, Bob Weir passed away. A founding member, the youngest member of the legendary band, a member of many Grateful Dead related projects and solo artist will be remembered as a remarkable rhythm guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and musician.

His final performance with Dead & Company "Touch of Grey." Below what might have been his final interview.

To me I saw him several times with the Grateful Dead and I saw him with his Campfire Band and lastly with an orchestra. 

A tiny desk concert from NPR. He will be missed but the music he left behind will fill the air for generations to come.

Battle of the Bands: Good Rockin' Tonight

 Starting the New Year's with a new Battle of Bands. This month I am featuring a Rockabilly tune called "Good Rockin' Tonight." Sometimes it goes by other names. 

Here is the original version for your pleasure: Roy Brown who did the song as a jump blues.

                                                             ROY BROWN "Rockin' at Midnight

Contender One: Elvis "Good Rockin' Tonight"

Contender Two: Link Wray

A legendary song covered by two legends Elvis versus Link Wray. The songs been covered a lot. Let me know which one you like the best in the comments, and I will be back with a new post on the winner in a week or so. In the meantime enjoy the good rocking!

My NCAA Football Rankings 2025-26 After Week Fifteen

 After Week 15 only one undefeated team remain. A new number one. A limited schedule, but one full of meaningful games. A revolving bottom and the teams in between fighting for their spots. Playoffs, bowl games and protest are up next. The final ranking will be in January.

1) Indiana Hoosiers (13-0) topped Ohio State 13-10 for a Big Ten Championship. Current number one seed in the playoffs.

2) Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) avenged their only loss by beating Alabama 28-7 in the SEC Championship game. Current third seed in the playoffs.

3) Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) beat Michigan 27-9. Faces Indiana next in the Big 10 Championship.

4) Oregon Ducks (11-1) did not play. Number 5 seed face JMU on 12.20.25 in the playoffs.

5) Texas Tech (12-1) crushed BYU 34-7. Number 4 seed in the playoffs.

6) Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) did not play. 7th seed in the playoffs meet Miami on 12.20.25

7) Ole Miss Rebels (11-1) did not play but lost their coach. 6th seed in the playoffs tangle with Tulane on 12.20.25

8) Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (10-2) did not play. Felt slighted for not making the playoffs. Turned down Bowl Games season over.

9) Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) did not play. Meets Alabama on December 19th in the playoffs.

10) BYU Cougars (11-2) lost to Texas Tech 34-7. Faces Georgia Tech in the Pop Tarts Bowl 12.27.25.

11) Miami Hurricanes (10-2) did not play. Meets Texas A&M in the playoffs 12.20.25.

12) Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) lost to Georgia 28-7. In the playoffs anyway. Meets Oklahoma on 12.19.25

13) Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2) did not play. Will meet Iowa 12.31.25 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

14) Utah Utes (10-2) meets Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl 12.31.25.

15) Texas Longhorns (9-3) did not play. Meets Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

16) Michigan Wolverines (9-3) did not play. Meets Texas in the Citrus Bowl.

17) James Madison Dukes (12-1) beat Troy 31-14. Meet Oregon in the playoffs next.

18) USC Trojans (9-3) did not play. Meets TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

19) Tulane Green Wave (11-2) beat North Texas 34-21. Meet Ole Miss in the playoffs.

20) Virginia Cavaliers (10-3) lost to Duke 27-20 in OT meets Missouri in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

21) Tennessee Volunteers (8-4) did not play. Faces Illinois in the Music City Bowl.

22) Houston Cougars (9-3) did not play. Meets LSU in the Kinder's Texas Bowl.

23) Arizona Wildcats (9-3) did not play. Meets SMU in the Holiday Bowl.

24) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3) did not play. Faces BYU in the Pop tarts Bowl.

25) Missouri Tigers (8-4) did not play. Tangles with Virginia in the Gator Bowl.

R.I.P Steve Cropper

 

Steve Cropper the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarists from Booker T. & The M.G.s passed away at the age of 84. He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame! Co-writing classics like "In the Midnight Hour" and "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" certainly provide credentials.

"In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett

Otis Redding "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay"

On the Soul Man Riff

  Steve Cropper was the guitarist behind many of Stax Records soul hits. His guitar playing will certainly be missed but will live on in the classic hits that featured his playing.

                                                 Sam and Dave "Soul Man"

Battle of the Bands: You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

 "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" the song was originally written by Dr. Seuss and composed by Albert Hague and performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.

Challenger One: Lindsey Stirling (Featuring Sabrina Carpenter)

Challenger Two: Small Town Titans

Two very different versions. Let your vote be counted. Tell me which one you like the best in the comments. In a week or so I will count up the votes and post a blog about the winner.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and wishing you the best for the Holidays!

My NCAA Football Rankings 2025-26 After Week Fourteen

  After Week 14 only two undefeated teams remain. A revolving bottom and the teams in between fighting for their spots.

1) Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0) beat Michigan 27-9. Faces Indiana next in the Big 10 Championship.

2) Indiana Hoosiers (12-0) crushed Purdue 56-3. Has a showdown with Ohio State next.

3) Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) topped Georgia Tech 16-9. Will face Alabama in the SEC Championship.

4) Oregon Ducks (11-1) beat Washington 26-14.

5) Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) stumbled against Texas 27-17. 

6) Ole Miss Rebels (11-1) beat Mississippi State 38-19.

7) Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1) shutout WVU 49-0. Faces BYU in Big 12 Championship.

8) Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (10-2) crushed Stanford 49-20.

9) Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) topped LSU 17-13.

10) BYU Cougars (11-1) beat Central Florida 41-21. Faces Texas Tech in Big 12 Championship.

11) Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) beat Auburn 27-20. Will face Georgia in SEC Championship.

12) Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2) smashed Tennessee 45-24.

13) Miami Hurricanes (10-2) ripped Pitt 38-7.

14) Utah Utes (10-2) beat Kansas 31-21.

15) Texas Longhorns (9-3) shocked Texas A&M 27-17.

16) Virginia Cavaliers (10-2) beat Virginia Tech 27-7. Faces Duke in the ACC Championship game.

17) Michigan Wolverines (9-3) lost to Ohio State 27-9.

18) James Madison Dukes (11-1) crushed Coastal Carolina 59-10. Plays Troy for the Sun Belt Championship.

19) USC Trojans (9-3) beat UCLA 29-10.

20) North Texas Mean Green (11-1) beat Temple 52-25. Takes on Tulane in the AAC Championship.

21) Tennessee Volunteers (8-4) lost to Vanderbilt 45-24.

22) Tulane Green Wave (10-2) shut out Charlotte 27-0. Faces North Texas for the AAC Title.

23) Houston Cougars (9-3) beat Baylor 31-24.

24) Arizona Wildcats (9-3) beat Arizona State 23-7.

25) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3) lost to Georgia 17-9.

My NCAA Football Rankings 2025-26 After Week Thirteen

 After Week 13 has three undefeated teams in the top three spots, a revolving bottom and the teams in between fighting for their spots.

1) Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) cruised past Rutgers 42-9. Visits Michigan next.

2) Indiana Hoosiers (11-0) did not play. Visits Purdue next.

3) Texas A&M Aggies (11-0) shutout Samford 48-0. Visits Texas next.

4) Georgia Bulldogs (10-1) beat Charlotte 35-3. Visits Georgia Tech next.

5) Oregon Ducks (10-1) beat USC 42-27. Visits Washington next.

6) Ole Miss Rebels (10-1) did not play. Meets Mississippi State for the Egg Bowl next.

7) Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1) did not play. Visits WVU next.

8) Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (9-2) poured it on Syracuse 70-7. Visits Stanford next.

9) Oklahoma Sooners (9-2) stopped Missouri 17-6. Hosts LSU next.

10) BYU Cougars (10-1) beat Cincinnati 26-14. Entertains Central Florida next. 

11) Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2) crushed Eastern Illinois 56-0. Faces Auburn next.

12) Vanderbilt Commodores (9-2) whipped Kentucky 45-17. Visits Tennessee next.

13) Miami Hurricanes (9-2) doubled up Virginia Tech 34-17. Visits Pitt next.

14) Utah Utes (9-2) survived Kansas State 51-47. Visits Kansas next.

15) Michigan Wolverines (9-2) stomped Maryland 45-20. Hosts Ohio State next.

16) Virginia Cavaliers (9-2) did not play. Hosts Virginia Tech next.

17) Tennessee Volunteers (8-3) blasted Florida 31-11. Hosts Vanderbilt next

18) Texas Longhorns (8-3) beat Arkansas 52-37. Hosts Texas A&M next.

19) Pittsburgh Panthers (8-3) beat Georgia Tech 42-28, Hosts Miami next.

20) James Madison Dukes (10-1) beat Washington State 24-20. Visits Coastal Carolina next.

21) USC Trojans (8-3) lost to Oregon 42-27. Entertains UCLA next.

22) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2) lost to Pitt 42-28. Meets Georgia next.

23) North Texas Mean Green (10-1) beat Rice 56-24. Entertains Temple next.

24) Tulane Green Wave (9-2) beat Temple 37-13. Hosts Charlotte next.

25) SMU Mustangs (8-3) beat Louisville 38-6. Travels to California next.