Tuesday, March 31, 2015

A to Z Challenge 2015: A and Battle of the Bands April Fool's Edition

It is a Blog Hopping double helping at my blog today. Today marks the first day of the A to Z Challenge.



I am doing the Battle of the Bands because this is what I would do on any first of the month. I like the blog hop. My blog isn't changing for the A to Z challenge. What you see during the challenge is just how my blog goes.




Since more readers may be popping in it is probably even more important for me to explain what is going on and who else has battles!

Regular rules, listen to the song clips in the blog post. In the comment section vote for the one you like the best. Feel free to explain why you voted the way you did. The battles take place on the first and 15th and winners will be announced on the 7th and 21st. I will normally post the winner in the comments. Of course have fun and enjoy!

The below list is edited to welcome some new battles and unfortunately some battles have taken a break. If you are still looking for more musical fun after you vote, you can check out these sites for more battles:

Tossing it Out

FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

 'Curious as a Cathy'

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

A to Z visitors please check out my friends above, they post some pretty neat stuff! 

Today is April 1st sometimes referred to as April Fools Day! April starts with A so it fits with the A to Z: Challenge. 

 J.R. BaileyRudy Clark and Ken Williams wrote a song called "Everybody Plays the Fool."  I of course play the fool everyday. I don't have the original song but the contestants will be the first top 40 version of the song and the hit version which I was first introduced to his song. There is a 19 year gap between the two songs.

Contestant One: The Main Ingredient 


Contestant Two: Aaron Neville 



Aaron also starts with an A as well keeping with the A to Z Theme of A.

You vote by leaving your vote in the comments. Thanks so much for visiting my foolish blog! Happy April Fools Day to all and I will see you Thursday with a post dealing with B!

My post will say March 31, but it really is April 1, 2015 and after midnight, So here it goes..


A to Z Challenge Eve

 It is that time of year again. It is the A to Z Challenge.



I have participated in this challenge for a few years now. I haven't been blogging everyday lately so this year will be even more a challenge. I don't plan my blog out in advance. I'm not going to pick a theme out in advance. My April Challenge should be a wild ride and I hope you will join me.

If you follow..

The challenge is great for gaining new followers. I don't have a huge number but during the challenge I generally pick up a few more. If you follow me that is wonderful! I do ask that you comment on a post and let me know you are following me! That way it makes it easier for me to follow you. I do follow back!

Feel free to comment...

Comments are always welcome! It helps show me who has visited. I try to return visits. It also makes the blog more interesting.

Join the fun...

Come on and join the fun! I think you can still sign up! Go check out the webpage if you are interested. If you are participating let me know so I can come and visit. I look forword to all the interesting posts that will pop up in my feed.

Battle of the Bands

I am for now planning to continue to participate in the Battle of the Bands during the month of April. I will try to connect them with the latter of the day somehow. I like themes during the Battle of the Bands and this month I won't have to pick one.

Visit New Blogs

I know I won't get to visit every blogger who is participating. I think the list is over 1400 or something crazy.  I hope to visit some blogs that are new to me. I know I will be visiting quite a few of my followers. If you are participating I wish you the best of luck. Like always thanks for visiting!

Monday, March 30, 2015

Happy 70th to Eric Clapton!

Today is Eric Clapton's 70th birthday! This will be the third year in a row that I have celebrated Eric Clapton's birthday. Unlike last year I am not going to see him in concert next month. I have had the honor of seeing him in concert a few times.

I will try not to repeat any of the music that I shared in the last two Eric Clapton birthday celebrations! If you want to read them last year's is here and 2013's is here.

If guitarists like Jimmy Page led me to musical doors Eric Clapton was a portal to the blues. He kicked the doors down to blues and said here it is. Not just in his music but who he had open for him. Seeing Eric Clapton in concert meant seeing Taj Mahal, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Randolph to name a few.

So this year I would like to celebrate his career with collaborations. I hope you enjoy.

How about this all star version of "Killing Floor" featuring Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray...


Eric Clapton and B.B. King perform "The Thrill is Gone"


Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy perform "Hoochie Coochie Man"


Eric Clapton and Keith Richards "Key to the Highway"


Happy Birthday Slowhand! I hope everyone enjoyed!

Friday, March 27, 2015

NCAA Tournament: Kentucky flexes their might

My bracket was busted early this year. I usually pick much better ut I guess March Madness caught up with me.

I didn't pick the Kentucky Wildcats to win it all. Certainly they are the favorites, undefeated and the best team in the tournament. The undefeated part is why I didn't pick them. No one goes undefeated was my thought process.

The Wildcats have improved their record to 37-0! They opened the dance by beating the Hampton Pirates 79-56.



Next they cruised by the Cincinnati Bearcats 64-51...


Last night they simply crushed the West Virginia Mountaineers 78-39. Up next the Wildcats face a 32-5 Notre Dame squad for a chance for the Final Four.


Monday, March 16, 2015

Highway 49 blues!


I  mentioned in  my  last  blog post I  was traveling.  Well with rental car woes  and the packing  going slower tan expected we were slower at leaving then we had expected. The travel  route  was different than I  had anticipated.

A cool benefit of all of this was the fact I was able to drive a large stretch of Highway 49 in the middle of the night. In reality it was just another boring highway on a long roadtrip. However, for my inner blues geek it was exciting to drive down the historic highway and cross those old forgotten crosroads around midnight.


Obviously  I would  love another visit in that area to explore the historic blues trail. While I am in the area I could also explore the civil war history of Vicksburg which I also drove through. I  might not  be  able  to  do that soon but in about a week I will be able to make that drive in the other direction.  Hopefully  with no hell hounds on our trail!



Some might consider Mississippi a poor state. However the state is rich in culture and history. 

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Battle of the Bands Volume 17: Travelin' Light



Before I get to the music let me explain what is going on and who else has battles!

Regular rules, listen to the song clips in the blog post. In the comment section vote for the one you like the best. Feel free to explain why you voted the way you did. The battles take place on the first and 15th and winners will be announced on the 7th and 21st. I will normally post the winner in the comments. Of course have fun and enjoy!

The below list is edited to welcome some new battles and unfortunately some battles have taken a break. If you are still looking for more musical fun after you vote, you can check out these sites for more battles:

Tossing it Out

FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

 'Curious as a Cathy'

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

Since I will be on the road traveling I thought this song might fit JJ Cale's "Travelin' Light"




Now that we have a song picked out we need some folks to cover it.

Our first contestant is Widespread Panic...


Our second contestant is Eric Clapton..


Who are you going to vote for? We have one of the top jam bands in Widespread Panic against one of the top guitarists in classic rock Eric Clapton. Vote and enjoy! I will check in somewhere down the road...


Saturday, March 14, 2015

Happy Pi Day!

Scientists, mathematicians, and math geeks rejoice! Today is Pi Day! I have heard that today is even more of a special Pi Day than most since the date is 3/14/15 which matches the first five digits of Pi 3.1415.

Rumor has it today's celebrations will peak twice, once at 9:26:53 AM and again at 9:26:53 PM. I may join in with the wild celebrations by perhaps treating myself to a slice of pie!

If I join in to the celebration I would then need to select what kind of pie. I could stay with a traditional apple pie. Perhaps a tart slice of Key Lime pie. The choices go on and on. I am sure a slice of chocolate silk pie has very few calories.

Are you going to celebrate Pi Day? Are you going to eat a slice of pie? What is your favorite type of pie?


Here is an explanation of Pi:



Happy Pi Day and enjoy your Saturday!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Happy Birthday Robin Trower

Today is Robin Trower's birthday. A lot of guitar fans certainly know who he is and if you don't read on and listen.

"Bridge of Sighs" live from 1974..



He was a guitarist for Procol Harum...


Above he performs "Memorial Drive" from his last tour with that band in 1971. Below is his take on "Hound Dog" from 2013..


Below is the classic "Little Bit of Sympathy"


Happy Birthday to Robin Trower and thanks for visiting!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

State of the Blog

The blog is alive! It has just took a brief pause. I try to keep a balance. It doesn't work. It is a battle. This blog isn't planned was never meant to be planned. It covers a lot. Sometimes it gets stuck in a rut other times it flows steady and easy. In the end it is what it is.

This month I have another Battle of the Bands post to come up with. I also have some travel planned. Plus I am sure the world and life will supply a few things to blog about. Plus I have a few things I was gonna blog about but haven't blogged about.

Sometimes you just don't want to sit behind the computer when you could be out seeing views like this..



Of course next month starts the A to Z Challenge so there will be plenty of posts being posted. So, yest the blog has been posting much for a bit but there is more to come.

























Sunday, March 1, 2015

Battle of the Bands Volume 16: You're 16




Before I get to the music let me explain what is going on and who else has battles!

Regular rules, listen to the song clips in the blog post. In the comment section vote for the one you like the best. Feel free to explain why you voted the way you did. The battles take place on the first and 15th and winners will be announced on the 7th and 21st. I will normally post the winner in the comments. Of course have fun and enjoy!

The below list is edited to welcome some new battles and unfortunately some battles have taken a break. If you are still looking for more musical fun after you vote, you can check out these sites for more battles:

Tossing it Out

FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

 'Curious as a Cathy'

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Song this time around is "You're Sixteen" written by the Sherman Brothers and first recorded by Johnny Burnette. Enjoy his version below...


Vote for one of the following in the comments!

Ringo Starr


Bill Forbes


Remember teenage crushes, teenage dreams, teenage romances of long ago then this battle is for you. Vote away!