Battle of the Bands Results: 3, 2, 1

In my last Battle of the Bands of 2019  I went with a vintage cartoon theme. Featured a vintage tune from Bo Diddley performed by a couple of vintage bands. Everything becomes vintage as time ticks away. Soon 2019 will be vintage!


                                           A bit of a cartoon for my December themes...

Bo got one, The Pretty Things got two votes, and the winner was the Rolling Stones with three.

The Rolling Stones "Baby What's Wrong"

"Roll Over Beethoven"

and for my retro mood "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday"

I will ring in the New Year with a new Battle

Merry Christmas: A Couple of Tunes

Merry Christmas! I hope yours is magical, wonderful, full of blessings and joy. This year Christmas is low key for me. However, I thought I would share a couple of Holiday songs that I have been listening to of late.

                                                Joni's "River"

"Jingle Bells in Minor Keys" AKA "Sad Jingle Bells"

Season's Greetings!

The Battle of the Bands: Road Runner

Beep! Beep! I am back for another Battle of the Band. Last time it was "Coyote" so this time Roadrunner.
                                            Theme music..

Bo Diddley "Roadrunner: is the song for today...

The Rolling Stones "Road Runner"

The Pretty Things " Road Runner"

A lot of Looney Tunes going on! You know the deal vote for the Stones or The Pretty Things in the comments and I will count up the votes before 2020.

Battle of the Bands Results: Jaco, Joni, a shutout, Coyote and no roadrunner!

On my last Battle of the Bands I tried to tip my cap to the late Jaco Pastorius.

                                            "The Chicken"

People don't cover bass players enough to work them into these battles. So I went with a song from Joni's jazz catalog. Glen Hansard may have been the bigger name but my readers liked Bailen better! Bailen won 7 to 0 with her version of "Coyote."  My next Battle will probably be Roadrunner! Might as will get some Looney Tunes in here. 

Bailen "I Was Wrong"

Well I will be back soon with my next Battle of the Bands later today. I am not doing the Christmas thing on my blog this year so if you want a break from the Holiday Music come visit!

Battle of the Bands: Coyote

As promised I moved away from  Montrose. In honor of the late Jaco Pastorius birthday, I thought I would pull a song from Joni Mitchell's jazz years. Jaco is the bass player on the song..."Coyote"

Contender One: Bailen

Contender Two: Glen Hansard

If you like contrasts I have a few on this one. Female Vs Male vocals. Full band vs stripped down singer guitar. Vote for the one you like the best in the comments.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Toys

Today's Monday's Music Moves Me theme is Toys since Black Friday is soon approaching.

Let's just dive into the music!

                                           Aerosmith "Toys in the Attic"

Jeff Beck "Roy's Toy"

Martika "Toy Soldiers"

Joni Mitchell "Shiny Toys"

The Beach Boys "The Man with All The Toys"

A list that starts off rocking and ends with a legendary group at least has good bookend, or in this case songends. Through in an instrumental, a pop song, and Joni not a bad way to fill a list. Toys for your ears on this Monday.

Battle of the Bands Results: Rock Candy

Lita Ford or Lee Aaron was the question. The song was "Rock Candy" by Montrose. We ended up with a tie. We will celebrate with a few songs from each.

                                                 Lee Aaron "Hands On"

Lita Ford "Kiss Me Deadly"

Lee Aaron "Metal Queen"

 

Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne "Close My Eyes Forever"

Lee Aaron "Whatcha Do To My Body"

Lita Ford "Playin' With Fire"

Tune in on December 1st for my next Battle of the Bands

Monday's Music Moves Me: Harvest Songs

Today's Monday Music Moves Me topic is a freebie. Since Thanksgiving is coming up, it is Fall and the harvest time I thought I would use harvest as my theme. Sit back and enjoy.

                                             Neil Young "Harvest Moon"

The Band "King Harvest"

A bit of classical Bartok's "Harvest Song"

The Isley Brothers "Harvest for the World"

Anthony Brown "The Harvest Song"

Hope you enjoyed this selection of songs!

Battle of the Bands: Beating a Dead Horse Rock Candy

Another Sammy Hagar inspired Battle of the Band, again going from the Montrose song catalog, maybe I am beating a dead horse.

However, I am going to add a new twist to my battle of the band post besides the original photo by me of Sammy. For the first time in my history of Battle of the Bands I am going to include a video on how to make Rock Candy.

The song by Montose

Battle of the Bands is pretty easy I will select a couple of covers, you listen to them and tell me which one you like the best. In about a week I count up the results and announce a winner in another post. Sometimes I'm a slacker and post the winner later but I am honest!

Contestant One: Lita Ford

Contestant Two:  Lee Aaron

I am letting the girls rock out on this Battle! Let me know which one you like the best!

Sammy was Fun and Battle of the Bands Results

Even though Stephen  "wouldn't even drive across the street to see Sammy Hagar." I did drive across the state to see Sammy. It was a a good excuse for me to hangout with a friend who I have been friends with for 28 years. Even though we don't live close we still do things together quite often. It also gave me an excuse to spend some time with my Dad. I also got to spend sometime walking in the ocean, with my feet in the water. Even though I have beautiful white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico were I live, I still like the Atlantic. As a bonus for the concert if your an 80s music fan Night Ranger was the opening act.

Sammy and Jason Bonham

Sammy and Michael Anthony 

All pictures by me. The Saint Augustine Amphitheater ended up being a nice venue, great seats and a great friend made it a great night.

Well I picked "Bad Motor Scooter" for my Battle of the Bands selection. The evening I saw Sammy he picked "Rock Candy" as his Montrose song to play. 

The rock cover by Pete Manley got no love in my Battle, making the contest really between an instrumental and the funky version. The Chi-Lites defeated the L.A. Underscore 4 to 2.

The Chi-Lites with "Have You Seen Her"

"Oh Girl"

I will be back tomorrow with another Battle of the Bands! Hope you enjoyed the last one and this look into a day of my life!

Happy Birthday Neil Young

Neil Young's birthday is today! Choosing songs to celebrate should be due to the 74 year old's variety of music!

                                          Well he is the "Old Man" now...

Buffalo Springfield 

"Mr. Soul"

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Southern Man"

Neil Young "Cinnamon Girl"

I think a nice four song is a good way to celebrate. He has a ton of great songs so just a taste from here and there.

                                            

Battle of the Bands: Bad Motor Scooter

I am getting ready to drive across the state to see Sammy Hagar. I thought I would keep on rocking into November and in honor of tonight I thought I would pull out some classic Montrose.

Contestant One:

The Chi-Lites

Contestant Two: L.A. Underscore

Contestant Three: Pete Manley

Three choices something funky, an instrumental and a rocking cover. Vote for the cover you like the best in the comments I will announce a winner in a week or so. 

Hope you enjoy and see you soon!

Rocktober Music Fest: Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! Rocktober Music Fest post with a Halloween theme.

"Love is Kinda Crazy with a Spooky Little Girl Like You" by The Zombies

Beck, Boggert and Appice "Black Cat Moan"....

Santana "Black Magic Woman"

Ray Parker Jr "Ghostbusters"

Happy Halloween!

Rocktober Music Fest: Happy Birthday Chris Slade

The final push for the Rocktober Music Fest and a short time till I go see a Rock N Roll Show. We start off celebrating a drummer's birthday. Chris Slade has drummed for AC/Dc, The Firm, Tom Jones, Asia and more.

Here is on the kit with AC/DC "Let There Be Rock"...

• Asia "Military Man" Slade on drums and vocals

                                                   "Feelings" Uriah Heep

                                                                       
                                                          The Firm "Satisfaction Guaranteed"

There is a good four pack of tunes to celebrate!

Rocktober Music Festival: Happy Birthday Peter Green

Happy birthday to Peter Green! If the name isn't familiar to you I am sure you have heard of his old band Fleetwood Mac. The Mac was different log ago, before the girls, before Lindsey Buckingham, and I suppose the really big hits too.

                                                 Santana liked "Black Magic Woman"

"Got a Good Mind to Give Up Living"

He did other things besides Fleetwood Mac.

"Albatross"

"Fool No More"

but he did cool things with Fleetwood Mac

"Oh Well"

Well I think that is a good set for a blues rock birthday!

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs of the Season

Today's theme for Monday's Music Moves Me is songs of the season which could be Fall or Halloween or both.

                                            Donovan :Season of the Witch"

Led Zeppelin "Ramble On"

Why that song?

"The autumn moon lights my way."

"Moondance" by Van Morrison

Eric Clapton "Autumn Leaves"

"Halloween Theme" John Carpenter

Halloween, witches, leaves, the moon a few legends that's a good recipe for Monday's Music Moves Me.

R.I.P. Paul Barrere

"Let it Roll" by Little Feat. Sad news from Little Feat tonight guitarist Paul Barrere has passed away. You can read the band's statement here.



                                                "Lost in the Sound" with Roger Cole

"If The Phone Don't Ring" Paul Barrere

Having seen this band at their peak of resurgence with my Mom on a New Year's Eve show, to interviewing and meeting one of the co-founders of Little Feat I have a connection to this band. Obviously I am a fan too. 

Little Feat "Feats Don't Fail Me Know"  a different year but the same venue I went to with my mom.

"All That You Dream"

Vintage Little Feat from 1977

May he R.I.P on this sad night.

Rocktober Music Fest: Join Me on the Funk Stage

It's Rocktober and Bootsy Collins' Birthday so that means it is time to bring out the funk!

                                            Bootsy with "I'd Rather Be With You"

He played with James Brown

"Sex Machine and Soul Power

Parliament Funkadelic "Bring the Funk"

Funkadelic "One Nation Under a Groove"

"We Like to Party"

That's a way to get funky!

Bill Graham presents Rocktober Music Fest at The Fillmore Cyberspace

On this day in 1991 Bill Graham the famous Rock and Roll promotor died in a helicopter crash. The cyber webs have been dosed, time and space have been altered.

                                                Video of posters for your trip..

Here he is New Year's Eve 1987

Go to the Fillmore East Janis Joplin "Maybe"...

The Doors "Light My Fire" Winterland 1967

The Grateful Dead "Brokedown Palace" at the SF Auditorium..

Something from the Trips Festival

Hope you enjoy the show. Was it a break from reality? He was one of the greatest promotors in rock history with so many legendary shows with giants of classic rock.

Rocktober Music Fest: Happy Birthday Chad Smith

Chad Smith the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chickenfoot turns 58 today!

                                              A best moments video..

Chickenfoot "Oh, Yeah"

Red Hot Chili Peppers "Californication"

Will Ferrell drum off

Fun, technical, music a good way to celebrate a birthday!

Battle of the Bands Results: Jake Wins!

The Eddie Van Halen endorsed, new version of "Runnin' with the Devil" by Jennifer Hope was soundly beat by Jake E. Lee and friends more traditional rock version. The final score 6 to 2. Sometimes different works sometimes not so much.

Jake E. Lee's victory does work great for Rocktober and the Rock. Jake E. Lee has worked with a lot of hard rock bands.

Here he is with Ozzy Osbourne "Bark at the Moon"

Badlands "Dreams in the Dark"

Jake's "I'll be Creepin'"

I'll have another battle on the first!

Rocktober Music Fest: Happy Birthday Toby Mac

Today is TobyMac's birthday. The hristian Hip-Hop rocker turns 55 today. He has won three Grammy Awards.


Here he is with DC Talk with "Jesus Freak"...

TobyMac "I Judy Need You"

TobyMac "Backseatdriver"

His hits deep tours shine the spotlight on multiple artists and the transition from act to act is smooth and efficient. Better than most muti-act secular tours. He is 55 but still going strong.

Rocktober Music Fest: Happy Birthday Leslie West

Today is Leslie West's birthday the vocalist ad guitar player from Mountain.


                                              "Mississippi Queen"

The song is probably their best known and a good segue from my last post.

A newer song "Dyin' Since The Day I was Born"

Mountain at Woodstock "Southbound Train"

Woodstock of course celebrated it's 50th anniversary this past August with cancelled festivals. Well I hope you enjoy and I will see you soon!

Monday's Music Moves Me: My Roadtrip Part Two

Monday's Music Moves Me is a freebie and I just scratched the surface of the music from my October road trip on my last 4 M post. Well let's get some more tunes!

Eric McFadden "While You Was Gone"

                                             

                                              What's better than Eric McFadden add Doug Wimbish on bass



Pictures by me. Doug Wimbish is an incredible bassist who was in the roc band Living Colour. The band that hada hit with "Cult of Personality"

There was Jonathon Long to keep the guitar fireworks going..."Pray for Me"

The very talented Johnny Sansone was there "The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too"

The blues, swamp music might be enough for the Rocktober Fest too!

                                         

Rocktober Music Fest Celebrating Tom Petty's Birthday

Celebrating Birthday's of Late Rock and Rollers is where I am in this Rocktober Music Fest. Tom Petty who passed away two years ago in October would have celebrated his 68th birthday today. I paid tribute to his passing here and I have celebrated his birthday before.

Try to do it different each time, different songs and different words. I try not to do repeats but I don't think my readers would mind.


                                            Mudcrutch "I Forgive it All"

Right off the back I am digging up Mudcrutch.

Tom Petty "I Won't Back Down"

The Traveling Wilbury's "Handle with Care"

Tom Petty "A Face in the Crowd"

I hope you enjoyed and I will be back with a new post soon!

Rocktober:Celebrating Chuck Berry's Birthday

Let's put some duckwalking, good time rock and roll into this Rocktober Music Fest by celebrating Chuck Berry's Birthday. He was a rock and roll pioneer, an influencer on musicians to come  and a talented entertainer.

Since I just spent some time out in Louisiana, I think "Johnny B. Good is a good place to start this party!

"Roll over Beethoven "

"Nadine" with Keith Richards

"Sweet Little Sixteen"

I could go on and on. What is your favorite Chuck Berry song? Feel free to share in the comments

Rocktober History Post

My Rocktober Music Fest post for today is one on what happened in rock music today.
56 years ago The  Beatles recorded "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

Quick post today but getting back in the swing!

Rocktober Birthday Bob Weir

I'm behind on my Rocktober Festival posts and apparently every three years I post to celebrate Bob Weir's birthday. Here is my post from 2013 and 2016.

At least Bob Weir is diverse enough to write multiple posts about. He believes he has probably played the most gigs of any musician out there. It is hard to argue against his statement. Math would probably back him up and it is hard to think of someone who would be close. A founding member of the Grateful Dead which he joined when he was just 16.


                                                The Grateful Dead "My Brother Esau"

                                                 These folks were treated to a solo performance of "Loose Lucy"

Celebrating his non-Dead music as well "Lucky Enough" with Rat Dog

Here he is with Paul McCartney

                                              "Bombs Away" with his Wolf Brothers

Hope you enjoy and I will see you soon!

Battle of the Bands:Runnin' with the Devil

The song title "Runnin' with the Devil" kind of has that Halloween feel to it. Van Helen and their song certainly fits Rocktober. There is a new cover that Eddie endorsed the other day out so there is hope for some contenders.


The original for your listening pleasure...

You know the deal. I choose a couple of contenders. You tell me (aka vote) which one you like the best in the comments. I count them up and sometimes we get a winner, sometimes it is a tie, and your vote always counts for something here.

Contender One: Jake E. Lee and friends

Contender Two: Jennifer Hope

What we have here is a straight out rock and roll cover of the song and a cover re-imagining the song. Well I hope you enjoy vote in the comments.

Monday's Music Moves Me: My Roadtrip

The wi-fi in my hotel room did not work very well. I've been going to the Voice of the Wetlands Festival each year for the last five years including this year. Even before I lived close enough to make going to the festival a reality, it was a festival I wanted to go to because of the music. Living four hours away makes it an easy decision. First it was the music and then the cause. Each year I added more to the trip. First it was hiking and exploring. Then it was hiking and the Gator farm. Then is was adding the fishing trip. Then it was the swamp tour. Then this year I went hiking everyday except Friday. I discovered a new hiking trail as well. I doubled up on the swamp tours. Music was the draw but enjoying the wetlands on my visits has caught up with it.

If the wetlands disappeared I could still enjoy the music maybe in New Orleans or support the artists when they play in my backyard. I would lose a place for a fishing trip. Yes I know I could possibly book one elsewhere. I would lose my hiking spots. Never enough hiking spots but yes I could find others. Swamp tours well if it is gone there isn't anything to tour. However, the guy I went with was continuing something his Mom started back around 1965. Something that has lasted over 50 years would be gone.

Tab Benoit "Whole Lotta Soul"

How about listening to a Grammy Award winning Zydeco Band...

Chubby Carrier "Zydeco Junkie"

Well if that doesn't capture where I am maybe this one will

Nonc Nu $5 a tail

Mike Zito came in from Texas

More information on the festival and charity can be found here.

Rocktober Battle of the Bands Results: Girls Rawk

My Battle of the Bands took it a song from AC/DC's hard rocking songbook, a cover band, and a female rock star. The cover band was a girl band too. Guess I was just trying to show girls rawk! The results Lzzy Hale 3 Hells Belles 3 a tie.

You never know what might happen on my Battle of the Bands that happen on the first and 15th. Shutouts, blowouts, nail biters, and ties.

Let's celebrate with some hard rocking girls!

Let's go back to the eighties with Lita Ford "Kiss Me Deadly"

Jennifer Batten she was Michael Jackson's guitarist, she toured with Jeff Beck for a while. A solo tune and a Jeff Beck cover...

Joan Jett "Bad Reputation"

Pat Benatar "Love is a Battlefield"

That should keep you rocking!