R.I.P Gary Rossington

 The last survivor of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd Gary Rossington has passed away.

                                            "Last of the Street Survivors"

The Rossington Band "Take it on Faith"

Rossington Collins Band "One Good Man"

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man"

A Southern Rock legend, a link to an era and one of the greatest bands to ever come out of Jacksonville, Florida has passed away. His legacy will live on in tribute bands, current country and rock bands. He will be missed by his family, friends and fans,

R.I.P Steve Holland

"Flirtin' with Disaster" is probably my favorite Molly Hatchet song.  Probably a good place to start as I write a tribute for the last original member of the band who passed away this week, guitarist Steve Holland. Steve had left the group in 1984. In 1999 Holland played  benefit concert for ailing original vocalist Danny Joe Brown, former Hatchet members Bruce Crump, Banner Thomas, and Dave Hlubek. They performed the benefit under the name The Dixie Jam Band.

Here they perform "Flirtin' with Disaster" there is1 to 2 minutes of talk before they perform the song...

In the years he left Molly Hatchet Steve played in a group called "Gator Country" comprised of Hatchet alumni.  

Here is that group covering Bad Company's "Oh, Atlanta"

Here is the original Molly Hatchet performing the song "Gator Country"

Maybe a different flavor "Fall of the Peacemakers"

Sad that the original band has all passed away. Being raised in "Gator Country," to heckling (it was in good fun) a guitarist who's band singer would eventually front Molly Hatchet I would have to say the band has a place on my musical shelve and it is nice to play the songs from time to time. I guess Rock and Roll Heaven needed to complete the band for some Southern Rock and Roll!

Monday's Music Moves Me: Jacksonvillle Rock

It's Monday and time for a Monday's Music Moves Me post. Today is a freebie.

My theme is bands from Jacksonville, Florida.

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man"

The Allman Brothers Band "One Way Out"

Shinedown  "Get Up"

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Everybody's Talkin'"

Molly Hatchet "Gator Country"

Limp Bizkit 

"Take a Look Around"

Well there is a six pack for your Monday! Enjoy and see you soon.

Blogging from A to Z: Mother's Little Helper and a Battle of the Bands

My Mother has reached that age where she needs a little help, and can use all the Little Helpers she can get. I'm still keeping with my theme and I am multitasking this one into a Battle of the Bands as well!

I am using the classic Rolling Stones tune "Mother's Little Helper" as the song. I am not going to post the original this time.

Contestant One: Eric McFadden

Contestant Two: Liz Phair

Tell me which version you like best in the comments. I will count up the votes and announce a winner  before The Rolling Stones reschedule their postponed tour. Yes, I have a ticket to see them in Jacksonville. The plan was to visit my Mom and see the Stones. That's life for you it changes plans. However, I will have the results probably on the 28th.

Blogging A to Z: Jacksonville

My Mom lives in the Jacksonville, Florida area. One of the selling points about moving to where I live is that I would be closer to my parents. As I am growing grayer my parents are growing older. Growing older I am finding out comes with more health issues. I am closer so I can come visit more often. Closer being the keyword. Jacksonville is still about 360 miles from where I am. 360 boring miles due east from me.

Sometimes I throw in a fun distraction like a concert, football game or a meet up with a close friend when I go to Jacksonville.

I don't dislike Jacksonville. I don't like the drive. It is one place that feels like home when I visit. I lived there as a child for about six years. I can drive by the old elementary schools I used to go to. I can walk through the old park I used to play in. I can walk along the beach that I have walked so many times before.

A to Z Challenge 2016: Pearl Jam

Last week I made a crazy trip to Jacksonville mainly centered around seeing Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam had never performed in Jacksonville (a link to an article about that) and the last time I caught the band in concert was at The Tibetan Freedom Festival 18 years ago.

Here is the opener from that show, a long time ago at RFK....

  The show I went to on Wednesday received rave review in the local press and by Jambase. The show was much different. It was in a much smaller venue, the band like me is older, Pearl Jam played a lot longer.

Pearl Jam on stage...





Below is the setlist...

• Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
• Mind Your Manners
• Hail Hail
• Last Exit
• Lightning Bolt
• Nothingman
• Army Reserve
• Given to Fly
• Rival  
• Setting Forth  
• Corduroy
• Even Flow
• Of the Earth
• Glorified G
• Unthought Known
• Let the Records Play
• Spin the Black Circle
• Porch

Encore

• I Won't Back Down  
• I Am a Patriot  
• Just Breathe
• Jeremy
• Ghost  
• Do the Evolution
• Better Man  

Encore

• Smile
• Once
• Black  
• State of Love and Trust
• Alive
• Rockin' in the Free World  
• Yellow Ledbetter
• The Star-Spangled Banner  

Setlist from SetlistFM via Jambase.

Pearl Jam played close to three hours so they certainly put in the work!

Here is how they ended the show...

My favorite song by Pearl Jam is "Alive"

It was a great time to catch up with family, a friend and a show. I just needed more time for the trip!

A to Z Challenge 2016: Jacksonville Bound

Tonight I will be heading out on  a six hour trip to Jacksonville, Florida. I should go there more often but I rarely get two days off in a row, so 12 hours in a car is a little tough. My parents and a good friend both live outside Jacksonville so that is the appeal of visiting. Yes they both hit me up to visit.

Well my friend hit me up to visit because he had an extra ticket to the Pearl Jam concert. Apparently a buddy had backed out on him. He and my parents had asked me if I was going to Saint Augustine to see Robert Plant last month which opted t see Robert Plant closer to home.

I wouldn't be a very good friend if I always said no. Plus it will give me some time for a little visit with my parents. So my schedule will consist of work and a six hour drive literally in the middle of the night. Wednesday I will visit wit my parents see the show. The Pearl Jam concert should be neat since they have never played that city before. Thursday morning I will head out way too early on a six hour journey to go back to work. Pretty insane if I may say so myself.

How far have you travelled for a concert? What is the craziest trip you have gone on? Feel free to share in the comments.

World Cup, Soccer, Football..

Soccer is the world's sport but it is not Merica's sport. Wanted to make a distinction between the United States of America and the two continents of America. Soccer could be the sport in central and South America. Soccer doesn't need to be the sport in the United States, but soccer would like to be successful in this country.

I played a season or so of youth soccer. I was a fan watching NASL soccer games and then ASL games in the 70s as a youth in Jacksonville rooting on the Tea Men. College football was king in the city and the city had dreams of an NFL team. Pro soccer is what we had. Leagues, teams folded and were forgotten. No one remembers the Jacksonville Tea Men now.

As a youth I was a fan. It was what my city could offer and my parents cold afford to take me to the games. I moved to a more soccer friendly area but never  really got behind the DC United. The woman I got behind. They took advantage of international success and started a league. But it faded and petered out. I liked the girl's game.

Men's soccer needs World Cup success to make soccer successful here. Unfortunately the rest of the world is to talented than Team USA. Mediocre is how I would describe our World Cup appearance so far. A win over Ghana, a draw with Portugal, and a loss to Germany honestly is respectable. A win in the next round would give soccer a boost. A deep World Cup run could give soccer a much needed buzz here. A miracle championship could establish soccer here. It would be the best thing for soccer increasing the fan base, boosting interest, merchandise sales and it won't happen

I wish Team USA the best but watch out for the powerhouses!

A to Z Challenge: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd played Wanee this weekend. I caught them a couple weeks ago at a small festival in Pensacola called the Beaulah Festival. Samed like a good place to catch them six hours from their hometime of Jacksonville and just five miles or so from "Sweet Home Alabama."

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There is a small promo for the fest. Here the band performs at Wanee..

 

Sure guitarist Gary Rossington is the only pre-crash original left in the band. However, the band carries out the spirit of the original band full of that guitar heavy, southern rock that sure does sound good around here.

The last time I saw the band was in Pittsburgh here is "Simple Man" from that show...

Starting your Monday with some southern fried rock and continuing on with the A to Z: Challenge.
Stay tuned as I will think of something to blog about for M.

Beryl

During my time away from not blogging. Honestly, I took a trip and certain tropical storm decided to go to the same place. I was at the beach this was by the river in Jacksonville. 

Luckily the only damage to where I was staying was a tree fell and brushed the house. It was like a 50 foot tree but the City of Neptune Beach responded quick. Here is a picture of the tree against the house..



Other than that it was typical debris thrown around. It did close the beach for a few days which was a bummer but better to be safe.