BOTB RESULTS From 2019, JAN. 15: (Or, CARLOS SANTANA VS. GATO BARBIERI)

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STMcC’s Vote On '2019, January 15th: Battle Of The Bands' (BOTB) - Or, Carlos Santana Versus Gato Barbieri - And The Final Tally:
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FIRST: I thank every one of you who showed up to listen and vote. If you weren't doing that, I wouldn't be doing this.
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SECOND: As of tomorrow at about 15:00 (that's 3:00 PM for you civilians) I will be officially cleared to move into my new home.
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And you know how it is when you move. For awhile, I will be without AlGoreNet service. And right now, I don't know which days I will actually be physically moving my shit  stuffs. Therefore, I don't know which days and for how long I will be without service. And then we're always at the mercy of "cable guys" and such.
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I'm going to try to compose and set up my next two BOTB installments to automatically post on Feb. 1st and Feb. 15th, and I will do my best to host these Battles. I will also do my best to vote on all y'all's Battles. Even if it means I have to do it in single sentences posted from my cell phone from some coffee shop (NOT called Starbucks!) with Wifi. But if you don't hear much from me over the next two BOTB periods, please understand why and *KNOW* that I will be Bach. Maybe even Beethoven, too.
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As for my Battle this time, it took place HERE. It featured the song 'EUROPA (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile)', and I used the live version from the Carlos Santana 'Moonflower' album against the rendition by Jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri from his album 'Caliente!'.
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Back on 9-15-2018, BOTBer John Holton created a contest using the same song and contestants, except he utilized Carlos Santana's studio version of the song. John's Battle is HERE. Following are comments that John and I exchanged back then, prior to him creating that Battle. And all the comments below will 'splain why I re-did this Battle using Santana's live version of the song:
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Me: Good choices, JOHN! I always dug that ‘Caliente!’ album, and over the years I toyed with the idea of using Gato’s ‘Europa’ against the Santana original in BOTB. I’ve always shied away from it, though, figuring it would be a landslide victory for Carlos.
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John: Actually, I think you’d be surprised in a BotB between the two of them. But that’s up to you.
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Me: It’s definitely a Rock and guitar-centric crowd, so I think Carlos and his guitar would pretty well clobber Gato and his saxophone. But, hey, if you like the idea of that match-up, consider it all yours. My gift to you to use whenever you want. Me, I’m too a-skeered to try and pull that one off.
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Here are the voting Results from John's Battle:
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Gato Barbieri = 4 votes
Carlos Santana = 3  votes
Carlos & Gato together = 1 vote
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During the Battle, I posted the following comment-vote to John:
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Me: Very interesting Battle, JOHN. This is quite possibly the first time in BOTB history where someone put two musicians up against each other and then offered a third option with the two musicians performing the song together. Cool ‘outside-the-box’ approach.
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And this Battle is more of a challenge to me than I’d anticipated, because here’s the funny thing: When I thought of putting Gato against Carlos, I ALWAYS automatically assumed I’d use Santana’s LIVE version from the ‘Moonflower’ album. That’s the version I grew up listening to and I prefer it to the studio recording. (I just came from listening to the ‘Moonflower’ version at YouTube and found quite a few commenters there saying that they also prefer that particular live version to the original studio take.)
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For me, if it’s Gato versus Santana’s ‘Moonflower’ recording of ‘Europa’, my vote goes to Carlos. But Santana’s studio rendition versus Gato’s, now that changes things for me.
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As far as instruments in general go, I prefer the tenor sax to the electric guitar. And I love Gato’s emotionally intense style of guttural playing. So I think, in this particular match-up, I’ll... go with Gato. To my own surprise, I am voting for Gato (because he’s not going up against Santana’s live version from ‘Moonflower’). 
~ D-FensDogG 

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Well, in *this* Battle, which DID use Santana's more lyrical and soaring live version of the song, I voted for Carlos over Gato. Nevertheless, the Battle was WAY CLOSER than I thought it might be. John was right about that:
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Carlos Santana = 10 votes
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Gato Barbieri = 7 votes
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In The Battle Within The Battle, The Magic 8-Ball (13-7) was wrong and The Amazing Sixwell (14-6) was right. (And now it begins...) 
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I hope you will all be here again for my February 1st BOTB installment... even if I'm NOT.  
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy 
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2019, JAN. 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, CARLOS SANTANA VS. GATO BARBIERI)

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Reno Vs. Carson City, Male Vs. Female, War Vs. Peace, Light Vs. Dark, Good Vs. Evil, Man Vs. Machine, Love Vs. Hate, Dog Vs. Cat, Sun Vs. Moon, Brain Vs. Brawn, Oscar Vs. Grammy, Angel Vs. Demon, Laurel Vs. Hardy, Beer Vs. Wine, TV Vs. Radio, Pitcher Vs. Batter, Paper Vs. Plastic, Reality Vs. Fantasy, Yeshua Vs. Beelzebub, Conservative Vs. Liberal, You Vs. Me, House Vs. Senate, Offense Vs. Defense, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Spy Vs. Spy, Fischer Vs. Spassky, W.C. Fields Vs. Sobriety, Harold Gimpy, Jr. Vs. Sheldon J. Pismire, Rock Vs. Paper Vs. Scissors, Islam Vs. Everything, Singer Vs. Singer, Band Vs. Band...
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BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
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Shoop-Shooby -
Shooby-Duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah -
Buh-Doo-Wah!
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Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
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NOTICE #1: Before we even get started, I want to announce that I have purchased a home in a new (old) city and I will be making the big move eventually  soon  probably while you're voting on this Battle. I'm really not sure how much I'll be able to respond to comments. I'm not even sure I'll be able to present a BOTB installment on February 1st. But I'll do the best I can.
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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Eugene Martone Vs. Jack Butler

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The song - a Carlos Santana original - is 'EUROPA: Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile'. And my competitors are Santana versus the Jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri.
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Now, if you're having that "deja vu" feeling, it's because our BOTB buddy, John Holton, presented this same Battle back on September 15th of last year.
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However, there's a bit of a twist: I'm using the same Gato Barbieri recording that John did, but instead of using Carlos Santana's original studio recording of the song from 1976, I'm using his live recording from the 1977 'Moonflower' album.
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In my BOTB Results post (which will hopefully appear here on January 21st), I'll 'splain why I'm presenting this Battle which is so similar, yet not quite identical, to John's 9-15-2018 BOTB contest.
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NOTICE #2: If you are here first thing in the morning (like, 6:00 to 8:00 AM), I'm going to ask you to please vote on someone else's BOTB contest for now, and then return here later in the day, when you find time. This is NOT a first-thing-in-the-morning listening experience, and both artists should have an even Battleground to fight upon. I thank you!!
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Goodniks Vs. No-Goodniks

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EUROPA (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) - Carlos Santana (live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmoUTItjxOc

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Godzilla Vs. King Kong

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EUROPA (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) - Gato Barbieri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRIbuIeTew4

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Riddler Vs. Batman

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The Battle Within The Battle

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VERSUS

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Question: "Will Gato Barbieri beat Carlos Santana?"

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The Magic 8-Ball (13-6) sez:  "It Is Certain"

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The Amazing Sixwell (13-6) sez:  "Don't Count On It"

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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other.
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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants to see which songs they have chosen and vote there also. (If their ‘BOTB’ blog bits aren’t posted yet, pour yourself two shots of ‘Grand Marnier’ over ice – do it twice – and then return to their blogs to vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)
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Voice Your Vote...
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'AI LOVE MUSIC' by clicking HERE.
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As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th and 21st of each month to post my own votes and announce the winners in the comment sections.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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BOTB RESULTS: JAN. 1, 2019 (Or, MY COUSIN CLOBBERS CANADIANS!)

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STMcC’s Vote On '2019, January 1st: Battle Of The Bands' (BOTB) - Or, Theory Of A Deadman Versus The Zone - And The Final Tally:
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Hokey-Smoke! 
I'm late, I'm late,
For a very important date.
No time to say, "Hello" -- GOODBYE!
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!
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Usually, I'm Mr. Punctuality. How unlike me to be two days late to my own party! But I was house-hunting out-of-town the last two days. Sorry 'bout that.
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This 'Battle Of The Bands' contest was another in my subcategory 'Battle For Los Angeles', sub-subcategory "Dogtown", editions (i.e., Santa Monica / Venice).
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The two Santa Monica-related songs I used were 'Santa Monica' by the 21st Century Canadian band Theory Of A Deadman, and 'Do The Thing' by The Zone. The voting and comments can be found HERE. 
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It began as a tight race. After 8 votes were in, our competitors were tied 4 to 4. But then THE ZONE began to take over and sprinted to the finish line, winning easily.
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THEORY OF A DEADMAN = 7 votes
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THE ZONE = 12 votes
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It was a nice turnout and I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to listen and vote. And those few of you who knew that The Zone's lead singer, harmonica player, and primary songwriter was my cousin, Johnny, I thank you for not spilling the beans in your comments.
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Yes, you read that correctly. The Zone, a 1990s band from Venice, California, was fronted by my own cousin. It was I who got John really interested in Rock music while I, myself, was still just a teenager. John later went on to form / join several Rock groups, my favorite of which was The Zone. 
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In the beginning, John wasn't really much of a singer and his first band wasn't able to play anything more than raw, ragged, loud, "garage"-type Rock. But I always supported my cousin by showing up at the L.A. clubs where he was playing, and dragging as many friends with me as I could.
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In late 1992, I moved to Prescott, Arizona, and lived there until I returned to L.A. in March of 1994. One day, shortly after moving back to my "homemegalopolis", Cousin John called and asked if he could come by my apartment with a six-pack of beer and play for me the cassette of demos he and his new band, The Zone, had recorded. Of course I said, "Of course". 
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When Johnny got there, we cracked open a couple cold ones and I was prepared to hear some more raw, ragged, loud, "garage"-type Rock. But after the first song on the tape ended, I turned to my cousin and asked him, "Where did you find the crossroads?!"
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Seriously, I could not fathom how anyone could have gotten *that* good that *fast*!! I learned from Johnny that in the year and a half that I'd been in Arizona, he had started taking professional singing lessons. WOW! Did they ever pay off! I was astounded. I'm still kind of astounded, because I still remember how he and his bands sounded before I left L.A. just 18 months earlier.
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THE ZONE - photo by Stephen T. McCarthy

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Band: THE ZONE 
L-R: Peter Noss - keyboards & sax; 
John Napier - vocals & harmonica; 
??? - drums; 
John DeNault - bass;
Joel Morin - guitar
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I still have copies of 9 original songs by The Zone, and I say without the slightest hesitation that if those 9 songs were an album I owned in my teens, when I was all about Hard Rock music, I would have completely worn that album out. I still think those 9 songs sound great - I still play them pretty regularly - and I still think The Zone was far, Far, FAR more talented than most Rock bands who are popular today. I plan to use The Zone in another BOTB installment sometime later this year. 
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If I were forced to choose just one Zone song as my very favorite, I think I'd say 'How Your Puzzle Fits'. Have a listen and see what you think of it:
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Cousin John has always credited me with having ignited his interest in music. But years later, he repaid me for that when he turned me onto the movie 'This Is SPINAL TAP', which I think is hilarious. I own it on DVD and watch it every few years, and every time I do, I'm reminded of my Cousin Johnny. 
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As for Theory Of A Deadman and their song 'Santa Monica'... the lyrics include these lines:
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Funny, but that's EXACTLY the way I feel every time I hear 'Santa Monica' by Theory Of A Deadman.
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The Magic 8-Ball and The Amazing Sixwell both predicted this Battle's outcome correctly. That leaves them tied at 13 hits and 6 misses apiece.
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Again, I thank you all for your support of BOTB, and I hope to see all of you back here again for my January 15th Battle.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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POSTSCRIPT: Special thanks to Julio Seis-Abeja for making this Battle possible!
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2019, JAN. 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, THEORY OF A DEADMAN VERSUS THE ZONE)

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Welcome to 

BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB) 2019

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This is 2019's first installment of 'The Battle For Los Angeles', subcategory 'The Battle For Dogtown'. I trust you remember that "Dogtown" is that part of Greater Los Angeles comprised of Venice and Santa Monica south of Wilshire Blvd.
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But before we get on with the Battle, 

I want to wish each and every one of you a...

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MARGARITA DAY - A tradition since 1986 (except for 1994).

Go get you one or two to start the New Year out right!

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My brother, Nappy, and I drank these 2 Margaritas in Prescott, Arizona, a great many New Year's Days ago.

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I hope y'all had a nice Christmas. Mine was fine. As always, I made my traditional wish that Tiny Tim will someday score a second Top 40 hit song. 2018's tiny Christmas Day wish was deposited in the Truckee River, which runs through the middle of Reno ("The Biggest Little Ghetto In The World").
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OK, enough of that chit-chat, because... 
It's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' 'The Battle For Los Angeles' ("Dogtown" edition).
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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Wackypedia sez:
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Theory of a Deadman (abbreviated as Theory) is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia. Formed in 2001, the band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative rock base. 
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The name of the band comes from a song from their first album, whose lyrics describe a man preparing to commit suicide. That track was later renamed "The Last Song". 
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Released in 2005, their song titled 'Santa Monica' climbed to #27 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock music chart. 
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VIDEO NOTE: The song officially ends at 4:04, the next 3:30 is just silence and a black screen.
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SANTA MONICA - Theory Of A Deadman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EntUPETTKQQ


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If Aerosmith and James Brown ("The Hardest Working Man In Show Business") had a baby, I think that baby would be The Zone. The Zone was a local "Dogtown" band from Venice / Santa Monica that played the L.A. club circuit in the 1990s. They wove a healthy dose of Funk rhythms into their Hard Rock sound:
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"I ducked into a Blues jam out on Broadway and Fourth;
I didn't tip the waitress and I felt no remorse.
They called my name -- I grabbed my harp* and mic;
Got down, got loose, got funky, cut the air like a knife.
Did the Thing!!..."
~ 'Do The Thing' by The Zone
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[*"harp" = "harmonica"]
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You wouldn't know this unless you knew it, but the "Blues jam out on Broadway and Fourth" is a reference to a Santa Monica nightclub called Harvelle's (1432 4th Street, Santa Monica, California).
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Very quickly, here's my best Harvelle's story:
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Long before it became a "nightclub", Harvelle's was just a little neighborhood bar which did NOT feature live music such as mentioned in the song 'Do The Thing'. Occasionally, when I was in downtown Santa Monica, I'd pop into Harvelle's for a beer or two.
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So, one day, somewhere between 1983 and 1985, I was in Harvelle's knocking back a cold one with the regulars, when some guy suddenly came running in the front door. He ran right through the bar and immediately exited out the back door which led into the alley behind Harvelle's. 
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About 15 to 20 seconds later, a cop came running in the front door. He stopped and just stood there, confused, and not sure what to do. There were maybe 10 to 12 of us customers in Harvelle's at the time, and no one said a word, but every one of us just pointed toward the back door. And -*BOOM!*- the cop went charging through the back door into the alley and the chase was on again!! ...And we all just went back to our drinking.
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I've never forgotten that Harvelle's incident because it seemed like something you'd see in an old episode of 'Baretta' or 'Starsky & Hutch'... or, better yet, 'Moonlighting'. Pretty funny.
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DO THE THING - The Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dCAqO4xSGA


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The Battle Within The Battle

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VERSUS

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Question: "Will Theory Of A Deadman lose to The Zone?"

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The Magic 8-Ball (12-6) sez:  "Signs Point To Yes"

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The Amazing Sixwell (12-6) sez:  "Outlook Good"

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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other.

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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants to see which songs they have chosen and vote there also. (If their ‘BOTB’ blog bits aren’t posted yet, pour yourself two shots of ‘Grand Marnier’ over ice – do it twice – and then return to their blogs to vice your voice ...vote your vice ...voice your vote.)
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Voice Your Vote...
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'AI LOVE MUSIC' by clicking HERE.
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As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th and 21st of each month to post my own votes and announce the winners in the comment sections.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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