2019, APRIL 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, EVERCLEAR VS. DJ DAVE)

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First off, let me say that from April 2nd through April 4th, I will be crossing off one of the very last things on my "Bucket List". 
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In approximately 2005, my friend, MelNel, gave me this book:
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And ever since then, I have wanted to do this drive:
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And since I now live in the city that is officially at the Western-most point of 'The Loneliest Road In America', I've decided now (while I'm still employment-free), is the time to finally make that drive. And when I return, it'll be time to get a job and go back to work.
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Therefore, because I'll be lonely on the road again, I may be late getting to your 'Battle Of The Bands' posts. But fear not! I'll get all my votes in, even if it's at the 11th hour.
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Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...

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BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
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Yes, we're doing another edition of 'The Battle For Los Angeles', subcategory 'The Battle For Dogtown'. I'm sure you remember that "Dogtown" is comprised of Venice and the Southern portion of Santa Monica.
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I grew up in the heart of "Dogtown" and, even today, I have a "Dogtown" sticker on the back of my pick-up truck:
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The following screenshot shows my old neighborhood, which also includes the 'Whole Foods' grocery store at the corner of Lincoln and Rose (remember that -- you'll need it later). There was no 'Whole Foods' there when I was a kid, and that area was more "ghetto-y" than it is now.
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Near the upper right corner, in green, it says "Penmar Golf Course". Just above that, it says "Sunset Ave." That's the street I grew up on, from 5th grade through high school. That's Santa Monica ("Dogtown").
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Near the center of the photo, you'll see "Whole Foods Market" in blue. That's Venice (a suburb of Los Angeles, and also "Dogtown"). That shows you how far away I lived from bozo Bezos' 'Whole Foods' grocery store in Venice - which wasn't even there!
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This is April Fools' Day, so I'm using two funny, foolish music videos in this installment of BOTB. And I'm allowing you to consider both the music AND the videos when casting your vote. Ordinarily, only the music counts in BOTB. But this time, you can also allow the videos to influence your vote. For the record, I really enjoy BOTH of these videos a great deal! I think they're both terrific, so there's no "wrong vote" as far as I'm concerned.  
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Our first competitor is Everclear with their song 'A.M. Radio'. Some videos I found (like THIS ONE), begin with the KHJ call slogan. KHJ was the granddaddy of all Los Angeles A.M. Top 40 radio stations, and I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that sing-song station identification!
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Everclear was founded by Art Alexakis, who grew up on the Westside of Los Angeles and he claims that when he was young, he attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Santa Monica Pier. UHP!... 
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Unarguably, one of MTV's most frequently played music videos in the 1980s was Randy Newman's 'I Love L.A.'. It contained many images that Angelenos were familiar with:
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"Look at that mountain!"

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"Look at that bum over there - he's down on his knees!"

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My dear friend, the Flying Aardvark, works in one of those triangular buildings.

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Tom's #5, near Santa Monica Beach. Wish I had a buck for every time I was there at 3:00 AM!

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The "Jesus Saves" sign in downtown Los Angeles.

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Stephen T. McCarthy in downtown Los Angeles (circa 1983).

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'Randy's Donuts' in Randy Newman's video.

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I really like how Everclear's video pays homage to the [link> 'Randy's Donuts' image in Randy Newman's 'I Love L.A.' video:
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'A.M. RADIO' image featured in Everclear's video.

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I hope this video plays for you folks in Canada. The YouTube Region Restriction Checker said it will, but it's been known to be a liar.
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A.M. RADIO - EVERCLEAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjg39XRkjVc

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This next song / video is by DJ DAVE, and it's the only RAP song I've ever liked! It's a tongue-in-cheek look at how tough-'n'-tumble it is trying to park and shop at 'Whole Foods' in Venice, at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Rose Avenue - about a 4-minute bicycle ride from the house I grew up in.
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My second favorite quote of all time:
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Fu#k everything east of Lincoln Boulevard!
~ Eric 

Spoken at ‘The Cinema’ cocktail lounge on Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City, California -- which is east of Lincoln Boulevard!

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WHOLE FOODS PARKING LOT - DJ DAVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU

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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.
@ '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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