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Welcome back, my friends, to the "Battle" that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!
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This is 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB') where you listen to different recordings and vote for the one you like best. A new Battle gets posted on the 1st of each month and on the 7th, I place my own vote, tally 'em all up and announce the winner.
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Friend? Foe? Stranger? No matter, ALL are welcome. So pull up a chair, pour yourself 24 oz. of DOG BITE High Gravity Lager (or the poison of your choice) and turn it up to Eleven!
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[NOTE: Links to the first year of 'BOTB' (#1 - #24) can be found at the very bottom of this page.]

Monday, April 1, 2019

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 notto 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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45 comments:

  1. DJ Dave gets my vote! I liked the humor in the song

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, MIKE. That is definitely a funny song!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  2. That "loneliest road" sounds intriguing. I've been on some pretty lonely roads--mostly in West Texas. Have a great time.

    I've been in the general area that you describe, but it's not a place I know well or have spent any significant time.

    The DJ song is pretty funny, but not something I would listen to very often. The Everclear song is also funny and is very much in line with a lot of the stories you've told about. Fun song.

    My vote goes to Everclear.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, LEE. I'm "on the road again" just as soon as this coffee kicks in!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  3. Well, those were fun, even though not really my taste on a musical level. ☺ DJ Dave had a melodic rap, at least. Everclear is ripping off "Mr. Bigstuff" in their song. I'm assuming they had permission, or, is there a plagiarism suit in play? Anyway, I preferred DJ Dave on this one. Enjoy your road trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DEBBIE ~
      At first, your comment puzzled me. "Mr. Big Stuff"? What is she talkin' 'bout? Then I saw where John used the word "intro". So I hit play on that video again and... HOKEY-SMOKE!

      I guess it had never registered with me before (until it was pointed out to me), because I'd managed to put "Mr. Big Stuff" out of my mind.

      That was Jean Knight from 1971. (Looked it up.) And I might be willing to argue that was possibly the first real "Disco" song, some years ahead of its time.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  4. I have to give it to AM Radio-Everclear because I am just not for rap for the most part. I also love the video because that was my time as a kid and watching all those shows. Interesting what Debbie says about the song though. I have to look up the loneliest road and I would love to travel on it and see the sights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BIRGIT ~
      I hate RAP. But I'm for anything that can make me laugh.

      I thought the Everclear video was very clever, too!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  5. Oh, DJ Dave fer sure!

    I laughed aloud several times in that one. The hardships of the rough life on the streets of Santa Monica. It's getting real on the west side of LA. Out of cheese? JEEZ!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BROTHER SIXGUN ~
      I'll bet I've watched that 'Whole Foods' video at least 80 times over the years, and it STILL makes me literally laugh out loud. And, interestingly, I don't always laugh at the exact same moments, because there's plenty of humor throughout.

      "Take it easy, man. I try to calm myself."
      GOL!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  6. I thought Everclear was going to launch into "Mr. Big Stuff" when I heard their intro, but the rest of the song didn't disappoint. I tried listening to DJ Dave, but really couldn't get into it at all. Everclear for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, JOHN. *Tsk!-Tsk!*
      I think your "Cool" card has been revoked.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  7. Howdy, Stephen T!

    You'll have a blast on that ole' lonesome road. Can't wait to read all about it ;-)

    It's Everclear for me, though I have to wonder what Mr. Big and Mr. Stuff have to say about it - ha! Fun video.

    Say hello to Diana for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howdy, dIEDRE ~
      Thanks for the visit!

      Yeah, I think "Mr. Big Stuff" might want to get hi'self a "Mr. Hot Shot" lawyer.

      The road trip begins as soon as I drink this 3rd cuppa joe and do a meditation session. I hope to be "on the road again" by 9:30.

      >>... Say hello to Diana for me!

      "Diana"?!?!
      Hmmm.... maybe wot ah need is a 4th cuppa joe!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  8. Hey there Stephen!

    Did you think I had forgot about you? Nope. I just got sidetracked. But I am here now!

    That loneliest road sounds awful .... lonely. Sure hope you aren't traveling by yourself.

    I think you may have sent me that Whole Foods video once before. And well, you know how I feel about Mr Alexakis. I did find it hilarious that he was wearing a PORTLAND Trailblazers jersey throughout the video. By the way.. Mr Alexakis recently let the world know that he's been diagnosed with MS. I sure do wish him well.

    Have a safe and memorable trip!

    Oh, you want my vote? Alright. If you insist. I'm voting for ...
    Everclear

    ~Mary
    Jingle Jangle Jungle
    Literary Gold

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HiYa, MMQE ~
      Is that a new "face palm" avatar I see?

      There's a little official "Loneliest Road In America" booklet that you can get stamped at various places along the way, proving you did the drive and survived it.

      When I got my Carson City stamp yesterday, so I wouldn't have to waste time doing it today, I told the gal who stamped it that I thought about doing the drive with someone but then figured that would be defeating the purpose. I mean, it just doesn't seem right to drive "The Loneliest Road In America" all the while you're yakking with someone in the passenger seat.

      Plus, I figure that if I get lonely along the way, I can always buy a woman at one of my two over-night stops.

      >>... Have a safe and memorable trip!

      Thank you!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
    2. >>,,,I figure that if I get lonely along the way, I can always buy a woman at one of my two over-night stops.

      a) Why buy when I'm certain you can get it for free?
      b) If'n you do buy (or rent or even get the free variety) be sure to triple wrap. Remember - Safety first!

      There was something else I was going to say here, but my memory is slippin'. I'm sure I'll remember at 3am as I'm drifting off to sleep and no where near a computer.

      ~M

      Delete
    3. MMQE ~

      Do you have *ANY* idea what the women look like who would give it to me for free??!!

      No thanks. I'd rather pay and be left with a memory that I can kinda-sorta live with.
      [:-D}

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

      Delete
  9. Every trip I've taken lately has been for a specific reason and I've got to say that I'm a little bit jealous of your trip. Sounds like fun and relaxing.

    However, "I can always buy a woman at one of my two over-night stops"....brudder, brudder, brudder...lol.

    Well, back to business...I give you my one and only bote: EVERCLEAR gets it today!

    Be safe in your travels and I hope you re-fuel in every way possible, not just the gas tank.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DOC MacSIS ~

      >>... I've got to say that I'm a little bit jealous of your trip. Sounds like fun and relaxing.

      Your jealousy is misplaced.

      After my trip, my friend, Julio, texted me and wrote:

      Does that mean you just got home? What was your favorite part?

      I responded:

      Yeah, just got home. And I think *THAT* was my favorite part.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

      Delete
  10. Stephen,

    Somehow I managed to miss the mews that you're in-between jobs. *scratch head* I hope you have loads of fun on your road trip. It's good to take a little break when you're employed free as you put it to enjoy life before getting back to the grind.

    I'm running short on time for multiple reasons so I'll cut to the chase. I'm going with AM Raido Everclear in this round.

    BTW, I like the bumper sticker "Do you follow Jesus this close?" That's great! :D

    You'll find my BoTB HERE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CATHY ~

      That bumper sticker is ESSENTIAL for driving in Reno, Nevada ("The Biggest Little Disappointment In The World").

      I praise God that, as of yesterday, every single trace of me has been removed from Reno ("The Biggest Little Ghetto In The World").

      Yes, I have been "between jobs". But at least I've only been "between jobs" (and voluntarily so) for 4+ months. Unlike someone I know who says... well... never mind. ...I almost said too much.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

      Delete
    2. Stephen,

      It's tough being between jobs even if it's voluntary. Every time DH has been betweens jobs it's not voluntary but because of corporate decision to downsize. It's painful to go through, too. Let's keep our fingers and toes cross that we never have to worry about being unemployed again. I hope you're happier in your new home.

      Delete
    3. Thanks, CATHY!

      I'm getting some final lose ends tied up, while cranking up my employment-seeing mindset. All good things must come to an end, and this extended vacation is just about over.

      But I think I'm going to be very happy here. CC isn't going to remain "Willoughberry" forever, but by the time it's gotten Reno-like, this poor old body will be resting in the ground.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

      Delete
  11. McBruthaMan,

    Well, the Everclear song and video is on of the best I've ever seen and heard. Fan-tastic! Who can't relate to having a radio the size of a shoebox and tuning in to AM (and Casey Kasem "Yes! My faveorite song is up tp #3). Everclear has the perfect flashbacks. The Blazers jersey may be a nod to '77 champs with Bill Walton and some heck of team play.


    The Whole Foods song, the background music seems redundant, on a loop, which may not be a bd thing except the music isn't that good.

    Non-regional yet everywhere relatable:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw

    Best wishes on your cool road trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, G DogG ~

      The road trip was safe and successful. It was possibly also the last road trip I'll take. I'm just too old to do all that much driving alone anymore. By the end of Day 1 of 3, I was already looking forward to getting home to Willoughberry.

      Man, I guess it's time to admit that I will NEVER have a complete handle on BOTB. I think I've got it figured out as well as possible, but there will always be curveballs I didn't see coming.

      Your vote, for example. Of all my regular voters, yours was the one I was most certain of: G DogG will vote for 'Whole Foods Parking Lot'. Slam-dunk! I'd put 20 dollars and my entire Star Wars miniature characters set on it.

      Oh, wait. Never mind. I just remembered I'm not White & Nerdy enough to have a Star Wars characters set. (Or White & Nerdy enough to even *like& Star Wars, for that matter. You can call me Al, but never call me Alfred... nor LOLeon.)

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

      Delete
  12. random thoughts triggered by this edition of BOTB.
    A. I'll be playing at the Cinema Bar on 6/14 & 7/13,---ya gonna make it out?
    B. I told Slavin David we needed an east of Sepulveda tour, he responded by joining another band called West of Lincoln
    C. Art E. was at my show at the Irish Times, ever drink there?
    D. I need to drive this road you speak of. I can't imagine anything more lonely then the 10 freeway going through Texas
    E.Is the Lincoln Tire Man still there next to Whole Foods?
    F. I like the DJ Dave vid
    G. but Everclear for the win -real music made on real instruments
    H. I got food poisoning across the street a La Cabana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LELLY ~

      Thanks for coming by, Buddy!

      A: I'd really like to be there but... if I haven't got a job here in Willoughberry by 6/14 & 7/13, I'll also be too broke to travel. I'm surprised such a small place as The Cinema books acts all those many months in advance. If I owned the joint, I'd have probably named it The Postage Stamp. Cool little bar, though! I dig it.

      B: Ha!-Ha! 'West Of Lincoln' wouldn't be a bad band name, actually.

      C: I don't recall having ever wet my whistle at a place called The Irish Times. Therefore... there's a very good chance I've quaffed pints there sometime in the past.

      D: 'The Loneliest Road In America' was indeed pretty isolated. I drove it from Carson City to Garrison in Utah, and back again. 829 miles total. And for the vast majority of those miles, I could neither see another vehicle in my own lane ahead of me or behind me.

      E: You got me! I was shocked to learn there was even a Whole Foods at that intersection. As you probably remember, that area used to be "'hood-like".

      F: Good deal.

      G: "Real" music? Well... really fun video, anyway. But let's not get carried away. (I'm reminded of those lyrics from a certain Dire Straits song about "money" and "free chicks".)

      H: Ha!-Ha! (Not that food poisoning is a laughing matter, but...) What did you order? Back in the day, I ate at La Cabana probably half a dozen times. Never had a problem. Maybe you just weren't drunk enough to endure the food?

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

      Delete
  13. Hwy 50 is the Loneliest highway in America? Well, I can certainly see why. I plan on going home on 50 (from Reno, to Carson City, to Sacramento) on at least one Friday next month. Let me know if you see any Truck Stops (with big diesel trucks) or travel stops along your route and I'll add it to my Prospecting list. Money money money :) I approve of how you are spending your jobless time. Better get some enjoyment out of it.

    I love the facial hair on Cindy, lol. And DJ could be singing the same tune at WalMart. Organic means grown in the ground, right? As opposed to say, invented in a petri dish, or replicated by a computer. Do you think in the space age nutrient pills will be more expensive than actual food? Will there still be apple pie ala mode?

    Both these video's, and groups, were awesome. So much fun, and I need a little fun in my life this month. Three days in and I'm already feeling exhausted by this month. So many things to enjoy about both contestants. Still, the DJ Dave music is just a tad repetitious. Good beat to (dirty) dance to, but . .

    I suppose I just like Everclear better. I love how they did the face/voice overs on the Brady Bunch. I used to carry a small transistor radio in my hip pocket. Not much thicker than flip phone today, but those Double A batteries sure lasted forever in the thing! Plus, they sing better. (Everclear, not the transistor; can't believe how much I loved that tinny sound.)

    Good luck, safe drive, and have lots and lots of fun. Nope, don't wanna know what type fun you have in the car. Alone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WILD THING! ~
      You make everything (including my blog) groovy!!

      That section of Hwy 50 you will be traveling on (in California), I've never seen. I was on 50 going East, to Utah and back.

      >>... Do you think in the space age nutrient pills will be more expensive than actual food? Will there still be apple pie ala mode?

      Ha! I'll do you one better and say that I don't think there will BE a "Space Age".

      Yeah, that Everclear video is clever and fun. (Unlike drinking Everclear, which is dumb... and dumber.)

      Listening to Vin Scully announcing Dodger games through a transistor radio is, in my book, one of the all-time ultimate "Sounds of Summer". I can still remember being a kid and playing in the street at night, while hearing Vin's voice coming through a transistor radio my Ma was listening to while sitting on the front porch of our house in Santa Monica. The 1970s - there was real "magic" in those years.

      Thanks for the BOTB bote and the good wishes, Wild Thing.

      I didn't have much fun alone in the car, but I had a good time at the Silver State Saloon in Austin (Austin, Nevada, that is - not Texas). Good pizza & good Bourbon-Sevens (heavy on the Bourbon, light on the Sevens).

      Stay safe on whatever Highways you choose to travel, my friend!

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

      Delete
  14. Comment No. 2:

    I love the Loneliest Road In America. I have traveled that route probably ten times over the last 30 years. I don't think that you will be able to visit my favorite part this time of year because it will be closed. I really love Great Basin National Park and Wheeler Peak. The road to the top will be closed for snow (I would guess) but if you can get up there, you start your hike at 11,000 feet. The short hike thru ancient Bristlecone pines and Englemann spruce to glacier-fed tarns is very cool! And there is an interesting cave tour down at lower elevations, too.

    The Opera House at Eureka is an interesting historic building. I enjoyed the petroglyphs at Hickison. Mostly, it is just wonderful to be that LONELY. You can crest a pass and look down 60 miles across another valley to the next mountain range... then do it again. From the World Atlas:
    "Nevada is the most mountainous U.S. State, with over 150 (named) individual mountain ranges; major ones include the Battle, Monitor, Ruby, Santa Rosa, Schell Creek, Sierra Nevada, Snake and Toiyabe. Over 30 of Nevada's mountain peaks exceed 11,000 ft."

    A Great State! Except for the liberals, and outside of Las Vegas you are far more liable to find a gun-toting Mormon than a lib.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SIXGUNBOY ~

      I did not go into Great Basin National Park. There was just too much driving to do for one tired old man and a stuffed dog. But I *WAS* wearing my Great Basin Brewing Company T-shirt when I had a Great Basin Brewing Company 'Icky IPA' at the Owl Saloon in Eureka, and a Great Basin Brewing Company 'Wild Horse Ale' later that same day at the Silver State Saloon in Austin, NV.

      Eureka and Austin -- those were my two favorite towns on 'The Loneliest Road In America'.

      I went into Eureka's Opera House to get my Highway 50 booklet stamped. It was open but no one was there, so I looked around a bit. It's very, very much like Piper's Opera House in Virginia City. (Fun Fact: It was while he was on vacation with his family and in Piper's Opera House that writer Richard Matheson came up with his idea for the story that eventually became the movie 'Somewhere In Time'.)

      >>... You can crest a pass and look down 60 miles across another valley to the next mountain range... then do it again.

      Yes, I loved that! Those long, Long, LONG straightaways where you can see the road stretching to the horizon, and without another car in sight.

      Man, it was on one of those long straightaways, somewhere near the middle between Austin and Fallon, I saw some man just pushing a shopping cart of stuffs along the Highway. One of the weirdest things I've ever seen! Wherever he came from, and wherever he was going, there were A LOT of miles of nothing behind him and ahead of him! Really bizarre - like Twilight Zoneish!

      >>... Except for the liberals, and outside of Las Vegas you are far more liable to find a gun-toting Mormon than a lib.

      Ha! You're not more than a mile or two into Utah before you come across a Mormon church, in a wide spot in the road called Garrison.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

      Delete
  15. And Stephen,
    Enjoy your road trip! Good battle. I've got to go with Everclear and I don't remember why...maybe it was the Everclear. Yah, you see what I did there? Nothing good can usually be remembered once you add Everclear. And thank God the bad can't be remembered either. Now back to your regularly scheduled program. Both good songs, I like Everclear because it is less of a novelty than the Wholefoods song. AM radio does bring back a lot of memories of growing up, or at least failing to do so. I remember going to Tomy's (sp?) after Tom's #5 closed for the double-chili-cheese-burger fix in the wee wee hours of the morning. It was never as good as Tom's #5 but it hit the spot at that time of night. Come to think of it didn't we once travel there in a shopping cart? (that may have been further north on Lincoln)
    Enjoy the road my friend. Love to hear about it when you return.
    JW,
    Pooh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...AND, POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
      The only thing Everclear is good for is starting fires in one's fireplace. It ignites the logs pretty well. (I don't recommend people use it to get "lit up".)

      >... I remember going to Tomy's (sp?) after Tom's #5 closed for the double-chili-cheese-burger fix in the wee wee hours of the morning. It was never as good as Tom's #5

      I remember one night that Dean and I had been out drinking, and we stopped at Tom's #5 for chili fries. We were parked in front of the Bay Street house at 3:00 or 4:00 AM, and I'd had enough, so I dumped what was left of my chili fries into the street (like an idiot - UHP!!). The next morning, I saw that greasy, orange Tom's #5 mess in the street and I gagged! Just thinking about that "stuffs" in me made me queasy. I don't think I went to Tom's #5 (too many times) after that.

      >>... Come to think of it didn't we once travel there in a shopping cart? (that may have been further north on Lincoln)

      Brother, that made me GOL!
      As soon as I read that, the vaguest memory of traveling somewhere in a shopping cart crept into my mind. DAMN! Where was that? It's like a wispy memory of a long-forgotten dream. It's back there, shyly peeping out from a shadowy cave in the recesses of my brain. Shopping Cart days in an alcoholic haze. It's the ONLY WAY to travel!

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

      Delete
    2. I believe it was after a Raider loss to New England or maybe a Raider Playoff win? does that help?
      JW,
      Pooh

      Delete
    3. Well, I remember the Raiders loss to New England. I saw that at Jolly Jacks and nearly started a fight with some guy who had the audacity to be smiling about... something. UHP!... I WAS AN IDIOT!!

      Other'n that... you got me. All I recall is riding in a shopping cart that seemed to have only two wheels and got air-born while going 666 miles an hour. The rest of it just isn't very clear to me. (HA!-HA!!)

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

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  16. Yo! So just FYI, if you want to take screenshots, you can maximize YouTube first so that the whole image fills the screen, and then take the screenshot. If you need some help, let me know. I mean, I dig seeing Crowder pop up in your sidebar like that, but it's harder to see the actual image if it's not full screen.

    As for the battle, this is a fun one. Never saw that side of Everclear, but it's fun. And with the other song, I do have to say, I'm genuinely impressed with his ability to rhyme 'I've ever seen, brah' with 'quinoa'. Ultimately, the only thing holding the rap back was that it was a little repetitive. Because of that, give my bote to Everclear.

    Fun fact: when I went to Hollywood to help Pop Tart, I'm 99% sure that was the exact Whole Foods her personal assistant took me to. We did not have to fight for parking, but I think this dude ended up spending almost $100 for a small hand basket full of things.

    I would have bought something, but I left home without any Ben Franklins.

    ...Not that any were waiting for me back at home, either.

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    1. >>... you can maximize YouTube first so that the whole image fills the screen, and then take the screenshot.

      *NOW* he tells me! You I.T. guys love keeping secrets from us old geezers, don'tcha?

      >>... this dude ended up spending almost $100 for a small hand basket full of things.

      Ha!-Ha! Yeah, that line about paying his $80 and taking his 6 things and getting the heck out makes me laugh. So true! I didn't much like Whole Foods even before BigBitchBezos bought it. You can imagine what I think of it now. Give me Trader Joe's any day!

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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  17. Hi Stephen, I agree that both songs and videos were a lot of fun. The Everclear video brought back so many childhood memories. Gosh I can’t remember the last time I saw HR Puff ‘n’ Stuff (sp?)! I think Jack Wild The Artful Dodger from Oliver was in it. As for The Brady Bunch, someone recently told me I had a Carol Brady hairdo and she wasn’t wrong. I hope to remedy that soon. Loved the nostalgia of innocent AM Radio days, so Everclear gets my vote. However, Wholefoods Parking Lot does deserve extra points for creativity. Have a great road trip, Stephen!

    Julie

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    1. GEM JULIE ~
      Thanks for coming by with a BOTB bote, my friend!

      Yeah, H.R. and Witchy-Poo - long time passing!

      Glad to hear you're going to correct that Carol Brady hair faux pas. It's OK to have Bette Davis eyes, but you don't want Carol Brady hair. [;-D}

      Yeah, those AM Radio years -- we're definitely dating ourselves by admitting we remember them. Now I wish I'd done Acid in the '60s and early '70s so those memory brain cells wouldn't function so well and I could pretend I'm a young Millennial (the world's smartest one).

      Of course, I did give the brain cells the "80-Proof Treatment", but that wasn't until the early 1980s, so the '60s and '70s memories are still intact.

      It was a successful (and uneventful) road trip. Glad to be home, actually.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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  18. Al Bondigas here. This is my second attempt at posting my rulin'. I still can't wrap my mind around there being a Whole Foods on Lincoln and Rose. When we were kids anything south of Lincoln and Marine, where the Taco Quickie was, was venturing into bad neighborhoods. it's hard to picture the health conscious, natural, hairy arm-pitted Topanga Canyon type women doing their shopping there. Anyway, I'm voting for the videos more so than the songs. I hate rap and don't even consider it music, but the video was so funny and accurate that I'm makin a rulin' fer Whole Foods and what ever that guys name was. That's it. That's muh rulin'!!

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    1. JUDGE AL ~
      Thanks for the Take Two!

      Yes, yes, yes! If we ever needed proof that Santa Monica ("Dogtown") is no longer our breed, a Whole Foods at Lincoln & Rose is more than sufficient! WTH?!

      Taco Quickie -- Man, oh, man! That's where we'd go for some of that AUTHENTIC Mexican food. Ha!-Ha! Weren't the tacos, like, twenty-five cents back then? (You can thank the Federal Reserve for the inflation, and thank Taco Bell for the demise of Taco Quickie!!)

      >>... I'm voting for the videos more so than the songs.

      I hear ya. And I'll have more to say about that in my BOTB Results post (which will likely be a day late this time, due to my road trip).

      Great comment!
      Memories light the corners of my mind;
      Misty, water-colored memories of the way we were.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

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    2. Then I guess you don't want to know that Tops is a Starbucks now and that Jolly Jacks is now some type of asian fusion bowl place.

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    3. POOH ~
      It's the end of the world as we knew it and...
      somehow I don't feel so well.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...'

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  19. ATTENTION PEOPLES!

    If you are interested in seeing the final vote tally for this 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' installment and my closing thoughts on it, you can put the following URL into your browser:

    https://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/2019/04/botb-results-april-1-or-everclear.html

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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