BATTLE OF THE BANDS: FEB. 1, 2022 (Or, PICKING UP THE PIECES AT THE RIGHT PLACE BUT THE WRONG TIME)

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Virginia City, Nevada, is my favorite place whole the world, and it's only a 30-minute drive up the mountain from where I live. You remember Peabody, his boy Sherman, and their Waybac Machine? Well, going up to Virginia City is like taking a Waybac Machine trip to the Wild West of the 1870s and 1880s. Back in the day, V.C. was the richest mining town in America.

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Today, there are about 14 saloons in V.C. All but two are mostly too touristy for my tastes. The two I really like are local hangouts, The Corner Bar & the Silver Dollar Saloon. Because of the music they play, my favorite is the latter. Although the Silver Dollar Saloon is right on the main street in town (C Street), few tourists are adventurous and courageous enough to descend the foreboding, steep stairs to see what lies below. This keeps the tourists from mingling with the local and semi-local riff-raff, like me. ;^)

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Cat & Cole's Virginia City Saloon Grades, Feb. 1992:

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According to those grades from 30 years ago this month, the Silver Dollar Saloon (Grade: Fair) was nothing like it is today. Cat & I were in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time. I wish I could recall what the '92 version looked like, because I LOVE the saloon as it appears today. The Silver Dollar promotes itself this way:

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Before we get down to bidnizz here, lemme take you on a quick photographic tour of the Silver Dollar Saloon. And ask yourself if YOU were a tourist in Virginia City, Nevada, would YOU go down those stairs to find out what was at the bottom? (My "Yes, Soitently!" guesses are: Judge Al Bondigas, G-DogG, Julio Seis-Abeja, Debbie D'Doglady, Birgit, MMQE.)

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Going Down?

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At The Bottom...

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Female Undergarments Lost & Found.

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Dogs Lost And Found.

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Old Codgers Gettin' Liquored-Up At The Silver Dollar.

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Photos Of My Two Favorite Actors On The Wall. What Were The Odds?

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"We Do Not Serve Women. You Must Bring Your Own."

"Dogs Welcome. People Tolerated"

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Wild Horses Hangin' Out Behind The Silver Dollar Saloon.

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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get on DOWN with our bad selves!...

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I've met some cool people in the Silver Dollar Saloon, and as mentioned, they play some really great music in there (sorry -- no modern Pop stars need apply). One day a couple years ago, when I was at the Silver Dollar knockin' back a couple Wild Turkeys, the owner / bartender turned me onto a young Blues Rocker whom I'd never heard of. I was planning to use one or two of his songs in this Battle, but have decided to save him for later. (Methinks this mightn't be the only time we're gonna take a trip to the Silver Dollar Saloon and mayhaps we'll be back in the future.)

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So, below are two different oldies but goodies that I have heard cranked "up to eleven" at the Silver Dollar. See which one you think goes best with that imaginary beer or glass of wine you're drinking right now:

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RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME -- Dr. John   (1973)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT4RainY-lY

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PICK UP THE PIECES -- Average White Band   (1974)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyjlxsJEknc

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So, who said those ol' cowboys at the Silver Dollar Saloon ain't got no Funk in 'em?!

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After you vote here, please visit the other BOTB Participants and see what stuffs they may be offering up for your funky pleasure. I 'spect to be back here with the Battle Results post on February 8th. Be here, and be wearing "some clothing".

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~ Stephen T. McCarthy

BOTB RESULTS: MARGARITA DAY, 2022 (Or, THE CHAMPS VERSUS JIMMY BUFFETT)

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Sometimes the underdog wins!

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I created this Battle Of The Bands installment (HERE) believing that 'Margaritaville' by Jimmy Buffett would probably beat The Champs' 'Tequila' by a fairly comfortable margin. And although I really dig BOTH songs, I also came into this Margarita Day (Jan. 1, 2022) Battle thinking I would be voting for 'Margaritaville' - no question.

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But then, listening again, closely, to 'Tequila' by The Champs, my own vote suddenly seemed less certain. Mang, I LOVE that raunchy saxophone! I seriously had to reconsider my BOTB bote a couple of different times but I finally did decide to stick with my first impression, voting for Jimmy Buffett's hit.

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See, here's the thing: although I'm a rebel's rebel, and therefore I haven't a single tattoo on my body, this verse really tickles me:

Don't know the reason

I stayed here all season

Nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo

But it's a real beauty

A Mexican cutie

How it got here I haven't a clue

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Also, there was a kind of Lost Weekend on Catalina Island, circa 1982. In my book manuscript about The League Of Soul Crusaders, the story was told in chapter 16, 'Twenty-Six Miles Across The Sea'. Nappy, my friend Dean, and I took the boat to Catalina. The weekend started with a fifth of Bacardi 151, and it ended with us drinking daiquiris until our money ran out. We had only enough money to get the van out of the parking lot in San Pedro when we got back to the mainland. And in between the rum and the daiquiris, there was one wild story after another (like sleeping on park benches, sleeping on a mountain top, and running from the cops).

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The rest of that day we spent lying under palm trees on the knoll near an outdoor bar and we had the waitress bring us a steady flow of daiquiris. A stranger and his wife passed by and he stopped when he saw us. "You know, I haven't seen you guys without a drink in your hands for three days", he said. This was the first time we had noticed the gentleman but apparently we had made our presence known on Santa Catalina Island.

~ pages 119 & 120

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Although rum & daiquiris were the alcoholic theme of that trip, because of the laid-back island atmosphere, any time I hear Jimmy Buffett's 'Margaritaville', I am immediately nostalgically transported back to Catalina and that wild, wild weekend. So... as much as I dig 'Tequila' by The Champs, it's 'Margaritaville' for me.

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THE FINAL TALLY

The Champs ('Tequila') = 8 votes

Jimmy Buffett ('Margaritaville') = 4 votes

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My genuine thanks to each and every one of you who came by here with two cents for the BOTB kitty. Also, my sincere wishes for a healthy & happy 2022! Hopefully you will all return for my next Battle Of The Bands contest on February 1st. Until then, may you...

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Bless And Be Blessed!!

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~ Stephen T. McCarthy