BOTB RESULTS: 2021, JULY 1 (Or, TOM PETTY VS. WARREN ZEVON)

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Hokey-Smoke 'n' Hoo-Wee! I am late, Late, LATE to this "wrap-party". Sorry, but I been busy beginning a business. (Somehow, I'm not sure that STMcC is really the businessman sort.)

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The Battle Of The Bands contest took place [link> HERE. It was another in my 'Battle For Los Angeles' series and it featured Tom Petty's 'Century City' versus Warren Zevon's 'Desperados Under The Eaves'. 

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I had a lotta goofy fun in the comment section, and I thank y'all for stopping by to cast yer two cents into the BOTB kitty. Believe it or not, BOTB wouldn't be much fun if no one bothered to listen and vote. "Sailor Jerry" even showed up at one point, but that old sea dog was too drunk to bote!

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Initially, I was skeptical that I would get much of a turnout for this Battle, but y'all came out in full force and I'm truly grateful for your participation. Thank you: MMQE, CAThy, Honest John, Arlee Boid, Birgit, Julio Seis-Abeja, G-DogG, Sheboyganboy VI, Gem Julie, dIEDRE, Mike, Flyin' Aardvark, Judge Al Bondigas, and Wild Thing. (Wild Thing, I still owe you a comment and a response - both "flying in" tomorrow, because... I can't do that sober.)

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As for my own vote in this Battle - although I'm a real fan of both artists - I had to side with Warren Zevon in this match-up. First of all, 'Desperados Under The Eaves' is my favorite Zevon zong of all time. Both Number Six and Judge Al described it as being hymn-like, and they're right. 

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Also, there are just so many things about that zong that tickle me. The singer is sure that if all of California fell into the sea due to a massive earthquake, his motel would still be standing until he paid his bill. Guffaw-Out-Loud! There have been times in my life when I too have had that same level of... optimism.

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Warren Zevon sings that "all the salty Margaritas in Los Angeles" he's "going to drink 'em up". I happen to know from a biography I read that Zevon was a big fan of the Margaritas at El Coyote Mexican Restaurant in L.A., so that's probably the place he had in mind when writing that line. (And, by coincidence, back in the day, El Coyote was also MY favorite place for Margaritas -- and that was a great many years before I learned that Zevon sang the same praises! In fact, I had moved to Phoenix years before I learned about the Zevon & El Coyote connection.)

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And lastly, the way Zevon sings over and over "Look away, down Gower Avenue" has always intrigued me! First of all, Gower is a street (not an avenue) in what used to be a very scroungy part of Hollywood, where the tourists wouldn't go. I remember it well. It ran adjacent to the western side of Paramount Studios, and just to the north of Paramount was the Hollywood Cemetery where (if memory serves me) Rudolph Valentino and/or Bela Lugosi are buried. I used to hang out in the "Gower Gulch" area sometimes. I understand they've cleaned it up quite a bit since the 1970s, but it used to be a real scummy area full of winos, druggies and people like me.

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The way Zevon sings that lyric, it seems to imply that he believes there is some sort of redemption or salvation down on Gower. And I have ALWAYS WONDERED what he had in mind while singing that line over and over toward the end of the song. (Maybe he was thinking of some prostitute he knew who worked on Gower?! I dunno. But 45 years later, I still find it intriguing!) 

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Tom Petty = 4 votes

Warren Zevon = cranked up to 11... votes

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Once again, I thank you all for your BOTB participation and for the fun exchanges in the comment section. I hope to see all y'all here again for my next Battle scheduled for August 1st.

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~ Stephen T. McCarthy

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