Thursday, May 31, 2018

Battle of the Bands Result: This is the place where big names get shut out

My last three Battle of the Bands have been shut outs! Aretha Franklin forget about respect, how about a vote?


The time before The Everly Brothers got the shut out treatment. Starting my string of shut outs Julie Miller! Her husband is the one and only Buddy Miller.  I know I've had more shut outs and I am curious who else I have served a nice big slice of Humble Pie?


Maybe I do need a Doctor! Prior to this trio of shut outs the mighty Led Zeppelin and Glenn Miller Orchestra was shut out in November of 2017. Even the Boss, Bruce Springsteen was shutout in July of 2017.  D'Angelo lost in the Winter of 17. Nicola Marie added her name to the list in December 2016. The great Nina Simone was shut out in July of 2016,.

There is the complete history of shut outs here. 

I liked the guitar playing un Aretha's version and it was neat hearing the song from a female point of view.
However BB was known for that song, oh well. 

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Monday's Music Moves Me: Memorial Day Edition

Today's edition of Monday's Music Moves Me is a freebie. Since it falls on Memorial Day I thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute via music.

According to History.com "Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military."

Music provides a wonderful way to pay tribute. Provides a chance to take a timeout from enjoying the Holiday and reflect on the true meaning of the Holiday. To those who served and have lost a brother and/or sisters in arms I am sorry for your loss. To those who have a lost a family member due to the sacrifices of your family member I am sorry for your loss.

I'll start the music with David Ball's "Riding with Private Malone"...


Coffey Anderson "Memorial Day Song"..



George Jones "50,000 Names"


"Taps"


Enjoy the Holiday, enjoy the tunes, but remember the reason for the Holiday.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

More Cookies!

Blogger wants me to let you know:

European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used and data collected on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent.

As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies, and other data collected by Google.

You are responsible for confirming this notice actually works for your blog, and that it displays. If you employ other cookies, for example by adding third party features, this notice may not work for you. If you include functionality from other providers there may be extra information collected from your users.

Learn more about this notice and your responsibilities.

My views on cookies haven't changed much since my post in 2015 on the subject.

Below Cookie Monster talks about the word "important"...



I truly believe Cookie Monster is a Subject Matter Expert on cookies! I haven't had one in a while, but those cookie ice cream sandwiches sound real good. Two large chocolate chip cookies with ice cream in the middle what a yummy creation!

Fresh cookies right out of the oven are so good. Warm, chewy not burnt. The chocolate chips melting into that flavorful goo.


Thanks blogger now I'm craving cookies! 

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Monday's Music Moves Me: Remember/Forget

Another great topic by John for this round of Monday's Music Moves Me songs that relate to remember/forget. Great for a Monday rush out the door! However, I don't think they write songs about forgetting your badge, your keys, or remembering you have your daughter's book bag when you arrive at work!







Let' start with "I Can't Recall" by The Everly Brothers, performed by Phil...


Peter Gabriel   "I Don't Remember"....


Alan Jackson...."Remember When"...


Adele "Don't You Remember"



I will throw in this one as the forget song!  Cee Lo Green "Forget You"



Some classic rock, some superstars, some country something to dance too! Thanks for visiting I hope you enjoyed! 

Friday, May 18, 2018

Remembering Joel Markowitz

Today is the anniversary of Joel Markowitz's birth, he would have turned 61. He passed away on November 7, 2017. I should have wrote something about him passing sometime closer to his death. Suppose it is easier to write about the deaths of celebrities than the deaths of friends.

  Joel was my editor when I wrote for the Maryland Theatre Guide and then later when I moved over to his start up DC Metro Theater Arts. I first met Joel in June or July of 2011. My first assignment was reviewing "Rock of Ages" at the National Theatre in Washington. I wrote 30 articles with the Maryland Theatre Guide from July of 2011 to March of 2012. Needless to say during that time Joel and I developed a friendship.  My writing was growing. Certainly Joel was a big help to that. When he said he was branching off on a new start up I was going with him. I had no issue with Maryland Theatre Guide but my loyalty was with him.

The move to the new outlet also embraced my passion for music. Joel was open to suggestions and I don't recall him ever saying no. We did have are differences from time to time and we hammered them out. I opened up my time with the new venture covering Smokey Robinson at the Kennedy Center and Experience Hendrix at the Strathmore. 95 articles, a mix of reviews, previews and interviews were written by me from March of 2013 to May of 2014. Probably my writing peak. Nothing I have written since has matched the work I did with Joel. He created a wonderful platform that continues. Writing on the web finding something that continues is so rare! That in itself is a testament to my friend Joel Markowitz.

I moved away from the area in September of  2013 the key reason our writing relationship ended. I dreaded telling him I was moving. Being wise and understanding he knew the move was best for me and my family. He was very supportive and a great friend. He always asked about the family as well I still supported his site. We remained friends chatting on facebook or over the phone.

He always encouraged me to take my daughter to the shows. If it was a kid's show  or a circus he would always tell me to ask her what she thought of the show and write her thoughts and share her perspectives on shows. Of course I dragged my daughter out to grown up concerts too. Now my daughter is a performer with a love of dance and music. She has even taken some acting lessons. Sure my wife and I support her love for the arts. However, I think Joel deserves some of the credit for encouraging me to take her to see the arts! The arts is what Joel loved and was passionate about!

Joel was excited he had lost some stubborn weight. His spirits were high. Then he was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2017. Five years after he started DC Metro Theater Arts. Joel fought ALS but passed away last November. I wasn't expecting him to pass so soon. It caught me by surprise and unfortunately I couldn't go to his funeral. Obviously I have a lot of respect for the man Joel Markowitz was. The performing arts world of Washington, Baltimore and beyond lost a great advocate.

You can read his tribute at DC Metro Theater Arts here. You can read his obituary here from the Washington Post. Joel may you rest in peace! I am thinking about you on your birthday!








Thursday, May 17, 2018

Farewell Lois Lane! R.I.P Margot Kidder

Superman couldn't save her in the end. Margot Kidder the actress who garnered most of her fame by playing Lois Lane in the Superman films from the late 70s and 80s alongside Christopher Reeve.

Here is a clip from "Superman"....

and Superman IV


She did other roles as well. Like "The Amityville Horror" and "Heartaches" where she won awards for her roles.

News of her passing...


She will be remembered by her fans and family. She will live on in reruns of her shows and movies.



Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Battle of the Bands: King Versus Queen

The mid month Battle of the Band rolls on with another battle. It could be a third straight shut out and it wouldn't surprise me. However I am going to make it interesting. The Queen of Soul against the King, B.B.. King who passed away three years ago.



The song was written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell it is called "The Thrill is Gone"



Monday, May 14, 2018

Battle of the Bands: Jimmy Buffett has the best stories

Back to back shut outs on the Battle of the Bands for me. I went with John Sebastian back to back  so I won't be going back to his songwriting well anytime soon. Only four votes this time. Of course this was the first time I've had a battle on the first in a long time. I am now doing the Battles twice a month.

The song I used was "Stories We Could Tell." The song was written by the shut out bringing John Sebastian. I pitted Jimmy Buffett against The Everly Brothers. The results were four to nil in favor of Jimmy.

The song fits Jimmy Buffett. He has the story telling down be it in the old tales he used to tell, the novels he has authored and in the songs that he sings.


I am going to celebrate with some stories in songs. Warning label there might be some adult language or topics in some of these songs..."God's Own Drunk"...



How about a "Semi-True Story"...


It waits behind "door number three"...

I hope you enjoyed and I will back with a new battle tomorrow! Come vote and no shut outs please!

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Monday's Music Moves Me: Ukulele Madness



It is that time for the Monday Music madness we call Monday's Music Moves Me. Today is a freebie. Since I just put together a playlist for a recent Luau ukulele music is fresh in my mind.

James Hill with his version of "Voodoo Child"...


Bet you never heard "Uptown Funk" like this..


Jake Shimabukuro's take on "As My Guitar Gently Weeps"


Taimane taking out with a spy medley..


Thanks for visiting! Come back on the 15th for a new Battle of the Bands. I hope you enjoyed the tunes.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs that Spell Out My Name

Another Monday is near! This Monday's Music Moves Me selection was chosen by The Sound of One Hand Typing. If you visit John's blog be sure to poke around. If you like fine music you may want to visit his site for a while. Song titles that start with each letter of your name is the same. So it would be four songs, one for M, one for I and so forth.





Mike is the name and rambling is my game!

"Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf


"Iko, Iko" The Dixie Cups


"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" Bob Dylan


"Easy to Slip" Little Feat


Hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for a new post soon!

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Battle of the Bands: Stories We Could Tell



Battle of the Bands now back to twice a month! I'm going to stay with the same songwriter I used last month. John Sebastian. Again his song is appropriate. Saturday I took a left turn instead of going home and spent the night in New Orleans. Caught a caught a cool all star band at a club Saturday and caught Jimmy Buffett at Jazz Fest Sunday before coming home. So I probably have a few "Stories We Could Tell."



Contestant One: Jimmy Buffett 



Contestant Two: Everly Brothers



Same deal! Vote in the comments and I'll tell a story about who wins sometime before the 15th. But come back before that and I might share another story.