Dust ( #BOTB )

     Here again in a sense.  Isn't the modern computer age amazing!  Later in the month I'll have something more to say, but for now it's that musical extravaganza that we know as...

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Dust

      During the month of April I was reading the book Eye Mind: The Saga of Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators, The Pioneers of Psychedelic Sound  by Paul Drummond (which I wrote about on my E post for the A to Z).  During this time I went back to immerse myself in the band's music and discovering many cover versions of their songs.  I've done several blog posts in the past on a couple of my sites and even used their song "Slip Inside This House" in a 2015 BOTB match.  

        Of late I've had a particular fascination with the song "Dust" from The Elevators album Easter Everywhere.  I think this is such a beautiful song with thoughtful lyrics.  It's almost like a hymn.  Since this is a unique song by a group that most people haven't heard of I will offer the original version.  Please save your votes for the two artists that follow this first video.  So listen if you wish or just skip on down to the first of the two competing videos. 

Don't vote on this first video please!  It's the original version for comparison if you wish.

13th Floor Elevator   "Dust"   (1967)

Vote on the Following please!

Brian Jonestown Massacre  "Dust"  (2015)

       I couldn't resist using a band with this name.  They're described as "a musical project and band" who have been around since 1990 with a slew of albums behind them. Sounds good to me. The sound of this version is growing on me as I listen to it more and I get where they're coming from.  I think it's an interesting cover of the song.

TW   "Dust"  (2021)

      I don't know anything about this artist, but he really has a lot of videos on his channel and they all look essentially like this video.  His performance reminds me of some of Neil Young's work.  I think he takes a nicely peaceful creative approach to the song.

Time to Vote!

           Dust off your musical appreciation skills and open your mind   Just listen and see what you think.  Which song version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Streampebbles (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Battle Results on Thursday June 8

           

            I do hope I can get to everyone's Battles without too much problem.  I'll hopefully have more info and updates on the 8th,  Right now though...

            

Singers and Stringers Showdown ( #BOTB Results )

 

       Keeping things short because I've got other more pressing things ahead of me.   I'll be a bit more offline in the coming weeks, but I guess it's like having a month with only one Battle.  My recent internet access issues are going to be increased to a great degree.  Just for a few weeks I think, and then maybe back to a routine.

       Speaking of routine, after a Battle of the Bands post must come....

Battle of the Bands Results

       I know I'm not the only one to have noticed a sparser turnout.  Mine might have been lower since I didn't combine the post with an Insecure Writer's Support Group post so traffic might have been lighter for BOTB.  Or maybe it had something to do with A to Z fatigue.  Or just maybe it's time to round up new followers for the BOTB posts.  Some things to think about I guess.

     In the meantime here's the outcome of the voting, including my own vote for the Swingle Singers....

Final Vote Tally

Swingle Singers       3 votes

40 Fingers               10 votes

Next Battle on Thursday June 1st

    Hopefully I'll manage this.  If I do then I might be a little late coming to your Battles, but I plan to do that.  I'll tell you readers more in June.   For now I'm going to become scarce for a while.  I think so at least.

The Deep Never-ending Well of Inspiration ( #AtoZChallenge & #IWSG )

The faith that we build
Will strengthen our close growing closer

Till waiting is filled
We simply remember we are,
Where ever we are.

---"Dust" by Hall/Erickson

    If you're looking for the May 1st Battle of the Bands then you'll find it HERE.   Hope you will stop by and vote.  

    

  A to Z Reflections are further down this page so hang on and you will get there if you keep on reading.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 
     The co-hosts for the  May 3 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Meka James, Victoria Marie Lees, and M Louise Barbour!

May 3 question - When you are working on a story, what inspires you?

       There is no one single answer to this question.  Inspiration comes from many sources and leads me to different outlets of expression.   Maybe it was something I read in the news or elsewhere.  Or perhaps a story related to me by someone else.  And more often than not my inspiration comes from my own life experiences or my imagination (and who knows where that comes from sometimes). 

         For me inspiration is a continuous flow that weaves and diverges throughout my waking and dreaming existence.  Once into actual writing of a story I might give myself a soundtrack to write by--most often something classical or instrumental in some other genre. Sometimes my mere self-motivation to finish my writing will fuel inspiration.

        In the past few years most of my writing is on my blog.  The yearly Blogging from A to Z April Challenge gives me a lot of writing inspiration so that is a plus for doing that particular blog-a-thon. 

        

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge Reflections 2023

        From my standpoint, considering the conditions under which I have been blogging this year, this 2023 A to Z went pretty darn smoothly.  This year I've been dealing with limited computer access which doesn't allow me to spend a lot of time doing online activities such as blogging.  In some ways this has been good for my personal life, but a great hindrance in doing time consuming activities such as visiting and commenting on other blogs.  Nevertheless, I did manage to post on time for every letter as well as my assigned posts on the A to Z Blog.  And I read every comment though was not always responsive to them.  Thanks to all who commented.

         Primarily I'll attribute my timely postings to doing a lot of my work in March before the Challenge began.  I laid out my posts for April and took many of the photos I would need for illustrating my posts.  The pre-preparation really does help and I will likely do this as much as I can in future Challenges.  It's worked in the past and saved me a lot of grief this year.  Then again, I'm always tempted just to improvise as I go.  Next year is next year.

         Not but more I can add that's better than the Reflections posts that I've read from other participants that I've been able to see.  I'm sure there's many more.

        And my biggest thanks goes out to the incredible A to Z Team.  Thanks to all of you!  If you readers want to check out some of the A to Z Reflections as well as find the links to Team members' blogs go to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog.

Thank you everyone for another great April of blogging fun!