No Place Like--Where? ( #ISWG )

I dream of places, people, things and situations.  I dream by day and I dream by night.  If my dreams turned into shiny gold coins then I'd be a wealthy man.  It could happen you know...
                                                                   Arlee Bird

An East Tennessee Lake scene

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 September 4 posting of the IWSG are Gwen Gardner,Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner!

September 4 question - If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?

          Since I consider myself to be a logical person, the answer to this is easy:  If I were to sit down to write I'd prefer to be right here at home at my computer.  When I'm away from home I get so distracted by my surroundings or people I'm with I might never do any writing.  

         If I were to take a retreat for the sole purpose of writing, I'd want a mountain setting like my old home East Tennessee or maybe somewhere in western Virginia--specifically Marion.  But that could be very expensive unless I outright moved there.  So that dream is impractical in my real world.  

        Besides, near my desk and in my home I have my office and all its stuff and my house and all my life stuff.  To be unfettered by such and financially free to travel to an unlimited extent and support my away-from-home lifestyle in a comfortable way, I might want to have a summer place in upstate New York or maybe somewhere in New England.  

           If I were to stay in the western half of the U.S. I might opt for someplace like Sedona Arizona or Colorado Springs.  But there go the distractions.  With so many beautiful places to see in such places I can see the advantage of just staying at home in my urbanity from which I'd prefer not be in traffic and just stay home for the most part.

         ...but wait a minute.  That's what I do all the time.  So why the heck am I not writing my next story?  

            Oh look, there's a squirrel...

        Are you more distracted at home or away?   What fires your imagination most?   Where do you feel more compelled to write?

         If you haven't voted on my current Battle of the Bands I'd be pleased if you'd take a moment to visit here and vote for your favorite song version.   Thanks in advance!

Eye In the Sky (BOTB)

Why try to keep secrets anymore?  Someone somewhere knows what you've done and where you've been no matter how much you've tried to hide.  Eyes and ears are everywhere...


Eye in the Sky

         

      I've written about this 1982 song from Alan Parsons Project a few times on this blog (like here and here for example).   As I've mentioned before, this is one of my all time favorite songs of the rock era.  I still remember the first time I heard it on the radio (June 1982 in the parking lot of a supermarket in Billings Montana) when it blew me away as one of those consummate pop songs that would be around for a long time.  After nearly 40 years it's still a favorite song of mine.

       For quite some time this song has been lingering on my potential Battle of the Bands queue and I figured it was about time that I put this Battle into play.  Let's face it, "eyes" are everywhere and if someone isn't watching us then we are putting ourselves out there on social media for all the world to see.

       Also, since this Battle falls on a Sunday and I often like to go for a song with some spiritual connotation or remotely possible implications, "Eye in the Sky" gives a sense of omnipotence in the lyrics.  The song is not about God per se, but it makes me think.  And it sets up a theme for my two September Sunday Battles...


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 blogs there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle on the 1st of the month.   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.



Parralox  "Eye in the Sky"  (2013)

         If the Alan Parsons version doesn't ring a memory bell with you, then listen to this version by Australian synthpop group Parralox.  I'm sure you'll remember the song since their version is very similar to the original.   Maybe that's where you'd prefer to stay...





Noa   "Eye in the Sky"  (2002)

         From Israel we have the singer known as Noa.  She takes the slower approach in her cover.  I think it's mighty pretty sounding.  What do you think...






Time to Vote!

        Now all eyes are on you!  Which artist do you like best?   Pick one and have some fun!  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

Angel's Bark  

Debbie Doglady's Den

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday September 9th

             On Wednesday September 4th I'll be adding my two cents for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, but voting for this current Battle of the Bands will be open until next Sunday the 8th.   Keep your eye on this blog for upcoming developments!

         What aspect of the intrusive nature of modern technology creeps you out most?    Who do you spy on?    Are you bothered by the amount of information other people, businesses, and the government knows about you?         

Take Your Percussion and Beat It! ( #BOTB Results )

    I don't know about my own six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon, but I know about my personal connection to Paul Kohler and Dennison Jackson--the musicians in my most recent Battle of the Band match.   Here is that story...


       My first years of life were spent in Cleveland, Ohio.  This would have been from 1951-58 when the vaudevillian concept of variety shows took to the dance floors of night clubs across the United States.  Television was becoming an entertainment force with which to contend, but still Americans enjoyed nights out on the town filled with revelry and entertainment.

       During those years my parents worked most weekends in this club circuit performing their juggling act.  As a child I remember hearing the names of certain other performers popping up in my parents' conversations, and on occasion some of these acts would even stop at our house to visit. 

        There were quite a number of nationally known performers living in and around Cleveland at the time.  Over time acts would cross paths and form friendships.  One of my favorite acts was Paul Kohler.  He had established himself as the national xylophone champion in 1937 and had been a hot ticket on the show circuit for many years.

         I was fortunate enough to see Kohler's act on a few occasions.  Being a child at the time, I particularly liked his Christmas show where he would dress up in a bear costume and play his novelty xylophone numbers.  He'd be billed as "The Kohler Bear" and why wouldn't a kid like that?  For me though, his best musical novelty was when he'd play a flashy xylophone (or marimba) with dazzling lights using lighted percussion mallets.  It was pure eye candy combined with musical virtuosity.

          After we moved to San Diego California in 1959 the night club and show circuit basically dried up for my parents   During those few years my father began encouraging my younger sister to enter talent contests in the region.  With a unique act that combined acrobatic dancing with juggling and magic tricks, my sister started winning most every contest she entered.  Eventually her act made it to the top state competition in Sacramento.

          There's not much I remember about that contest that probably was in 1962.  My sister didn't win, but she came out as a finalist.  What I do remember is a teenage drummer who wowed the crowd with his drumming.  Beyond that--and what really captured my appreciation--this drummer had his kit and sticks painted with colorful fluorescent paints which, when the stage lights were doused and the stage was illuminated by black light, created a psychedelic display that drove the audience wild.

          As I figured was his due, that young drummer captured the top place in that talent show.  The name of that drummer was Dennison Jackson and he was the inspiration for my most recent Battle of the Bands...


Battle of the Bands Results



     
            I figured this would be just a silly slow summer Battle, but actually it was one of the closest races I've seen from beginning to end.  Going in I had no idea who would win this pairing and judging from the responses I'd say this was as much a vote on instrument preference as it was on artists talents (which both artists have an abundance of in my opinion).

           Close race that this was I ended up with the deciding vote.  It was a tough one for me, but based on childhood sentiments and a musical preference for xylophone I gave my vote to Paul Kohler...

Final Vote Tally

Paul Kohler                9

Dennison Jackson      8


Next Battle of the Bands on Sunday September 1st

          Yeah, it's almost fall.   I remember having this lament not so seemingly long ago, but it was really a year ago.   No point in saying much more than that.