BOTB RESULTS -- 2017, DEC. 15: Or, KATHY MATTEA VERSUS JUBILANT SYKES

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STMcC’s Vote On '2017, December 15th: Battle Of The Bands' (Or, 'Kathy Mattea Versus Jubilant Sykes') And The Final Tally:

Sometimes it takes me awhile to put together a BOTB contest, even after I've already conceived of it. Using the song MARY, DID YOU KNOW? and putting Kathy Mattea against Jubilant Sykes (HERE) was an idea I had at least two if not three Christmases back. It wasn't until now that I finally presented it to y'all.

I originally wanted to use their studio recordings, but because I was unable to find a video of Jubilant's studio recording that would play in Canada, I had to make it a live performance contest. Not my preference.

This Battle was not nearly as close as I thought it might be, however, the Magic 8-Ball finally predicted an outcome correctly. I believe I may have finally found the proper way to use my Magic 8-Ball: apparently, instead of asking it who will Win, I should have been asking it who will Lose.

Kathy Mattea and Jubilant Sykes do this song better'n anyone else I've heard, and that's why I wanted to pit them against each other. The first time I ever heard this song, Jubilant was singing it live at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles during their Christmas program. I was blown away!

FUN FACT: Jubilant Sykes is from my hometown ("Dogtown" -- South Santa Monica / North Venice) and he and I were in the same Boys Chorus in junior high school together. He made it; I didn't. 
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Determining which version of MARY, DID YOU KNOW? that I like better is quite tough. I love them both. I get that the "motherhood" theme seems, at first glance, to make the song more natural with a woman's voice. But then again, the singer asking Mary the lyrics' questions does not necessarily need to be female, and the song conveys the Power of God which manifested through Jesus Christ. In referencing the Power and Wonder of God, a strong male voice might seem to have a natural edge. So, it all depends upon how one perceives the song.

I almost hate having to vote against either competitor here, but in the end, I think it's the end of Jubilant's rendition that steals my vote. When he sings of "the great I AM", I can almost feel the Strength of God's Divine Power coming through Jubilant's voice. Therefore, I'll cast my vote my homie's way. And he needs it, too:

Kathy Mattea = 12 votes
Jubilant Sykes = 7 votes

I own two Jubilant Sykes compact discs, and one of them contains the song BLESSED ASSURANCE, which never really captivated me. But a couple weeks ago, I was doing dishes and just letting YouTube play music videos when I heard a live version of Blessed Assurance by Jubilant. After about two minutes of just hearing the way he was singing the song, I felt compelled to dry my hands over the kitchen sink and walk over to my computer monitor and watch the rest of the video. Jubilant absolutely knocked me flat with his performance! Mind blown!!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory Divine!
Heir of Salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of Love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blessed,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

If I didn't already believe in God and didn't already know Jesus Christ, THAT performance by Jubilant would have put me on "The Christian Way". Dang! Dang!! Even back in 7th grade, I already knew Jubilant was great, but this live version of Blessed Assurance fills me with even more awe of his God-given gift!

If you can spare three and a half minutes, watch and listen to THIS!...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsBx7G3uucY

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Well, that's it for BOTB 2017. I thank each and every one of you for participating and I wish you a Merry Christmas; Happy Holidays; and a peaceful, blessed 2018! Remember: On New Year's Eve, don't drink and drive. Just drink! 

I will return here on January 15, 2018 with my 100th Battle Of The Bands installment. And because it's The Big One-Hundred, I plan to do something fun, something a little different, something sorta sexy. Yes, s-e-x-y.  
And why not? A certain someone (female, I blessedly assure you!) used to call me "The Sexiest Man On The Planet". Sure, she's living at the Dogtown Rescue Mission now, but she wasn't always "blind" drunk! 

Thanks again, Y'all, and see ya on 1/15/2018.
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Bless And Be Blessed!
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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2017, DEC. 15: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, KATHY MATTEA VS. JUBILANT SYKES)

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Republican Vs. Democrat, Male Vs. Female, War Vs. Peace, Light Vs. Dark, Good Vs. Evil, Man Vs. Machine, Love Vs. Hate, Dog Vs. Cat, Sun Vs. Moon, Brain Vs. Brawn, Oscar Vs. Grammy, Angel Vs. Demon, Stephen T. McCarthy Vs. Sobriety, Rock Vs. Paper Vs. Scissors, Singer Vs. Singer, Band Vs. Band...
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'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB')
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Shoop-Shooby -
Shooby-Duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah -
Buh-Doo-Wah!
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Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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Friends, it being only a week and a half now from Christmas Day, this is a Christmas-themed BOTB installment. I'm using one of the lesser known Christmas songs yet one that a lot of people greatly love (me, too!)  
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However, the final line of lyric in the song might need a brief explanation. The line is: "This sleeping Child you're holding is the great I Am."

Obviously, the Child referred to is Jesus. But Who is "the great I Am"? The 3rd chapter of Exodus tells us this:

Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

So He [God] said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
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And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'”

So, "I Am" was the first name for God that God ever revealed to mankind. Got it? Alright then, let's move on to the Battle. BOTH of these competitors are well known for their versions of this particular song. Let's listen to them singing it live and find out who does it better...
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KATHY MATTEA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I597YUXw1E

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This next version comes from an old recording of a TV special so, unfortunately, the sound quality is a bit ragged. Please try not to let the less-than-stellar audio track interfere with your evaluation of the performance. Also, you'll want to fast-forward to the 4:40 mark for the beginning of 'MARY, DID YOU KNOW?'

JUBILANT SYKES (with The Boston Pops)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grDzNR_tiTM

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Question: Will Jubilant Sykes lose this Battle
Magic 8-Ball sez:  "Yes"
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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other. 
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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants to see which songs they have chosen and vote there also.  
Vote your vice... Vice your voice...

Voice Your Vote...

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@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'YOUR DAILY DOSE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' by clicking HERE.

As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 21st of each month to post my own votes and announce the winners in the comment sections.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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THE LAST OF THE MOJITOS (Or, VIRGINIA CITY: WORST AND LAST HANGOVERS) -- Part 2

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This is Part Two. Part One can be found HERE, and you really should read that first, otherwise even this blog bit's title won't fully make sense to you.
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This woman's voice is almost like a dog whistle but she's kinda cute, so cut her some slack, eh?...
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Virginia City Is The Wild West
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI8-72-v0HI


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For some time, things had been occurring which I interpreted to be signs from God indicating that I should return to strict sobriety. I had also come to realize that alcohol was restricting my Spiritual walk. Furthermore, even the slightest amount of alcohol usually strangled my ability to dream, and I considered my dream life to be a significant component of my Spiritual life. 
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I might make jokes about those "signs" -- as I did in the following text, which I sent to my friend Trainyard Julio -- but deep down, I knew that eventually I would need to face up to those signs and respond to them.
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So, I'm at the Palace Saloon, having a cold Mojito, when an ad comes on the TV screen about an organization called "Make America Sober Again". Quite obviously a Communist plot of some sort. I'm sure Les Nessman will get to the bottom of it.
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But I finally reached that point when I knew the decision needed to be made. I am determined to NOT let anything interfere with my reAlationship with God and my Big Brother Savior, Christ Yeshua!
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I decided to go up to Virginia City again for one last round of saloon-hopping and then and there, return to a life of strict sobriety. So, on the morning of 11/24/2017, I drove up Geiger Grade and checked into an 1870s hotel:
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After meditating in the Miner's Park, I spent the first half of the day exploring the sites I love so dearly. And then at about 2 PM, I ordered a beer and began my final party.
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Please go saloon-hopping with me now, as we retrace reweave my final night of liquidated fun:
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First, I had a pint of Cerveza Chilebeso, probably my favorite beer of all time, at the Virginia City Brewery And Taphouse, and that got the party started...
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Next, I went across the street to the recently opened Cigar & Bar and swapped real-life ghost stories with the bartender while I drank a Scotch & Soda...
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After that, I walked 1.5 to 2 miles down to the Gold Hill Hotel Saloon and had a Margarita followed by two Modelo Negra beers...
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Trudging 1.5 or 2 miles back up the hill to Virginia City, I stopped in at the Silver Queen Saloon for a Hot Buttered Rum. Yes, I know about not mixing too many different kinds of alcohol but... I didn't care.
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Then I headed up to B Street and one of my favorite watering holes in Virginia City -- the Old Corner Bar -- to see Lisa, my favorite bartender in Virginia City. I sent the following text to beer brother Trainyard Julio, aka 6-B and Bryan Pedas:
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Utilizing my White privilege, I just ordered a White Russian at the Old Corner Bar. I would have ordered a Black Russian, but a gang of them kicked my ass one night in Kentucky in 1983, and I've avoided 'em ever since. 
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He responded with this funny text:
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Just watch out, comrade. In communist Old Corner, White Russian drinks you.
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Ha!-Ha! Well, he was right! Lisa made that White Russian good and strong, and it went down so nicely, so deliciously, that I ordered TWO MORE!! I tipped Lisa $20 and walked out of the Old Corner Bar...
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At this point, I was no longer feeling the pain of life, but I still felt I owed myself one more beer. So, walking back down to C Street from B Street, I stopped in at the Mark Twain Saloon and drank another Modelo Negra...
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I seriously debated returning to the Virginia City Brewery And Taphouse for a final Cerveza Chilebeso, but I finally 86'ed that idea and returned to my 1870s hotel for the night. Good thing, too. Because despite sleeping pretty well, I still woke up with a hangover. It wasn't an A-List E-Ticket hangover like the old days, but I'm older now and any hangover of any degree is no bueno! 
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Shortly after The Palace Restaurant & Saloon opened at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 25th, I went in for the previously planned final 2 drinks. I ordered some Mozzarella Cheese Sticks with their wonderful Ranch Dressing and a Blackberry Mojito. I'd never had the Blackberry variety before, and it was delicious. But I had to sip and eat slowly to make sure everything stayed down, boy, DOWN!
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An hour later, I ordered The Last Of The Mojitos -- the regular lime type -- in a plastic to-go cup, and I headed to a semi-secluded special spot of mine, away from C Street and the tourists. There's a place in a small half-circle of trees in a barren area where a telephone pole has fallen between two piles of mine tailings, creating a kind of "log bench".
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There I poured the remainder of my Mojito into my silver cup...
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...and just as I did back on September 22, 1995, I had my last drink (again) and returned to strict sobriety for Spiritual purposes. 
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Interestingly, as I was enjoying the last sips of The Last Of The Mojitos, a HAWK seemed to appear out of nowhere and began circling in the sky before me, while squawking loudly. At first, I thought maybe it was a mama Hawk and I was too near her nest. But, heck, the trees were all barren and it was late November. There couldn't be a nest.
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Then I got the idea that maybe this Hawk was a sign from God, squawking approval of my decision to quit drinking again. I thought to myself: If this is a sign from God or Christ, the Hawk would fly over me. I had barely completed the thought when the Hawk completed its last circle before me and flew DIRECTLY over my head. I looked STRAIGHT UP at it thinking: WOW!!! ...And then my second thought was: I hope it doesn't poop on me. 
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The Hawk then started flying East toward Sugarloaf Mountain...
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...and when it was near the Mountain, suddenly a Second Hawk appeared from somewhere and the Two Hawks joined each other in the sky and continued flying East until they both became mere dots on the horizon and disappeared from my view.
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The Father and The Son... Anyone familiar with the Biblical Law of Two Witnesses understands what that was all about. I got it immediately, and was very grateful.
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And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
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Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
~ Matthew 26:26-29
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Looks like I'm returning to Hot Buttered Nothings for Christmas from now on.
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But I'll leave you with some Fun Facts:
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Not only was Virginia City the richest and most important mining town in American West history (the North would have lost the Civil War without it), which gave us Mark Twain and even the beautiful, mystical love story 'Somewhere In Time', it was actually the real birthplace of Psychedelic Rock in the 1960s! (See the videos below.)
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Red Dog Saloon (documentary excerpt)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQKlhKFeO3U


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Red Dog Saloon (documentary excerpt)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeQ-enoKwLI


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There's just something very, very special about Virginia City, Nevada, and I believe souls that have lived there in previous lifetimes return to it time and time again.
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Somehow, the lovely Squeek Steele managed to capture the magic of Virginia City in the haunting melody of her 'Virginia City Waltz'...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-X1ZLb2T0Q


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If you ever have the opportunity, be sure to visit this magical place. Look here and see what you're missing...
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VisitVirginiaCityNV YouTube Channel
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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