#BOTB The Boys are Back In Town


Time for Monday’s Music Moves Me and also time for our next Battle of the Bands!  If you recall, I posted my main post for the theme last week, you can find that post here (be sure to check it out - some great tunes there!)  So today I’m focusing more on the Battle of the Bands.


The Song:  ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’

Wikipedia tells us: "The Boys Are Back in Town" is a single from Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. The song was originally released in 1976 on their album Jailbreak. It was given 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, though it was not included in the 2010 update. Rolling Stone praised lead singer Phil Lynott's "Gaelic soul" and called the "twin-guitar lead by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson" used "crucial to the song's success". The song is played at most Irish Rugby matches. In March 2005, Q magazine placed "The Boys Are Back in Town" at No. 38 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

Today, I’ve got three different contenders for you to choose from.

Contender # 1 The BusBoys

The BusBoys are an American musical group known for playing rock and roll with a flavoring of soul, funk, and rhythm and blues. Formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, the original lineup featured brothers Brian O'Neal and Kevin O'Neal, Gus Louderman, Mike Jones, Vic Johnson, and Steve Felix. All of the original band's members were African-American except Felix, who is of Hispanic heritage.





Contender #2 Everclear

Everclear is an American rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1991. The band was formed by Art Alexakis, the band's lead songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist; and for most of the band's height of popularity, consisted of Craig Montoya on bass guitar and Greg Eklund on drums. After the limited release of their independently released debut album, World of Noise, the band found success with their first three albums on Capitol Records: Sparkle and Fade, So Much for the Afterglow, and Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile, which were all certified platinum in sales. However, the following two albums Songs from an American Movie Vol. Two: Good Time for a Bad Attitude and Slow Motion Daydream, were not as well received, and as sales suffered, Montoya and Eklund left the band shortly after in 2003.




Contender #3 Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi, pianist and keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, lead guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald. The band's lineup has remained mostly static during its history, with the only exceptions being the 1994 dismissal of bass player Alec John Such, who was unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald, and the departure of longtime guitarist and co-songwriter Richie Sambora in 2013. Phil X and McDonald both became official members in 2016.




Please vote for your favorite version in the comments, whether it be The BusBoys, Everclear, or Bon Jovi.  Voting will end on August 20, 2017 at 6pm EST with results being posted on August 21.

I’d like to encourage you to visit the other bloggers participating in the battle of the bands as well as the Mondays Music Moves Me blog hop. You can find a current list of battle participants HERE, or on Stephen’s blog (you can also request to join the battle of the bands blog hop on his blog). 





Comments

  1. My vote goes to The Busboys they had the most original take on the song.

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    1. Thank, Mike!

      I've got your vote counted. Looking forward to your post today, and your upcoming battle as well.

      ~Mary

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  2. Mary,

    Woe, a threesome! Okay, that didn't come out right. What I meant is a three contender showdown! I'm giving my vote to The Busboys because they are the closest to the original and I actually like the vocals better than the other two. Thanks for joining the 4M gals on the dance floor, my friend!

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    1. Oh Cathy, you naughty naughty girl!

      Glad I could join you guys on the dance floor today! And I have your vote counted. Thanks!

      ~Mary

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  3. Replies
    1. Hi Patrick

      I like the original as well, but they are not a contestant in this battle. Don't be a sourpuss, come back and vote for someone in the battle :)

      ~Mary

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  4. My vote goes to The Busboys too... I love the original & they sounded the most like the original. Didn't know Bon Jovi did one. hmmm It's okay and actually it's kinda cool.

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    1. Thanks, Marie!

      Got you down for The Busboys. Appreciate you taking the time to stop in to vote.

      ~Mary

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  5. Going with the Busboys for their original song! I don't mind the Bon Jovi version. (Least favourite is Everclear). What happens to many bands who try cover versions of great songs, they don't live up. This happens to be one of those times, which is why I picked the Busboys.

    Darren

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    1. Hey Darren!

      I tried to pick 3 interesting versions. I usually try to narrow it down to 2 contestants, but I just couldn't decide. Thanks for the vote!

      ~Mary

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  6. Interesting choices, Mary! I liked them all, but the Busboys really funked it up. Loved the hot piano licks! They get my vote on this one. Everclear and Bon Jovi (still mourning the departure of Richie Sambora! :( ) both sounded similar to the original.

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    1. Hey Debbie!

      It sure has been a minute, hasn't it? Hope all is well with you. Everclear and Bon Jovi need to get it together if they are going to make a showing at this contest. Yikes! I don't want another runaway battle.

      ~Mary

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    2. My website crashed! It took a good two weeks to repair and optimize it, but it's looking good, now. Plus, I'd rather spend more time offline during the summer. The season is so short. There will be a BOTB entry though, going live just after midnight EDT. Here's hoping Everclear and Bon Jovi will get some votes!

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    3. oh no! glad that you were able to get it back up and running. I look forward to your battle. Enjoy your summer break!

      ~Mary

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  7. The Bus Boys deliver well, but I'm not a fan of their style. Nix that one.

    Everclear presents an excellent rocking version of the Thin Lizzy song. I like that one.

    Bon Jovi really rocks this one and they give it an extra full sound. Give my vote to them.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Thanks, Lee!

      You've just prevented a blowout. Thank YOU!

      ~Mary

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  8. MARY, MARY, I must be most contrary!!!

    I'm not sure if you're playing a joke on us and just testing to see if anyone is actually paying attention, or if my name is really Alice and I just fell down the rabbit hole, but either way...

    Since for about 2 or 3 years back in the 1970s Thin Lizzy was my very favorite band, and since I saw them perform live 3 times while Phil Lynott was still alive and singin' (the most memorable performance was at a tiny theatre in Pasadena, CA.), you can put me down on record as stating unequivocally that the BUS BOYS recording is NOT a cover of the Thin Lizzy hit! It may have the same title, but it ain't the same song. Check the lyrics, and please find for me where they mention "DINO'S [Deano's?] BAR AND GRILL".

    I actually enjoyed the BUS BOYS' song, but apparently it's an original, not a cover of Thin Lizzy's hit. (And then when I read where Cathy wrote that it was the "closest to the original", I really felt like I had dropped a tab of Acid and dropped down the rabbit hole!:^)

    The EVERCLEAR and BON JOVI recordings are truly covers of the original Thin Lizzy song, and of the two, I much preferred the fuller, richer sound of BON JOVI, so that's where this BOY'S vote lands. (Note the mention of Dino's [Deano's?] Bar & Grill in both recordings.)

    FUN FACT: I met Pooh through Torch in 1979, and the night we met, we discovered we shared a mutual love of Thin Lizzy. Not long later, Torch, Pooh, Cranium, Twinkie, my brother Napoleon and I came together to form the drinking gang called "The League Of Soul Crusaders". And THAT, my friend, was the REAL boys in town! We didn't go where it was happening; we WERE what was happening!! Drinks flowing, blood spilling -- just like it says in the song lyrics.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    [Link:) STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

    POSTSCRIPT: What's funny (to me, anyway -- if not to you) is that the BUS BOYS are running away with this Battle so far and they aren't even doing the Thin Lizzy song. Ha!-Ha! ...Sorry. I'm laughing WITH you. You knew that, right?

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    1. Good Lord!

      I must have been extra tired when I put this together. I swear I thought the Busboys were just putting their own flavor and spin on the song. I knew it started out a little different, but they got me on the chorus. I've been snookered (but I promise I wasnt snockered)

      If I'm being completely honest, this wasnt even supposed to be the battle for this month. I had another one all written up and scheduled, blah blah blah, but those Monday people messed with my schedule. The originally planned battle got shoved to next month. (I checked, they aren't too bruised and beaten, just a little sore) I've got 2 fine ladies lined up for next month.

      I've got your vote counted, and thanks to you and Lee, this won't be a complete shutout. (Whew! I can relax now)

      ~Mary

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    2. No worries, MMQE. Stuffs happens.
      And kudos for the honesty, because you could have played it off as if you were just testing us for attention to detail.

      Besides, it REALLY IS pretty funny that the Bus Boys are winning, and not one but TWO persons voted for them because they felt their cover sounded the most like the original.

      Bartender, I'll have what those two ladies are drinking, please.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      (link:] STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

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    3. I'm not as think you drunk I am...

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  9. Well I'm voting for Everclear because I have a LOT of history with Art and his wonderful San Francisco band Colorfinger which predated Everclear. Had the please of booking both Colorfinger AND Everclear!

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    1. YAY! Everclear is on the board! Art is amazing. I used to live in Portland, and after Everclear, he had a little radio show. I happened to catch his show a few times. So much talent and he is always looking to give a hand up to those who need it in the business.

      Patrick, I think you should join in on some of these battles and music hops, you have so much personal experience - I know you have some good stories to tell!

      ~Mary

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  10. Fun rendition by the Bus boys. Everclear was more like the original, but Bon Jovi rocked it!

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    1. Alright! I'll put you down for Bon Jovi (unless I misunderstood your vote - please correct me if I'm mistaken)

      ~Mary

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  11. The Bus Boys' "Boys Are Back" is an entirely different song from the one by Tin Lizzy. So I feel like I have to count them out, although I like their song. I think Eddie Murphy was involved with them at one point...

    Of the two remaining, I like Bon Jovi's better. They get my vote here.

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    1. No need to discount them.. Half the people voting didn't even notice :) I've got you down for Bon Jovi.

      ~Mary

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  12. Darn! I think my comment got lost. I adore all three, as I tried to say before. But I’ll vote for the Bus Boys with the awesome piano.

    It was tough since I have always liked Everclearn’s radio tunes and Bon Jovi got me through high school halfway sane. ~grin~ I was sorry when Alec John Such needed to retire. If I understood correctly, nobody wanted it but he couldn’t physically tour any more. And Richie’s rather mysterious leaving was sad. I guess he wanted time with his daughter (?), which is admirable, and I’m glad he and John Bongiovi are back to being friends. Bon Jovi’s front man has always been a class act and great performer along with his bandmates.

    Thanks for this fun challenge.

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    1. Hey There, Darla!

      Glad to have you join us with a vote. I've got you added to The BusBoys fan club ;)

      ~Mary

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    2. Cool! On Monday I'm posting with a eulogy written for my mom. Don't know how I volunteered my introverted self, but I'd love feedback on my words. Be well!

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  13. Busboys without any doubt. More of mah style. But your posts always help me to increase my musical knowledge. Wow

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    1. Thank you.

      I've got your vote counted. Appreciate you stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  14. I hadn't fun listening to The Bus Boys but I couldn't see how it resembles this great song but they had fun with it. Considering how much I love this song, I must give it to Bon Jovi with great guitar playing and I do like his voice in this version. The last one is Everclear. They are ok but they don't have the brilliance which is needed for a song like this.

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    1. Thanks, Birgit!

      Sorry I didn't respond back to you sooner. For some reason whenever you or Lee respond in my comments, I don't get a notification. I've got your vote counted, and results will be published very late this evening.

      ~Mary

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  15. Hey! Am I in time??? I'm soooo late getting here. Sorry! I hope I'm not too late...

    WOW and Holy crap! Those BusBoys are jammin'!!! LOVE them! Never heard of them before and so glad that you featured them. I'm definitely going to check them out some more. I LOVE their version of The Boys are Back in Town. Maybe even better than Thin Lizzy (and I've always really liked that song). Bon Jovi did an okay job with it but the BusBoys were so unique and incredible. Love love love it! My vote goes to them, hands down, on this one.

    GREAT battle Mary! I'm rockin' to the BusBoys version again and it is cranked up! :)

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Hey Michele!

      You are IN TIME! I'll be posting the results in just a few hours. Normally I would wait until 12pm MST, but my cousin is caught up in this silly eclipse thing and has decided that I need to work for her tomorrow so she can see darkness for 2 minutes. Whatever. The whole eclipse thing reminds of of teenage virgins. A whole lot of excitement and anticipation built up over a 'great event' only to be disappointed that it is all over and done with in two minutes or less.

      You'll have to check out my post on the results. I'm also doing part 2 of my 3 part 'All In a Name' series. Should be an interesting post.

      ~Mary

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    2. No wonder I like the "unique" approach the BusBoys took with this song: it's not the Thin Lizzy song!! I wasn't even listening to the lyrics the first time I listened to it, just jammin' to their sound, which I love! So like I said, they're better at doing Thin Lizzy than Thin Lizzy is... No, wait, do they do Thin Lizzy? Oh hell, who cares? It's a great jam! THOSE boys are definitely back in town! :) Love, love, love!!

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    3. Haha! You caught me! I'm actually going to tell more about my 'oops' in my results post. I agree, they do have a great sound. I'm glad I fell for it as well.

      ~Mary

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    4. LOL. You made me laugh with your eclipse comment. There is a craziness going on about it, isn't there? But it is definitely an event to see, even if it is only 2 minutes. Believe it or not, I had a customer drop off her dog yesterday for me to dog-sit for a few days because she's driving to Georgia so she can see the eclipse better!
      She did give me some good advice though: apparently here in Austin, we'll be able to partially see it. She advised me not to let the dogs out between noon and 2:30pm on Monday because if they happen to look up and directly at the eclipse as it's happening, it could damage their eyes. I hadn't even given that a thought! So we'll all be hanging out in the AC during the big event... :)

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  16. Before listening to all three, the thought occurred to me that the one band I wouldn't be voting for was Jon Bon Jovi….I was wrong-o! Truthfully, I liked that version the best. Everclear would be a close second.

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    1. Thanks, Cherdo!

      I've got your Bon Jovi vote counted. Thanks for dropping by!

      ~Mary

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