Joshua P. Simon's Blog, page 15

Music Monday - Del Sol

Last week at the King’s X concert, there was a great opening band named Del Sol. Amazing musicianship from the entire trio (including vocals). I was so impressed I had trouble figuring out who I wanted to watch. They’ve got a bit of an eclectic style as there are some great blues jams as well as some almost Rush sounding progressive work. Though I enjoyed their entire set, I preferred the bluesy cuts. I didn’t see anything on Youtube from them so I couldn’t post a link from there. However, they do have several songs available at the below link which I grabbed from their Facebook page.

If you can only listen to one song, check out “The Hook.”

http://soundcloud.com/delsolmusicatlanta

2013 Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope your day is full of good food and better family.

To mark the occasion, here’s a song and a show.

Music Monday - King's X - Black Like Sunday

My friend Mike came up this past weekend and we saw King’s X play the Masquerade in Atlanta. I think it was my fifth time seeing the band. As always, it was a great show. There was even some really solid and enjoyable opening acts which is a nice bonus.

One of the best things about seeing one of your favorite bands in a club setting is the crowd interaction. King’s X has always had a special relationship with their fans which is evident with the way they laugh and joke around on stage with each other and the audience. The crowd feels the same way which is why when the band stops playing, nearly everyone is still singing their lyrics. Very cool feeling.

Great musicianship and vocals. Introspective lyrics and an energetic live show. It’s a shame they’ve never made it huge. If any band deserves huge success, it’s definitely them.

With that being said, I thought I’d do a Music Monday on my favorite tracks from Black Like Sunday, an album that isn’t mentioned often.

Black Like Sunday


Down


Danger Zone

TRIAL AND GLORY is now available as an audiobook!

Trial and Glory: Book Three of the Blood and Tears Trilogy is now available as an audiobook through the following outlets!!


You should be able to listen to a small sample at each location.

With this release, the Blood and Tears Trilogy is now available in all formats (electronic, print, and audio). Admittedly, it feels pretty good to say that.

As I’ve mentioned before with my previous releases, please leave a review at the place of purchase and spread the word to others. The best form of advertising for authors is through word of mouth and reviews act in this same way.

Thanks!

Writing Update

Time for another writing update…

Here are the three projects I’m currently juggling:
1. Book Two of my new sword and sorcery series called The Epic of Rondel and Andrasta– The manuscript currently stands around 89K and is with Leah for the first alpha read (content related). Once she finishes the read, I’ll probably do two more drafts and give it back to her for a line edit. My goal is to get it back to her within about two weeks of getting her comments. I’d love to get this to beta-readers before the end of the year.

2. After the Plague – This is an older short story I wrote well over a year ago. It is much different than anything else I’ve written as it takes place in post-apocalyptic setting. I’ve done some extra polishing on it and will get a bit more feedback on it in the coming weeks. I’m thinking I might want to self-publish it once I feel the text is tight and I can get a cover together.

3. The Epic of Rondel and Andrasta short story – I’m currently working on the first draft of a story that takes place between books one and two of the series. I’m hoping to get this wrapped up by the end of next week (first draft and first two to three edits). I’d like to get this to beta-readers sometime in December.

4. Saga of Tyrus short story – This would take place in another series I worked on earlier in the year. I haven’t worked on the novels recently, but I’d like to do a short story before the end of the year. One, because I miss the characters. And two, I think it would give me a nice break from the characters in the Epic of Rondel and Andrasta series before jumping into Book Three.

5. Book Three of the Epic of Rondel and Andrasta – At a minimum, I’d like to get this outlined before the end of the year (hopefully started in late December).

Yes, it’s a lot to try and do by the end of the year…and honestly, it might not all get done (especially since the wife and I are juggling a few things on the personal front). However, I like to aim high and push myself because I usually find a way to meet my self-imposed deadlines.

Music Monday - Overkill - The Years of Decay

Elimination


Skullcrusher


Years of Decay

Schoolhouse Rock

One of the best gifts my sister has given our kids is the Schoolhouse Rock DVD. It has all the songs, plus a couple new ones (which unfortunately are the two worst ones). We watch it often on shuffle, and the kids love it each and every time. My oldest will sing the songs randomly around the house and even quote them in reference to certain topics like electricity.

So, decades later these are still some of the most entertaining and educational things around.

And they’re extremely catchy.

Interjections


Conjunction Junction


Lolly Lolly Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here


A Victim of Gravity


Interplanet Janet


What is everyone’s favorite?

Music Monday - Big Mama Thornton

Most people don’t realize that the Elvis hit “Hound Dog” was actually a cover and first a hit by Big Mama Thornton. The first video gets even better when it shifts to Down Home Shakedown with all the harmonica work (note: John Lee Hooker is on the video too).

Thornton is definitely an underrated blues singer.

Hound Dog and Down Home Shakedown


Oh Happy Day


One More River

Old School Wrestling Promos

Took a trip down memory lane the other day and watched a bunch of wrestling promos from the 80s. Awesome stuff.

Ric Flair (probably my all time favorite)


Hulk Hogan/Macho Man/Mean Gene


Dusty Rhodes (Right behind Flair as a favorite, if you will)


The Iron Sheik and Mean Gene


Junkyard Dog and Jesse The Body


The Bushwhackers


Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mean Gene

Music Monday - Michael Jackson - Thriller

In honor of Halloween, I thought I’d put up the greatest music video of all time. And let’s be honest, it’s still a pretty cool song.