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Gig Updates Sunday, December 31-2006, NEW YEARS EVE Moondogs: Blawnox, Pa. "Boilermaker", "Somethin's Cookin", "Rock n' Roll City", "We Come A Long Way", sent out "Graceland" to my baby. "Ain't It Amazin" felt strong. "I Seen Too Much" rocked the joint. We closed out the first set with a couple ole classics, "Burnin Up" and "Lovedog". Mark Stutso took over the lead vocals in the second set and this hillbilly boy was bringing it. "Million Tears" has a feel all it's own when Stutso is shoutin out da woids. "Victoria's Secret" ain't a secret no mo, dis jam was spanking me, ouch. The sultry "Let's Burn Breakfast" was my favorite of Stutso's set. The audience seemed to think "Three Times Your Fool" was the show stopper, loads of applause. We then played a tune Whitey Cooper and I wrote years ago, "Just Like A Woman".The ole Canned Heat, Wilbur Harrison penned "Work Togather" got broken off short so we could bring in the new year with the song you play every new year's eve at 12'clock midnight. I won't mention the name of that tune, cause I don't know how to spell it, but I know ya'll know the tune I'm talking about! "You Go Your Way" was the first tune we played after that tune that I can't spell the name of, and Stutso sang the crap outta that laid back soulful lament. What did I say? "This hillbilly boy was bringin it".We banged the crap outta "Heart Break Shake", then started up where we left off on "Work Togather". Great set, I really enjoy playing guitar behind a strong vocalist. Stutso came up in the third set and sang "If I Had A Child" and "Bow Legged Woman" which gave me a chance to choke some tortured sounds outta my axe. Long time buddy Chuck Koler joined us on stage to sing "Secret Agent Man", "Teddy Bear" and "Can't Help Fallin In Love". A few couples got up and slow-danced to the Elvis ballad. ROMANCE BABY. Enter Whitey Clyde Cooper, center stage, Mark Stutso behind the drum kit. Lottsa fun watching Whitey walk the floor, he's really become a nice front man. "Shama Lama Ding Dong" followed by "634-5789", the blond bomber was singing all high, tight n' white, yea boooouuueeyy. Mister Cooper totally smacked "Mojo" around, then closed out the night axin da question, do you like good music, sweet soul music? Yesh, yesh, yesh, I do like dat sweet soul music Mr Cooper, and I sure like da way ya sing it. Hey you, thanks for taking the precious time to read these here gig updates. I sure appreciate it. Hey you, happy new year. Saturday, December 30-2006 Billy's Roadhouse: Wexford, Pa. We played a strong rocking first set. Lottsa newer Norman tunes mixed in with a few older jams "High Times", "Lovedog ", "Here Comes The Weekend". Harry Bottoms sang "King Of The Road" and reached his people in the house, go Harry, go Harry. Later in the show he also hit a high note singing "Pots 'n Pans". The second set was sprinkled with ole cover tunes "Ya Really Got A Hold On Me", "Are You Lonesome Tonight", "Into The Mystic". Everyone was fascinated as they watched 6 or 7 deer out on the lawn behind the club, just hangin out, eating and playing. As we were closing out the night I started thinking about all the gigs we played this year, all the laughs, all the tunes, all the nice folks that come out to the shows, and I thought how much fun it can be to be the uncrowned of all that is left of rock n' roll. Press on? We must. Saturday, December 23-2006 Excuses: Southside, Pittsburgh, Pa. It all seemed so easy tonight, sometimes it is, sometimes it ain't. Blessed are these special moments in time. "Graceland" roared off the stage. "Bulldog" and "Somethin's Cookin" almost played themselves. I mentioned that Whitey didn't like us doing "Jingle Bell Rock", we then did it and Whitey thought it felt great, it was one of those nights. "White Christmas", the Irving Berlin classic sung by Whitey Clyde was well received. We also tried "Just Another Christmas Song" and it came off pretty well. Just as we hit the opening phrase of "Nothin To Lose" I looked up and saw ole pal Grubby and lady Pam enter the bar. A hardy version of "Steeler Nation" put smiles on the faces in attendance, children of the black n' gold. Amen. Long time Houserockin' drummer Joffo Simmons gave a shout out for "Million Tears", and it came down like falling rain. How bout the south oakland Decade gang Angelo, Osh, Terry, Rocky and Gib, whose kicking a** announcing outlaw auto races world-wide. Da Ratman had bells on his toes. The rumor that I was wearing a matching pair of bra and panties on the evening's last tune are totally untrue."Burnin Up" and "Sick n' Tired" closed down the house. I won't even try to detail the insane laughter that happened between us and the audience, ya had t' be dere. Friday, December 22-2006 P.D.'s Pub: Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pa. This is a nice sounding room, my guitar was very happy."Lazybones" felt like a garbage truck coming down the alley. My hands felt like meat hooks ripping huge hunks a' flesh and just tossing 'em in people's laps. "Yesterday's Gone" and "Last Night I Had A Dream" rang out a proud soulful sound that shivered my own timbers. And I was baptised in the manful way of this blessed music. Let me touch you in a manful way. If you haven't been out to see us in a while, you gotta come back to church. Donny Dread of the Freedom Band jumped on stage and sang a crushing version of "Shout", Harry and Whitey was ripping some B.G. vocals, I was happy as a dog eatin sh*t. Early in the second set we sent "Burnin Up" out to Travis and his special lady friend. Donny Dread got back up and sang "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg". Hey, dis guy Donny has a great voice, ya gotta hear Donny Dread sing. Chuck and Sandy wanted to hear "Graceland". Larry G and Devo wanted to hear "High Times" for the ole times. Da Booty Doctor..........Booty Juice............see what I'm sayin........How bout my boy Gator. Rest In Peace Joey P, with love from me and my gang and always "Poor Little Rich Kid" for Frankie.
Saturday, December 16-2006 Sports Rock: Strip District, Pittsburgh, Pa. We played pretty well on this fall-like December eve. Not much of an audience so the music was all we had to hang on to. We did an impromtu "Amazing Grace" intro and outro during "You Go Your Way" that felt very powerful. "Pennsylvania Rain" is coming along nicely, although it still seems to be missin something. Harry belted out "Pots n' Pans", we've got to record him singing that someday. We did a short Christmas set, me singing "Jingle Bell Rock" and Whitey just nailing "White Christmas". "Just Like A Woman" showed up in the second set, hadn't played dat 'un in a coons age. "Play" came off well, hadn't played that in many moons. This was a perfect night to try any thing at all. I asked the guys to try a tune we'd been doing in the key of B flat, to play it a half step lower, in the key of A. "Ain't It Amazin" felt different for us all, especially the vocals. I loved the lower key, Whitey said he felt like Ed Ames singing the low part. "Up Jumps The Devil" jumped up in set two, hadn't played that since the cow jumped over the moon. Dancin Gary cow pants and the Jan man we're in attendance, along with some very attractive young people who couldn't have cared less about some manful hanful type of individual from some church of rock 'n roll, throwin n' showin..................
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