Norman Nardini Gig Updates!

Gig Updates

Saturday, February 24-2007

Monongahela Elks: Monongahela, Pa.

Tonight's show was a special event birthday party for a couple of knuckle-head buddies. "Pags" and "Mark B" were roasted by friends and family. I was chosen to be the gracious master of ceremonial functions. A few goofy takes by yours truly and the roast was ragin'. No less than seven roasters cooked up some funny a** sh*t. A very professional slide show added to the already high level entertainment. We came on throwin some sound around. "Lazybones", "Rock n' Roll City", "Somethin's Cookin", "We Come A Long Way"-folks was eatin, drinkin, and socializin. The first set was all business "Graceland", "Nothin To Lose". When we came back on for the second set we just started doing cover tunes, folks was requesting weird stuff. Whitey sang Howling Wolf's "Who's Been Talkin". Pags sang "The Gambler", then me and da boys took dat ole Kenny Rodgers war horse to a new level, hell-billy style. Had a blast, da roast was da most.

Saturday, February 17-2007

Excuses: Pittsburgh, Pa.

It was snowing like a fool groan huncher when I left the shack. Little did I know how crazy this night would be. Lottsa folks hanging out for such nasty weather. I made sure I thanked everybody for comin out. "Git By", "Good Rockin Man", "Last Night I Had A Dream", da wild people in da house kept yellin stuff out loud in between songs, so the insanity level was pretty high. "Two Story House" felt like a jet plane taking off, I was outta breath after the guitar solo at the end. Both "Loverboy" and "Easy Money" came off real strong. Somewhere in the madness a hairy chested biker type took off his shirt, shoes and socks then crawled on da flo doin da worm. Excuses is great cause you get bikers, punkers, nerds, da workin poor all hangin on da same groove. Dat's big time fun for an ole knuckle head like yours truly. We did an ole Dylan classic for cap't Nate, "Like A Rolling Stone" to open set two. Jill Simmons came up to the stage to sing a smoking version of "Million Tears" wih me and the boys. This gave me a chance to really enjoy the powerful mojo that oozes from the life force that Harry Bottoms and Whitey Clyde Cooper bring to the table. Jill took a big bite outta an ole blues tune I'd never heard before, as she left a great impression on those in attendance. Nice work. Whitey shined on Glady's Night's "Use My Imagination". There was a wild feeling in the air and for some reason it helped to make this show feel special. "Ain't It Amazin" what a little love can do.

Friday, February 16-2007

Moondogs: Blanox, Pa.

I was watching the opening act The Offenders do a great set of trashy original rock'n roll, when Ron "Moondog" Esser drug me up the street to his other night club, The Starlite. The Spuds, a long time Pittsburgh under ground rock band were onstage performing, Ron wanted me to get up on stage and tell the crowd to throw some money in the tip jar so The Spuds could get paid for their considerable effort. While on stage I got the chance to play a couple of my own songs, "Burnin Up" and "Lovedog" with the legendary Spuds, Larryville's finest. Cool, Huh? There was a film crew at Moondogs working on a documentary, so for this special occasion we had Mr. Glenn Pavone, da big cheese, joining us on guitar. "Bulldog", "Till The Cows Come Home", "Somethin's Cookin", "Lovedog" it sure is nice hearing the soulful guitar of da big cheese doin da slow burn. "Boilermaker", "Million Tears", "Little Things", one after the other, we just kept rippin tunes up. Love it. Before I knew it two hours had rolled by. We brought good friend Chuck Kohler up to sing a tune we've played together dozens of times Elvis's, "Teddy Bear". And da crowed loved it. Moondog himself got on stage and sang Dylan's, "I Shall Be Released". Glenn sounded great playin dat style. Mr. Whitey Cooper stood center stage while Glenn got behind the drum kit for the last few numbers. Whitey sang "Shama Lama Ding Dong", "Try Me", "634-5789", and "Mojo". Mr. Cooper is a serious soul singing type of individual. When Whitey straped on my G-tuning slide guitar he got sounds outta dat thing that have never been heard before. Ya shoulda seen da look on Pavone's face. Priceless.

Friday, February 9-2007

P.D.'s Pub: Pittsburgh,Pa.

This is a real fun place to play. Nice mix of older and younger. Some folks come to hear the music, some come to drink, dat's cool too. We played a song I wrote in the 90's that we hadn't played in years, "People Takin Care". It felt good going back and bringing this almost forgotten tune back to life. Sometimes I forget songs, I've got to spend more time looking thru the ole classics that mighta got lost along that long and dangerous road. We didn't have any dancers but, we did have a whole buncha listeners, dat's cool too. Whitey's drums were bouncin around mosta da first set, he and Skibo got that problem solved and we was just throwin it. "Here Comes The Weekend" rang out with bad intentions. Love that. "Mr. Right Now" was as sleazy as can be. Love that. "Ain't It Amazing" got a real fine round of applause. Love that. We closed down the night with a desperate take on "Poor Little Rich Kid". Both Harry and Whitey were on da groove all nite long. Love that.

Friday, February 2-2007

Moondogs: Blanox, Pa.

"Lazy Bones", "Boilermaker", "Rock n' Roll City", "We Come A Long Way", sent out a tune to my hillbilly queen, "Graceland". Da joint was buzzin, lottsa friends and family. Laughter was in the air. Smiles on a whole buncha faces. Rocking strong, rocking proud. "Nothin To Lose" did not let me down, I like a tune that ya never get tired of playing. Harry sang "Pots n' Pans" and really reached his people,the white trash of this great nation. "Son Of A Gun" is coming on strong. I saw Glenn Pavone

sittin at the bar and asked him if he'd like to join us for the second set. G.P. was in, cool.We kicked it with "Work Togather".We then brought up singer Jill Simmons, for a killer show. Whitey and Harry were nailing the groove and I was getting the chance to play guitar beside a real bad man, G.P. Jill sounded great on "Look What You Done" and "Hundred Dollar Bill" but she really got it going on when she laid back on "You Go Your Way", every one was feeling it. We rumbled thru "Route 66" , I gave Harry a bad cue, a minor train wreck was avoided. Once again Jill Simmons found herself, singing "I'd Rather Go Blind", I looked out and saw my sister crying. Powerful. "Chain Of Fools", "Million Tears", a very cool, swinging take on "I Fall To Pieces" was my favorite tune all night. "Love Me Like A Man" gave Mr. Glenn Pavone the spotlight, this unassuming gentle man becomes a dangerous force of nature, with my ole tiger guitar strapped on G.P. showed 'em all how to play da slow blues. We closed out Jill's set with "Baby What You Want Me To Do". I think the gang really enjoyed Jill's show, this kid is getting good .With Joffo Simmons and my brother, Art as a rythm section we did "Brown Eyed Girl". I really enjoyed playin wit da long time House Rocker foundation.We then brought G.P. back up to burn "Bow Legged Woman". I can still smell it cookin. Whitey Cooper came up to sing the snot outta "Great Balls Of Fire" and "Mojo". Thanks, I needed dat. Hey huncher, happy groundhog day.

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