Norman Nardini Gig Updates!

Gig Updates

July 30 - 2004
Dimitri's: (Cheat Lake) 2506 Cranberry Square, Morgantown 26508 • 304-594-0777 or 304-366-0734
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Fri.
Directions: 79 South to 68 East, take Cheat Lake exit, make right off exit. Dimitri's is around 1/4 mile down the road in the Cranberry Square Plaza. Click the Dimitri's link. Looks like a great place to eat and relax!
They came, they saw, they played...Norman said "We're gonna start ya off real easy tonight so as some of yinz can finish eatin' your dinner". Norman then said "I'm gonna trick you gus into likin me, then we're gonna throw ya beatin'! "Over, Said & Done", "You Go Your Way", "Last Night I Had A Dream", were the setup tunes, then Norman brought out the heavy artillery. "That Girl", "Love Dog", "High Times". The second set started out with "That Ain't Gonna Happen" and "I Seen Too Much", "Mr Right Now" and "Who Dat Do Dat". Man it was crushin'! Who was that weirdo moping up the dance floor with his personal attire? Norman started the last set with a "Happy Birthday" to Carol. The show finished with the guys playin' their best version of "Burnin' Up".

July 24 - 2004
Wilberts: Norman plays from 9:30 - 11 p.m. Then from 11:30 till 1 am is Chicago Blue Collar rock n roller Michael McDermott (New club Downtown Cleveland by "The Jake" (Jacob's Field)
9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. - Sat.
Two instrumentals opened the night..."Lazy Bones" and "Boilermaker". Fireworks started going off right in front of the club. Norman stopped the show and as the band and audience all went out front to watch. When the guys got back up on stage they just started crushin! "Rock N Roll City", "High Times", "Play", "Who Dat", "Mr Right Now" all stood out in the first set. Whitey Cooper got everybody up dancin' when he sang "Shamalama Ding Dong". A table full of girls yelled up to the stage "Play Love Dog Norman!" The manful hanful aims to please! He barked out "Love Dog", then immediately broke into "That Girl". Harry crooned "Pots N Pans", Whitey had the whole place screamin' during "Sick N Tired", "Burnin' Up" burned...the whole show just rocked tonight! You Pittsburghers would have been proud. House sound man Kurt did a great job mixin' the band.

Jul 23 - 2004 Map
Excuses: 2526 E. Carson St. (South Side), Pittsburgh, PA (412) 431-4090
10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Fri.
"Boilermaker", "How You Like Me Now", "Graceland", "Play" right at the top of the batting order. It took the guys a while to really get it goin tonight. When Norman asked the question "Does anyone remember the first time they masturbated?" Terrible Tom, sitting in the audience yelled back "Yeah! I was scared because I was all alone! Pittsburgh Guitar legend Warren King came up for the last two songs of the first set. A smokin version of "Burnin Up" which he co-wrote with Norman in 1979 and the old Elmore James tune, "Shake Your Moneymaker" which gave "WK" a chance to blow it up on slide guitar. The second set opened up with "That Ain't Gonna Happen" and "I Seen Too Much" A special request for a George Jones song, "She Thinks I Still Care" had Norman trying to remember the words and he immediately followed it up with "Help Me Make It Through The Night". Warren King came back up to close the set with "Smoke Two Joints". As Warren was playing the ending solo, Norman put down his guitar and started jumpin' around like a monkey. He's the monkey boy.

Also on July 17- 2004 - (see below for first gig of the day)

Moondog's: Pittsburgh Blues Festival After Jam - 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-2040
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
The joint started fillin up at 11 o'clock and by 11:20 it was on. "Hey bartender! Gimme a shot n a beer!" "Boilermaker"...Yes! Harry started "yesterday's Gone" and instantly Norman started talkin' shi&...Yes! Puttin the should into the rock n roll...Yes! "Nothin To Lose"...Yes! It's hard to believe that song is 25 years old. Out came the slide guitar from "My Old Rock N Roll Guitar"...Yes! Then Norman asked teh question...Does anyone remember the first time they masturbated? He;s f''d up!...Yes! "Mr Right Now" rocked the house...Yes! "Who dat Do Dat" lifted the whole spirit of the room even higher...Yes! Then Norman pulled out "This Ain't Gettin' It to lift the room even higher...yesssss T close out his set, "Sick N Tired" gave Whitey a chance to be heard. His soulful vocals were a great way to close out the set. Let the games begin! Then Norman yelled out..."There's some potatos from Larryville here" what's up wit dat? Moondog regular Chuck Koeheler got up and sang Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear". Chuck's a great performer. Norman called up Craig King for a couple of tunes and once again Mr. King did not disappoint. This guy is a baddass! Then Rick Proudfoot guitarist of the Pawnbrokers came up along with his singer John, and Shades Of Blue guitarist Billy Evans. Whitey and Harry anchored this group of players through two or three blues standards. Norman came back up and did a great version of "Ole Number 21" to change the pace. He then announced a band from Detroit City...Doug Denning & The JewlelTones, who played 3 tunes of the swingin-est blues you could ever imagine. Harp player Dave smoked. Nice rhythm section and Double D played some great T-Bone Walker styled blues guitar. Check out this band if you like old time swing blues. Workhorses Whitey and Harry got back up with Frank Joseph on harp and sax and Craig King and Billy Evans on guitar. Billy sang a great version of B.B. King's "Thrill Is Gone". Zack Weissinger appeared out of nowhere to close out the show with a smokin "I Hate A Nickel". What an incredible young dude. Encore...The night closed with Chucky Koheler singin' "For The Good Times"...indeed
Notables in attendance: Too many to mention

Afterwards....

July 17 -2004 Map
Pittsburgh Blues Festival: at The Pittsburgh Brewing Company - 3340 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA in the Strip District - Norman will be playing with the Pittsburgh Blues All Stars along with Bernard Allison, Jimmie Vaughan, Doug Deming and The Jewel Tones w/Fingers Taylor (click blue link for more info about the Festival)
8 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Sat.
The Pittsburgh Blues All Star band that Norman put together this year was right on the money. As always, Whitey on drums and Harry on bass anchored the whole show. Horn man Bob Adelman (trumpet) and Phil Brontz (sax) did a great job for the thrid year in a row. The show opened with the old Norman instrumental "Bulldog". Then Norman immediately introduced the audience to the newest band member, Craig King. He's a singer/guitar player who kicked the old standard, "Further Up The Road". STAR TIME...Chizmo Charles to center stage to perform his original composition "Get Up, Go To Work". Except Chzimo left center stage immediately and did the whole show from the audience. During "Stormy Monday", Chizmo gave the microphone to audience member Jill West and the crowd went nuts when the Pittsburgh Blues singer sang a verse. Phil Brontz also brought the best out of the crowd during a burnin tenor sax solo. Enter...Young Zach Weissinger, the 17 year old guitar slingin' badass who immediately started shreddin' the meanest licks you ever heard from such a young man. During a steamy version of "Red House", Young Zack and Craig King jumped down into the audience while tradin' rippin' huge guitar licks. Then Zack put his guitar over his head and behind his back. Craig did the same. Then Craig started playin with his teeth and Zack did the same. Chizmo stood and watched the whole scene with the biggest smile you ever saw. WHAT A PERFORMANCE!!! Jill West and her sister where sitting right in front of the whole wild scene. The guys closed out the set with "Mojo". Craig King and Zack Weissinger...two Pittsburgh talents that both need your support, put on quite a show. Chizmo Charles once again showed up to be the finest blues singer in Pittsburgh. Norman couldn't have been more proud. Special note: Norman called in to report that an old friend who attended the show and stood towards the back told him as he watched the performance he overheard a couple of girls talking. One asked the other "Who's that guy with the tiger guitar?!" The other girl answered "That's Norman Nardini, he's not much to look at but they say he's a real good entertainer."
Special note: The Pittsburgh Blues All Stars performance was sandwiched in between Blues legends Bernard Allison (Son of Luther) and Jimmie Vaughan (brother of Stevie Ray)..Love it! (in the tradition of Christopher Lowell)
Notables in attendance: Too many to mention

July 16 - 2004 Map
Moondog's: Pittsburgh Blues Festival After Jam - 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-2040
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Fri.
The club was empty but at 11 o'clock people started rollin in. Norman eventually dragged his ass onstage and started workin. Before you could slap your mam, sh*& started flyin and the show was on. In the middle of it all someone yelled out "Just Another Christmas Song!". Norman apologized for not remembering it and then broke into a pretty decent version. He ain't as whacked out as he'd have you believe. "That Girl Must Be From Graceland" (new song) sounded much improved and almost sounded rehearsed. Rick Proudfoot, guitar player from The PawnBrokers got up and did "Bow Legged Woman" with the guys. Ron "Moondog" Esser got up and sang some old country stuff. He has more b.s. than Norman. Those two should hang out together.

July 10 - 2004 Map Driving Directions
Penn Monroe Grill: 3985 William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146 412-373-1180
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
Good good rockin tonight. Hot night at the Penn Monroe (temp). "White Trash Tragedy" came pourin off the stage. Norman extended the guitar solo cause it sounded so sweet. Harry sang "Singin The Blues" early and "Pots N Pans" late. Whitey made the crowd scream doing the falsetto vocals on "Sick N Tired". Norman talked a little sh*& and played a little guitar. He closed the first set on slide doin "My Old Rock N Roll Guitar" and "Little Things", breakin a guitar string during the rave up ending solo. Norman opened the second set singing "Happy Birthday" to Lynn & Heather. He then busted into "Who Dat Do Dat". "Play" showed up toward the end of the night. The final song of the night was a smokin version of "Red, White & Blue".
Notables in attendance: Toots & Michelle. Nancy, Tommie & Mary, Ron & Lynn, Bob & Judy, Dave & Chicky, Heather & Hobbit, Rat & Betty Lou, Wayne, Keith and Higgy

July 4 - 2004
The Stone Pony: Asbury Park, New Jersey - Norman will be making a special guest appearance with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes along with Bobby Bandiera who is celebrating the release of his new CD "Is My Father There? Click link for full exciting details!
Event Starts at 4 pm but is an all day event and Norman will probably appear after 10 p.m.

Behind the Pony in the outside venue, this miracle took place. It was Bobby Bandiera's and Southside Johnny's night all the way. You could feel the love and the tradition in the air. What a powerful force the Jersey music scene is. Inside the Pony, music was happenin' all day long with some great local acts, including Tony Amato's "Boccigalupe & The Badboys". Bobby Bandiera took the big stage around 8pm and opened with "Pipeline" the Venturer's great instrumental. Three or four songs from Bobby's new record "Is My Father There?" including the Yardbird's classic "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" and Bobby called Norman up to the stage with Kevin Cavanaugh on piano, Bob Berger on acoustic guitar and The Asbury Jukes, including their world class horn section. Bobby told the audience that Norman is from Pennsyltucky, then broke into the old Pittsburgh classic "Rock N Roll City". You could see the pride in Norman's eyes as he heard Jersey's finest covering a steel town rock n roll song. Norman didn't seem to know Bobby's arrangement but it didn't mater, cause it just smoked! By the way, Bobby's new version of "Rock N Roll City" is on his new CD "Is My father There?! Click here for more info http://www.bobbandiera.com Bobby closed out his set on fire and for the last song "Caroline", Southside Johnny came up to sing background vocals. That was the beginning of Southside's set as Bobby moved to the side of the stage and Johnny took center. Straight into The Jukes opening song, Dusty Springfield's "I Only Wanna Be With You". What a great arrangement. The Jukes played over 2 hours with highlights being a three song Ray Charles medley, "Talk To Me", "I Got The Fever For You", keyboard man Jeff Kazee and La Bamba's (Trombonist) kids dancin on stage and the always stellar horn work from Eddie Manion, Joey Stann, Chris Anderson (great solo on Fever) and special guest direct from Conan O'Brian's band Mark Pender on trumpet and lead vocal on "Midnite Hour" and La Bamba on trombone also falsetto vocal on National Anthem. Bass player, Steve, worked his ass off as did Norman's old friend Joey Belia on drums. Click here for Southside Johnny's website: http://www.southsidejohnny.org/ When Southside called Norman out for the encore, he told the audience about the "Wop With The Bop, The Ginny Wid Da SKinny and the Manful Handful". He asked Norman what song he wanted to play, Norman whispered something in his ear. Southside went over to the microphone and yelled "We ain't gonna do that!" as Bobby broke into "Train Kept A Rollin"...

July 3 - 2004 - Booked for private event Saturday
Location: Somewhere on a mountainside in Pennsyltucky
Just a wonderful day, beautiful sunshine, incredible food. The ham barbecue WOW! A swimmin pool, a rabbit named Peter a dog named bear, tons of nice people without a care. Everyone askin where Harry went. I think I saw him at the liquor tent. Tonight the guys attempted to do John Denver's "Country Roads". Norman said "my ole lady is from West Virginia" and it actually turned out pretty good in a white trash sorta way. Norman also sang George Jone's "She Thinks I still Care" and a killer version of Bob Dillon's "Like A Rollin Stone". That knucklehead was havin the greatest time! Frank McLaughlin (Norman's webmaster) got up on Norman's Tiger Telecaster and sang a tune, playing Jimi Hendrix's "Hey Joe". He seemed a little nervous at first but sounded pretty cool! Partying in the heart of America. In Walton's tradition: Good night Elizabeth, Good night Jim Bob, Good night John Boy....

July 2 - 2004
The LongVue Lounge: N. Versailles, PA - Call Jackie if lost at 412-823-9602
9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. - Fri.
Norm played his ass off from the start. For whatever reason, he was just hittin' everything right on. You should have been there, that's all I have to say about it. Two hours of ass kickin' and then Shari Richards got up and sang Willie Nelson's "Crazy". What a fine lady. Then Chris Franchese got up to join his lovely wife Shari on guitar and put on quite a performance. Shari sang "Rock Me Baby" and yeah everybody in the room wanted to. She's a badass! Franchese is really playing some fine guitar lately and really proved it tonight. "Stormy Monday" and "Let The Good Times Roll" closed out the second set. Whitey started the last set front and center with Pete Oddo on drums. I'd Like To See My Baby" was laid back...nice! Local guy, Tom, joined the guys on harmonica. Then Whitey sang Shamalama Ding Dong and "Mojo" but he ended up doing a great version of the classic Doo Wop song called "So Young".

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