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Sunday, May 27-2007
B&O Station:
Youngstown, Ohio
On this beautiful evening everybody had a ball. Perfect
weather, a big P.A. system and a whole bunch of rock
n’roll people all combined for a party not soon
forgotten. We opened our show with “Nightclub”, an
instrumental I wrote back in the seventies. I could feel
the sound pouring off the stage as I watched people’s
faces light up to the sound of Pittsburgh rock n’ roll.
I remembered why I was put on this earth, and it was
good. “Ready Freddy” was up next, this simple tune can
have a big impact when played with the kind of feeling
we put into it on this night. During our next song “Rock
n’ Roll City”, I looked over at Vinny Q as he played
his ripping guitar solo, I saw a freight train rumble by
and it all made perfect sense to me. During our
performance of “Burnin Up” I looked to the left and saw
a slow moving stream under a canopy of trees swaying in
a gentle breeze. “Heat Of The Night” gave Vinny a chance
to put his twist to that ole groove we’ve been banging
out for so long. We then double clutched down to a holy
reading of “Amazing Grace” which turned into “You Go
Your Way”. “End of the Line” was a desperate take for
our incredible rhythm section as Whitey Cooper and Harry
Bottoms lifted me higher, just when I needed it. During
our set closer “Shake Your Moneymaker” I took off my
guitar and jumped around the stage doing my monkey
dance, I hope I didn’t scare anyone. Southside Johnny
and The Asbury Jukes came onstage after us and kept the
party going for a couple more hours, and it was good.
Saturday, May 26-2007
Excuses:
Southside-Pittsburgh, Pa.
“Git By” can be the perfect opening song and on this
night it was. “Till The Cows Come Home” let the folks
know we came to rock. “Loverboy” let everyone know how
crazy I am. “Weekend”, “Son Of A Gun”, a special request
by my sister for “Bow Legged Woman” turned out to be a
good thing cause we just ripped the crap outta that slow
burning blues. We had Jill Simmons get up to sing the
ole Etta James classic “I’d Rather Go Blind” and my tune
“Million Tears” which also turned out to be a good thing
cause she tore into this music with all she had.
Powerful lady. The second set kicked with “Hells
Highway”. We then brought Jill back on stage to sing
“Route 66”. Jill’s ole man, Joffo Simmons came up to
play drums on “Chain of Fools” while Whitey Cooper and
Harry Bottoms sang B.G. vocals to Jill’s lead. Whitey
Cooper then took center stage to chirp a couple soul
classics. Whitey’s singing of the ole Rascal’s tune
“Groovin” got the whole joint doing just that, grooving.
Friday, May25-2007
Moondogs:
Blanox, Pa.
Ole buddy Larry Germack came
in from his home in Brooklyn N.Y. to D.J. before and
between our shows. The G man played a couple of my
faves, “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” and “She’s About
a Mover”, love it. “Lazybones”, “Till The Cows Come
Home” sent out to ole friend and former bandmate Paul
Shook was rocking. May I say that Shook looked great.
“Graceland”, “We Come A Long Way”. The G man rocked his
way thru our break spinning one cool sound after
another. Vinny Q joined us on guitar for the almost two
hour second set. “Nightclub”, “Rock n’ Roll City”, “Heat
Of The Night”, “Burnin Up”, “Rich Kid”…………. We brought
the G man on stage to sing the closing number “Dead
Flowers”. Lottsa folks I hadn’t seen in a while at the
show tonight, what do I gotta do to get the ole
Pittsburgh music biz people out more often?
Saturday, May 12-2007
Moondogs: Blanox, Pa.
Glenn Pavone and the Cyclones made it look easy. Drummer
Frank Spritz had it all going on, laying down a feel
good groove. Bass player Tom “Love Man” Valentine always
seems to play the right part. n’ bof of em is doin some
very pleasant vocalization. Mr Pavone is all about high
level string plucking. When you see Glenn, your seeing
the real deal. Great set by this long time Pittsburgh no
bullsh*t band. My ole friend Warren King and his band
The Lost Dogs came on second and had a strong show.
Warren is the guy that has influenced my guitar playing
more than any one else over the years, so I always enjoy
seeing him play. On this evening WK was also doing some
lead vocals, a filthy version of the old blues standard
“Goin Down Slow” came off well. A nod to the ole
Silencers days, WK ripped “Peter Gun” and just like the
ole days, singer Frank Zuri got on stage and shouted out
“Johnny Too Bad” while WK changed up from the ole days
and played slide guitar, an interesting touch. Really
enjoyed seeing Frank sing “I’m A Hog For Ya Baby”. At
the end of their set I got on stage to help out on
“Sidewalk Romeo”, got the chance to do a guitar solo and
ran with it. Bass player Jay and I sang some raunchy BG
vocals while Frank was makin bacon. Nice. Harry had new
strings on his pink bass, he was a man on a mission to
deliver the goods. Whitey looked at me right before I
counted off the first tune and said “I got my mind
right”. It made me think, “Have I got my mind right?” oh
yeaaaaa! “Boilermaker”, “Somethin’s Cookin”, “Burnin
Up”, “Graceland”, four simple tunes. Time was getting
late, so I called Frank Zuri back on stage to sing
“Rockin Roll City”, “Easy Money”, “LoverBoy”. When stuff
like this happens I always think, I wish the camera was
running. WK came up to play guitar on “Like a Rollin
Stone” and sounded great. It was another great night of
American music at Moondog’s, Pittsfield style. Ya’ll
come back now, ya hear?
Wednesday, May 9-2007
The Court House
Courtyard:
Downtown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
The late morning showtime was
cool with me. I like to wake up and throw it. Our
mission was to promote the Pittsburgh Blues Festival; my
job was to put a show on. I called ole friend Frank
Giove, axe man for Gary Baloma and The Blues Bombers to
play guitar, Joe Cunningham of The Mystic Knights to
play drums and Chuck Batey Of Boss Diablo’s to play
bass. Chuck brought his harp man, Stanley Jay. Jill West
fronted the whole thing and it all came down real
natural. We kicked it off with a lazy shuffle. Chuck
sang “Crackin Up”, then Jill got on stage and took
control. I was smiling the whole 30 minute first set.
Dan Onerato got onstage to speak and was followed by Ron
“Moondog” Esser, both gentlemen were all business. When
we got back on stage Jill said she wanted to sing an
Elmore James tune which gave me a chance to play slide.
Closed out the show with me n’ Chuck n’ Jill singing a
McKinley Morganfield number. Did I mention that
everybody played great? Pickup bands don’t ALWAYS have
to suck.
Saturday, May 5-2007
Mike’s Place:
Leetsdale, Pa.
Ain’t nothin but a party. The
joint was rockin. “Lazybones”, “Till The Cows Come
Home”, “Somethin’s Cookin,” “Yesterday’s Gone”, we
started getting requests to sing “Happy Birthday” for
Aunt Dodo. And so it came to pass……tonight we did all
Norman and Elvis songs. “Suspicious Minds”, “Can’t Help
Fallin In Love”, “Are You Lonesome Tonight” ……to name a
few. “Two Story House” felt incredible tonight. Harry
was playing his a** off, the whole show. Ain’t nothing
like a packed dance floor to get the blood flowing.
“High Times”, “Rock You”, “Loverboy”, look for us to be
back at Mike’s Place this summer. Ain’t nothin but a
house party. |
