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Gig Updates 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.
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