Norman Nardini Gig Updates!

September 25 - 2004 Map Driving Directions
Johnny's: 876 E Midlothian Blvd, Youngstown, OH 44502 (330) 788-6459
10 PM - 2 AM - Sat.
Old friend and total maniac Cornel Bogdan introduced the guys and let everyone know who they were dealing with..."The Manful Hanful!" Johnny's is a fine restaraunt so people were still eatin' when the guys came on stage. Most of the club patrons had never seen Norman before so it took a while to weed out teh weak of heart. The real music people stuck around and it turned out to be a pretty fun night. Norman cried out, "You People Need My Leadership!" and it was painfullly obvious that the absence of real Pittsburgh rock n roll in these people's lives left a gaping hole that ONLY the Ginea Wit Da Skinny could fill. So party on Garth and party on Wayne. We're comin' to your town and ya better beware, cause we won't be wearin' no silk underwear. Is Cornel Bogdan bi-sexual? Nah! That's just a beautiful rumor! By the way, "Bow Legged Woman" crushed good tonight!

September 24 - 2004
The Fawn Creekside Tavern: 5012 Bull Creek Rd, Tarentum, PA 15084 (724) 224-9511
10 PM - 2 AM - Fri
Noman said "Yeah man! We used to play back in this room in the 90's cause there's a whole lotta nice people out this way. Norman started things off kinda casual but before you now it, he's throwin'' down. Club doorman, "Big Joe" came up to the stage and sang a great version of Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love". What a beautiful voice he has. Tonight, Harry Bottoms seemed to have a cold or sore throat but his voice still sounded pretty solid. In the second set, Joe, the doorman got back up with the guys and had some fun as he, Norman and Whitey shared lead vocals on "Proud Mary", although they did butcher the lyrics. "Boilermaker", "Graceland" and "Burnin' Up" highlighted the second set. The last set kicked with "Armed And Dangerous" and "Here Comes The Weekend". Harry, I hope you feel better!

September 18 - 2004 Map
Excuses: 2526 E. Carson St. (South Side), Pittsburgh, PA (412) 431-4090
10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
"Lazy Bones", "How You Like Me Now", "Last Night I Had A Dream". Norman talked about his jeans and wanted everyone to notice that there were no holes in them cause his ole lady don't want him lookin' like no bum OK?! "Graceland", "Yesterday's Gone", two new songs that just sounded fantastic. "Ready Freddy", "Heat Of The Night" and "Gorilla", reminded everyone of the old days and got everyone out on the dance floor. Yeah baby! Second set kicked with "High Times". Norman dedicated "Friend Of Mine" to Annie. "Burnin' Up" gave the manful hanful a chance to talk a little shit and rip some serious guitar. Norman announced that it's ok to call your favorite radio station and request "Redemption"! But please! he said "Ask nice and don't act like an idiot like I do!"

September 17 - 2004 Map
Moondog's: 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-2040
9 pm - Fri.
Official Norman Nardini "Redemption" CD Release Party!!!!! (Part II)
Special Guest Appearances by: Shades & Ray of The Offenders, Shari Richards & Chris Franchese

Gig Update: Rained and flooded out due to aftermath of Hurricane Ivan! Details of rescheduled Release Party coming soon!

September 16 - 2004 Map
Moondog's: 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-2040
8 p.m. - Midnight - Thurs.
Official Norman Nardini "Redemption" CD Release Party!!!!! Day 1 of 2!!!
Special Guest Appearances by: Phil Brontz (tenor sax player of 8th Street Rox), Zack Weissinger (17 year old Guitar Phenom), Shari Richards & Chris Franchese

What an incredible night! Norman kicked it off with a couple of new tunes, "End Of The Line" and "Who date Do Dat", then "BaBoom". On "Ready Freddy" Norman played slide guitar and it sounded really cool. Next up, Phil Brontz, front and center on tenor sax to play the old classic "T-Bird". How bout "Rock N' Roll City"? (dearly beloved we're gathered here together...). Norman talked about the old days with the Diamonds and said that they tried to combine the soul of ZZ Top with attitude of the Sex Pistols. "High Times" followed by "That Girl", kept things rollin'. "Poor Little Rich Kid" came from this whole other place, but crushed just the same. Phil Brontz came back on stage and took "Burnin' Up" to a very high place. Here Comes The Weekend" sounded incredible! Phil took his time and blew a beautiful, relaxed, confident solo. Then Norman pulled out the slide guitar and did "Armed And Dangerous". He hit a couple clams but it was a valiant effort. Check this out. Glenn Pavone and Tom "The Love Man" Valentine got up with Norman and Whitey and proceeded to do a mid tempo version of "Look What You've Done" that sounded both crazy and lazy at the same time. Then Norman broke into the opening lick of "Boilermaker". The crowd moved in a little closer to see Glenn Pavone rip a serious solo. Man, is he a badass! As if that wasn't enough, Glen and Val stepped down and then Harry Bottoms and Young Zack Weissinger got back on stage. Norman started shoutin' "Bow Legged Woman" and a 17 year old Zack Weissinger plays a dynamic guitar solo that could take your breath away. Somebody yells out "I hate a nickel cause it ain't a dime!", and sure as shit it came rumblin' off the stage. Glen Pavone and Zack Weissinger back to back to close out the first set. Are you kiddin' me?! Second set kicked off with new song "Graceland". Enter Vinnie Q, badass rock n' roll guitar man. Watch out! Here it comes "Gorilla", great Vinnie solo at end. On "Heat Of The Night", it was cool to see Norman stop playing guitar and dance around like the nut that he is. When he picked his guitar back up for "Nothin to Lose" Norman meant business! On "Love Dog", Vinnie & Phil Brontz both played inspired solos. A string version of "Rock You" closed out Vinnie's portion of the show. Enter Chris Franchese, badass guitar player for New Jersey. Chris played and sang new life into an old Norman tune "New Blood". Chris's wife, Shari Richards then walked on stage and sang "You Go Your Way", "Little Things" and "Three Times Your Fool" with serious power and emotion. Talk about puttin' the soul into the rock n' roll! Norman then said that everything he had planned for the evening had concluded. Norman saw an old friend in the audience and asked him up to the stage. Sam Klingensmith, aka LaMont Samuels strapped on his accordion and sang the shit out of the first songs that were performed tonight that were not written by the manful hanful. A beautiful "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and a unique arrangement of "Hey Good Lookin'" came pouring out of Sammy. Norman just smiled while Sammy smoked. Chuck Koehler came up to sing "For The Good Times" to conclude the services. Now go in peace.... until tonight that is!!!

September 11 - 2004 Map Driving Directions
Penn Monroe Grill: 3985 William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146 412-373-1180
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
Once again a great performance by Whitey & Harry propelled Norman to higher level. Great version of "Bow Legged Woman". Norman's guitar was just shreddin' the thick smokey air. "Graceland" also stood out tonight. Harry Bottoms has been singin' a high harmony on the old Ray Charle's classic "I Can't Stop Loving You". The first time I heard the guys playing this song I thought it was pretty shaby, but tonight t sounded really soulful. The audience cried out for "Red, White & Blue" and as it came rumbling off the stage, it all felt so right. Red neck, white trash, true blue, folks like me n' you. The evening closed out with a heart wrenching version of "Help Me Make It Through The Night".
Notables in attendance: Dave & Carol, Mary, Nancy, Anne, Keith, Higgy, Ratt n Bety Lou

September 10 - 2004 Map
Big Cs Lounge: 212 Main Street Middlebourne, WV 26149-9601
Phone: (304) 758-4619
10 PM - 2 AM - Fri.
Norman couldn't have been happier, he was playing in his favorite state WV, for a club owner named Bubba! There is order to the universe. He kicked it off with "Lazy Bones", "Right into "Boilermaker". Next up "White Trash Tragedy"..was Norman trying to tell us something? Somewhere in the first set a woman yelled to the stage "I lost my virginity in 1958". Norman yelled back "Was it good to you?" She cried out "Yeah! and I;ve been doin' it it ever since!" Harry Bttoms and Whitely Cooper realy played well tonight and it seemed to inspire the manful hanful. "Greaceland" really hit home with thelocals, as did "End Of The Line". Norman's new songs are really hittin' the mark! For no apparent reason, Norman started playing "House Of The Rising Sun". He said he never sand it before and it was a little rough but his voice sounded pretty good on the old standard. All in all it was a beautiful foggy night in Wild Wonderful West By God Virgina. Almost heaven...

September 4 - 2004 - Saturday
Biddlefest!!!!: All day party extravaganza of the summer! Great food, great people, booze and 3 bands with Norm and the guys as main act. First band will start at 3pm. Norm goes on at 8pm. This is one event people talk about year after year. The streets will be blocked off in an all out whoop dee doo, like a mini South Side Festival. Don't miss it!
Location: Serbian Club Pavilion Biddle/Westmoreland City by Irwin
Directions: Coming Soon.
2 p.m. - 11 p.m. Sat.
Schedule as follows:
3:00 - 4:00 The Offenders
4:30 - 5:30 Screaming Vikings
6:00 - 7:30 The Knobs
8:00 - 11:00 Norman Nardini
There's a $5.00 cover charge
Cheap booze and food
Jimmy Sinclair aka jason clair productions
Biddlefest has been a tradition for ten years or so. This was Norman's second. Before going onstage, Norman got a chance to talk to Joe Grushecky's mom. What a wonderful lady she is! You could hear the familiar cry..."Hey bartender! Gimme a shot n' a beer! The Pittsburgh rock n' roll just started pourin' from the stage. Next up was "Rock n' Roll City" followed by "White Trash Tragedy". Norman started to request for people to come up and dance and it didn't take much coaxing before the dance floor was packed! When Norman and the guys took a break, The Offenders came up and played a hot 30 minute set. Then Norman and the guys got back up and kicked "Mr. Right Now" & "Who Dat Do Dat". Then Norman called cousin Pete Oddo up on drums and Whitey "Clyde" Cooper switched to vocals as he shouted out some serious soul music. Biddlefest...just like I pictured it. Beautiful!