Norman Nardini Gig Updates! may-2004

Gig Updates

May 28 - 2004
The LongVue Lounge: N. Versailles, PA - Call Jackie if lost at 412-823-9602
9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. - Fri.
"Lazy Bones", "Till The Cows Come Home"...Hey that ryhmes! Cool huh?! Norman was playin hot right from the start. Whitey's drums sounded giant tonight. Not a full house, but most were there to hear the old Pittsburgh rock n roll, so it was a good time. Norman played "White Trash Tragedy" and it really struck a chord with the locals. A special request version of "Nothin To Lose" highlighted the second set, as did a rock shuffle version of the old classic "Route 66".Where did that one come from?! "Burnin Up" and "That Girl" turned on the older Norman fans. Norman's b.s. seemed to ring so true. Whitey Cooper sang and impromptu version of "Blow Me" which is the song title...a new genre "Doo Wop Porn". Then Norman yelled out..."You Girls like red peter's don't ya?" Norman's crazy.
Notables in attendance: Tim & Debbie, Wayne & Ruth, Rat N Betty Lou

May 27 - 2004 Map
Parkway Tavern: 312 Center Rd, Monroeville, PA 15146 (412) 372-8199
8 p.m. - 11 p.m. - Thurs.
Norman struggled the whole first set to get control. Control of what? Control of guitar, control of his band and control of the audience capishe? He always does, he just makes it look so easy we don't even notice. I noticed there was a definite lack of control. But, in true Nardini style, he did not give up, he dug in and by the second set his guitar was ringin, his band was hummin and the b.s. was oozin out, soothin the masses...and all was right with the world. Norman got a request for an old one, "Red Hot Lover". The guys immediately jumped on it and although they hadn't played it for at least 5 years, they gave it a beatin. I hope he keeps playin that one. Whitey Cooper sang a great version of James Brown's "Try Me". Norman also played two new songs "This Is Where You Kiss Me" and "Graceland". The night closed out with a special request for Freddy Fender's "Who Were You Thinking Of". Hey Poncho. hey Seeesco, I think we better went.
Notables in attendance: Nancy, Jillian, Bruce

May 22 - 2004 Map
Excuses: 2526 E. Carson St. (South Side), Pittsburgh, PA (412) 431-4090
10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
Norman's nuts! Period! Tonight he was havin fun singin different words. Tonight's words were "Impetuous", "Powerball" and "Panties" . He said he thought "Panties" is the most fantastic of words. Then he used it in a sentence as in "have you seen my panties?" Then answered his own question. "No, But I will sniff around for them". Norman played his new song "This is Where You Kiss Me" and got a great reaction. He said it might be worth learnin. He also did another new song "That Girl Must Be From Graceland". Watch out for this song, I got a feeling about it. Great version of "Little Things" tonight. Also, a crushin "Poor Little Rich Kid". Norman talked about the South Side tonight and how much he loved it down there, even though the crowd comes in late and is hopped up on goofballs. Norman kept bitchin about bein a short person all night, so bartender Alisa brought him out a phone book to stand on. You should have seen him up there with that big smile on his face. Seein things from a tall person's perspective for the first time. It was beautiful.
Notables in attendance: Patty & Ron, Debbie & Dale, Mr. & Mrs. Bubba all the way from wild and wonderful West by God Virginia, Nick, Higgy, Osh, Angelo, Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Lange

May 21 - 2004 Map
McArdle's Pub (click for their website!) 2811 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 [412] 754-3722
9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Fri.
A rainy stormy night but the band played on. Tonight in the first set Norman talked about a new song he wrote this week. As he was talking about this romantic number, he decided to try and play it right then. I wonder what Whitey and Harry thinks when he b.s' s like that? It's called "This Is Where You Kiss Me". It starts off filled with romance but ends up being another of his white trash tragedy's sure to put a smile on your face. Is he a prophet?! Harry seemed to have a big smile on his face all evening. The second set saw Whitey Cooper come up front and Norm's cousin Pete Oddo on drums. Late night, Norman and Harry changed the background vocals on "Got My Mojo workin" to "We've Got Pete Oddo workin" It was hilarious hearing them singing it and watching Pete pound the skins at the same time. Guess you had to be there. Norman seems to love playing hot guitar behind Whitey's soulful vocals. A friend brought out a beautiful new white Fender Stratocaster and let Norman have his way with it. It ain't a virgin no mo dog!Last but not least, there were many tall men and women. We call it "Land Of The Giants" This one tall beautiful young gal around 6'4" in a mini skirt age 22 kept walking past Norm. He said "Just what I need, a girl half my age and twice my size. I could die tonight. He asked "Anybody have a shoe box" I couldn't stop laughing all the way home about that one.
Notables in attendance: John & Karen and Mike, Andy Oddo and a herd of young bucks.

May 15 - 2004 Map
Carhops: 2500 West Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15226 412-561-5015
9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Sat.
Someone in the audience yelled up to the stage "I'm trying to help you Norman!" He immediately went into the blues groove "Help Me" and was off and runnin. Looks Are Deceivin" rocked. Norman talked some wild b.s. about mating out of species. Before the show and during the break, the new long talked about "Redemption" CD was playing over the loudspeaker system. You could see the people in the room grooving to that mantled Pittsburgh rock n roll sound. Norman said it was being manufactured as we speak. Meanwhile, the entire first set was an orgasmic phenomenon. Second set started with "Boilermaker" by request. Late in the set, Norman tried that new unrehearsed song "Graceland" and it seems to be improving. "Rock You" by request, "Friend Of Mine" by request, then "Gorilla", a track from the new album gave Norman a chance to make monkey faces and talk about his favorite subject "Monkey Love".
Notables in attendance: Tommy, Mary, Nick, Beverly, Patty & Ron, Ted, Doug and Angela, Martha

May 14 - 2004 Map
Moondog's: 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-2040
10:00 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Fri.
The first set was more music than b.s. and that's cool too! "How You Like Me Now", "That's Enough bout Me", "Last Night I Had A Dream", "Nothin To Lose", "Yesterday's Gone". Not too shabby! Norman read the words to a new song he said he wrote yesterday called "This Is Where You Kiss Me". No one would pay attention to him and it seemed to piss him off, but I think it made him play his guitar hotter. He's crazy you know?! Second set..."My Old Rock N Roll Guitar", "Little Things", "Mr. Right Now", "Who Dat Do Dat", "Someone I Can't Live Without". Once again, not too shabby! Local celebrity Chuck Koehler got up and did Elvis' "Teddy Bear", then a reggae version of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love". Ronny "Moondog" Esser got up and kicked Merle Haggard's "Are The Good Times Really Over" and David Allen Coe's "You Don't Have To call Me Darlin". Then Chuckie Koehler got back up and did Kris Kristofferson's "For The Good Times".
Notables in attendance: Gil & Sue, Mark the vet, Grant, Ron & Patty & Chuckie

May 10 - 2004 Map
Carhops: Norm is special guest with Carhops House Band that features Herman Granati 2500 West Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15226 412-561-5015
8:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Mon.
Club owner/drummer Bruce Slogan loves to egg Norman on and it's probably not a good thing. A lot of Norman versions in the audience tonight. He seems to enjoy that most of all. The house band backing Norman up is pretty cool. Danny G. on guitar plays with a modern sound and modern techniques but seems to blend pretty well with Norman's traditional guitar style . Bass player Paul Dahl of Donnie Iris's band always seems to have a smile on his face and is ready to put in the third vocal harmony. He also picks up Norman's nonchalant stage signals pretty well. Drummer, Bruce Slogan, plays a simple is best drum style that just naturally sounds good. Keyboard player and vocalist Herman Granati is just a badass in his own right on vocals and keys. A nice casual version of the old blues standard "Help Me" got the night started. "I Shall Be Released", "Walkin To My Baby", gave everybody a chance to stretch out. The set closed with a great version of "Work Together" with Norman crushin on slide guitar. The second set featured a great cast of jammers. Sugar Ray on vocals, Joe B. on guitar, Rodney on guitar, Rhonda Z. on vocals and as the night went on, some fine unidentified younger talent took the stage. Norman came back up to end the night with a crushin version of "Like A Rollin Stone". Herman Granti's version of Steve Winwood's "Gimme Some Lovin" was the encore ending of the night. Good times!
Notables in attendance: Our good friend Maria from www.bluesbiz.com By the way, if you ever want to find out what's going on around town in the Pittsburgh blues scene and who's playing where, you gotta check out and bookmark www.bluesbiz.com ! It has everything you need to know. Plus, due to our inadequacy a couple cocktails we forgot to write down the rest of the list who came. Hey! It's a bar!

May 8 - 2004 Map Driving Directions
Penn Monroe Grill: 3985 William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146 412-373-1180
10:00 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
The Penn Monroe usually brings out the best in Norman. Tonight as hard as he tried, he couldn't seem to get that relationship with the audience. You know when it's all goin so smooth and it just looks so easy. But all that aside, the guys played great tonight. Highlights were "Heartbreak Shake", "Three Times Your Fool" and a s smokin version of "Friend of Mine" sent out to a couple of girls from Missouri. Norman talked about the Mississippi River and how romantic it is, but no one seemed to care. Whatever! Norman tried out a new song tonight that sounded like it might get really good. It's called, "That Girl Must Be From Graceland". He swore he'd actually try to practice it. "Ready Freddy" by special request, made Norman yell out "Redemption is comin!" Is Ya Been Redeemed?! "Boilermaker" smoked. The night ended up with "Heat of The Night" into "Smoke Two Joints".
Notables in attendance: Dave & Carol, Rat N Betty, Nancy

Stay tuned for the latest updates! Better yet, come to one of the shows and experience "The Manful Handful" himself, first hand!

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