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Sept. 27 - 2003 Excuses:
2526 E. Carson St. (South Side), Pittsburgh, PA (412)
431-4090 10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
An over two hour
first set. Song titles How You Like Me now" "Play" The
guys were just firin'. New song first time played,
"Someone I cant live without" Strong! Norman got young
guitar player Eric from Texas up to play Heartbreak
Shake. He kicked ass. Then Lenny Ferrari (ex Lou Reed
drummer) got up to play drums, while Whitey came out
front to sing Shamalama Ding Dong, and Arthur Connelly's
Sweet Soul Music" The guys ended the set with a haunting
version of Sick and Tired. The night ended with Mike
Finch on drums, Whitey out front again, Chris Franchese
on guitar and two great Pittsburgh ladies singin. Jill
Panone & Shari Richards. Nobody wanted the night to end.
Notables in attendance: Sue Marsha, Don. Colleen
& Lady friend, Ron & Patty, Bob & Pam, Mike Lange,
Terrible Tom
Sept. 20 - 2003
Map Moondog's: (Norm featuring special guest Zach
Weissinger) 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-
Norman and the
boys opened the show with a couple of numbers, then
brought up the young buck/ Zack immediately sliced
through some old traditional grooves. (Let's Start Out
All Over Again", "Walkin To My Baby", then rocked he
house with "Chuck Berry's "Round And Round". Then
immediately slow burned "Bow Legged Woman". A small film
crew was on hand filming a documentary on young Zack.
The second set also started with Norman and the guys
doing 2 newer songs, then once again time for a "Zack"
attack. "Bulldog" and Boilermaker, two Nardini
instrumentals got the kid goin and then he was gone.
Norman was tryin' to get "Zack" to sing. Instead Zack
did a wonderful Jimmy Stewart impression. On the final
number, Zack was standin' out in the audience and it was
playin' so hot, the legendary Rat man couldn't help
himself and he ripped off his shirt and did the
wonderful dance of a madman... all in the name of rock n
roll.
Notables in attendance: Jerry Farine, Danny
Murray, Sue, Marcia and Don , bartenders Mary & Billy,
Rat & Betty, George, Ken & Charmaine, Dave & Carol
Sept. 13
- 2003 Biddlefest!!!!:
What a great night in Biddle PA with 400-500 folks in
attendance! Joe Grushecky's mom just happened to walk
down to the show and Norman got a chance to meet her.
She told him that Joe's dad was at home just up the
street playing his mandolin. What fine people. Joe is
truly blessed to be their son. We got to the show a
little late, so we missed some really cool early acts.
The legendary Knobs were just firing up when we arrived
and did a great set. They played great versions of
"Painted Black" and "Build Me Up Buttercup". Norman and
the guys took the stage at 9 o'clock. The dancin'
started up immediately beginning with "Lazy Bones",
"Rebel Rouser", "Boilermaker" into "That's Enough About
Me", "White Trash Tragedy", "Love Dog", "Burnin Up", and
Chuck Berry's classic "Round and Round". Then, Harry
Bottom's sang Pots & Pans and whitey Cooper sang "Sweet
Soul Music". It was a great first set! The second set
started with local celebrity Jimmy Sinclair singin' and
impromptu version of Charlie Daniel's "Long Haired
Country Boy". The song started out with Jimmy singin'
and Norman playing guitar and before you know it, Harry
Bottoms jumped in on bass, followed by Whitey Cooper on
drums. Then, the intensity really turned up with "That
Ain't Gonna Happen" into "I Seen Too Much", "Mr. Right
Now" & "Who Dat Do Dat". Then, Norman got The Knobs'
Johnny Mars up to sing a great version of Gloria.
Norman's old instrumental T-Bird crushed! Then Norman's
cousin Pete Oddo came up to play drums and Whitey Cooper
got out front to sing "Shama lama ding dong" and
"Mustang Sally", followed by local singer Rick from the
Trailblazers who sang David Allen Coe's "You Don't Have
To Call Me Darlin'". Norman's sound man, Ray Morretton
followed and played some hot guitar while singing Lou
Reed's "Sweet Jane". Finally, Norman came back out front
to close out the night with "Smoke Two Joints" and the
old Stones classic "Dead Flowers". The weather couldn't
have been more beautiful, a whole lot of nice people,
and big bad rock n roll music. As Jimmy S. quoted, their
was a record 16 half barrels of beer chugged down and
we've heard from several folks it was the best Biddle
fest yet! It was a fantacular event put together by 4
months of hard work from Jimmy S., all the hard work of
the bands and all the wonderful people in attendance who
made this event so special. We'll sure never forget this
one!
Notables in attendance: Joe Grushecky's mom,
Jimmy Sinclair, Lori Sinclair, Julie Sinclair and
various other Sinclair family members, Rat & Betty,
Wayne and his ole lady, Big Paul and sister, John Potter
in from San Antonio TX and brother, Pete & Emily Oddo
and in-laws and plus 400-500 others special folks.
Sept. 12
- 2003 Iron City Brewery Oktoberfest:
A very convincing Ozzie Osbourne introduced the guys.
Then they went straight into "Boilermaker". I think
Norman broke a string. He switched guitars and went into
the new material..."That Ain't Gonna Happen", "I Seen
Too Much", "Red White & Blue", "We're All Crushing", on
to "Love Dog". Norman got two beautiful young ladies,
Amber & Mallory to bark with him. Although, they just
decided to bark the whole way through the song. It was
hilarious! A strong but shortened version of "Burnin'
Up" into the "Just Because Polka" end of the set. Hey,
it's Oktoberfest! you gotta play a polka!
Notables in attendance: Kathy Z & Jessica, Patty,
Don Barnoski & family, Jan Donachey and Posse, Dave &
Carol, The Jan Man, Gary Cow Pants, Rat & Betty and Mike
Kraynak
Sept. 6 -
2003 Starlite Lounge - Blawnox, PA
A great lady named Diane and her family and friends were
celebrating her birthday. So there was a large group of
good ole fashioned south side folk rockin' the joint.
Plus, some wonderful food in the backroom. "Lazy Bones"
kicked it off and it didn't stop for 2 hours. After a
short break, the guys came up to close the night. After
the week of heart cleared out, Norman called up the Rat
Man for an adult performance, in which Rat professed his
love to Ron "Moondog" Esser. It was a good time.
Notables in Attendance: Patty & Beverly, Rat &
Betty, Grant, Dave & Carol, June & James Esser, Ted
Thompson, Mike Flocari, Misty & Colleen and their
wonderful mother and daughter friends whose names escape
us at this point. Sorry, we're almost human (instead of
"only") ;-)
Sept. 5 -
2003 Crazy Horse Saloon Steak House
Ellsworth, PA
Very cool club. Three straight instrumentals opened
things up. "Lazy Bones", "Boilermaker", "Rebel Rouser",
into "That's Enough About Me". There was an hour and
forty-five minute first set and a large contingency from
Greene County up to see the show. Most of the locals in
attendance, had never seen the guys before. Norman said
he was glad to be out in the country we're the "owl
%&$!'s the chicken". There was a good mix of older and
younger folks. Then a hot second set of mostly rockers.
"Heat of the Night" kicked ass.
Notables in Attendance: Bobby Moore, Dave Hill,
plus two other Dave's from Waynesburg |
