hey now, Happy Easter t’ you n’ yours…….hope da Easter bunny don’t git funny wit ya money…….we used t’ have Easter Egg hunts in our back yard over on Woodstock Ave……back when Buster was the dog king of Swissvale in the 90’s, my folks was still alive n’ sister’s kids were young enough t’ run up n’ down the hill side lookin’ for Booty, colored plastic eggs wit chocolate treats inside…….i can still see the joyful looks on my parents faces as they watched the kids, bein’ kids……….hey, this Wednesday evening i’m doin’ a short hit at The Penn Hills Coffee House, Moondogs is ‘pose t’ do a couple tunes wit me, my ole bud Chuck Battey is also on the show, i’m really lookin’ forward t’ watchin’ him work, he’s a natural……. we’re doin’ a show this Saturday night at The Map Room in Regent Square 9:00 start to da madness of his royal badness……..gonna be a revival right their in da Square…..we will be touchin’ peoples………hey, have ya been lovin’ this sping weather?…..i been goin’ out in da yard, over da hill n’ just gittin’ my ole ass dirty…….i love playin’ in da yard, think it’s da ginny in my garlic eatin’ blood…….can’t stop da wop………..hey, spent some time this week with film maker Frank Ferraro, we hung at his studio in Regent Square n’ talked about some possible projects…….ya never know just what we might come up wit…….how do you spell potential?…………hey, got Vinny Q’s narrow ass in da studio this week n’ did some vicious geetar on “The Devil”……ya, we hacked n’ we wacked till we set da table wit some 6 strang thang dat did da trick, strong……..i spent all day Saturday cuttin’ guitar on Monongahela Ave, Swissvale PA in da studio wit Darrell Rodgers engineerin’ da festivities………..did lead work on “The Devil” dat is just ’bout as nasty as can be……i might have t’ go t’ hell, just cause i played it…….also did a rhythm guitar on “Me n’ Josey Wales”………i been really enjoyin’ cuttin’ again……it’s been a couple years since i’ve gone in da studio face first, i forgot how much fun it is t’ work……..hey, why don’t ya’ll come out n’ see me some time?
hey now, played Moondogs last night n’ Billy Price come out t’ hang……Billy got up n’ sang a couple tunes wit us n’ just did his thing……got me thinkin’ ’bout the Rhythm Kings back in da early 70’s……i remember hangin’out at the Fox Cafe on Walnut St in Shadyside n’ watchin’ the Kings teach all the white people ’bout soul music……i remember a black dude, i think his name was Ruben, would sing wit the Kings sometimes, a white girl name a’ Debbi Asbury also sang at those jams, Kenny Blake would be there, Martin Soloman was another singer dat hung……..saw Roy Buchanan jam wit the Kings at the Crazy Quilt in Market Square…….folks don’t seem t’ remember just how influential the Rhythm Kings were in this town……soul music was universal and a ton a’ folks in my generation were touched by the phenomenon dat was the RHYTHM KINGS……….remember hearin’ Billy Price singin’ Al Green tunes, Otis Clay tunes, how ’bout “If Lovin’ You Is Wrong”, “Let The Four Winds Blow”…..hell yes, we was all highed up on some soul music…….while were on da subject a’ soul music, i gotta tell ya’ll dat i been tunin’ in to new AM radio station ZOOM 1550 on your AM dial, these folks is throwin’ down all dat junk from da 70’s stuff like “Backfield In Motion” “Who’s That Lady” “What’s Goin’ On” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”………..hey, brought my Korg piano t’ last night’s MOONDOGS show, first time dat i done somethin’ like dat since the early 70’s when i was playin’ wit Borrowed Time……..Larry Siefers our keyboard player, was off in Europe somewhere n’ i been playin’ keys at home alot so i figgered dat i’d give it a shot……did “The Tree” “Wonder” “Minimum Wage” “Fire Fighter”…………….hey , i’m plannin’ on gittin’ into da studio this week t’ do some overdub guitars for “Me n’ Josey Wales” “The Horse Your Riding” “The Devil”……can’t wait t’ start stackin’ some tracks for these tunes…..hopin’ t’ jump back in the following week t’ cut some more rhythm tracks………don’t be afraid t’ respond t’ these blogs, if ya wanna type somethin’ in, just do it………..hope t’ bump into ya at a show………
hey now, had a blast at Pam Bryan’s place last Monday night doin’ a sneak attack happy birthday song for Maria Maria, also enjoyed doin’ a few solo acoustic tunes out in the beautiful party room……did “The Horse Your Riding” “The Morning After” “Me n’ Josey Wales”……had Jill Simmons n’ Andrea Pearle join in on BG vocals for “You Go Your Way”…….make me think ’bout all the amazing party nights spent at Pam’s place over da years……Grubby, WK, Bird………..how ’bout the party in Pam’s back yard when we played acoustic, out under the apple tree……she was worried all night dat an apple was gonna fall on some ones head……………hey,Tuesday was our first of five, JERGELS bike nights……….Shari Richards showed up n’ did a couple, “New Blood” “You Go Your Way”, damn she sounded good……sent da last tune out t’ young Paulie, who’s been on da mend, hit ’em wit a delicious take a’ “Nothing To Lose”…….got a feelin’ dat we’re gonna have some huge Tuesdays this summer at JERGELS…………this Saturday, April 12, we gonna be raisin’ da roof at MOONDOGS in Blawnox……our recent MOONDOGS shows have all been outstanding……heard a rumor dat the Mayor of Erie PA, the gentleman Joe Sinnott just might show up n’ sing a tune wit da uncrowned king…….9:00 start this Saturday at Pittsburgh’s long time, real music hot house, MOONDOGS……….hey, i spent most a’ this week at the ole Monongahela Studio, cookin’ up some brand new lick, da good kind, da kind dat l’ snap yer girddle…….hell to da yes, been sloppin’ in da mess……hour after hour after hour…..like in da ole days…..buildin’ from da ground up, just like i hear it in my head…….what could be more fun than birthin’ beauty?……..had Darrell Rodgers engineerin’, bringin’ some a’ dat Robert Casper back bone to da eastside…….i beat da hell outta my dear friend Brice Foster on tubs……we worked very hard t’ catch somethin’ dat we both used all dat we had t’ build………giant cinematic drums tracks dat l’ support da weight…….we then brought in Mr Harry Bottoms t’ lay da bass in place……………..Harry, Brice n’ Darrell all showed some manful ways……..we cooked three filet’s……….”The Devil” “Me n’ Josey Wales” “The Horse Your Riding”…………so, we got somethin’ started dat is just delightful……i’ll keep ya posted on da progress………..gotta shout, if ya ain’t been out, what’s dat about?………….come see about me….
hey now…………tomorrow da Bucs open up da season against, “da Cubs”……………..Barry Bonds is comin’ t’ town as part of the celebration…….makes me think of Nason, Nason was hangin’ out wit Barry Bonds back in the early 90’s…….maybe, Barry’s wife or girl friend was a singer n’ Nas was recording the sessions…….i think, at Alpha Star studio in McKeesport…….i miss Nason, he was truly one of a kind ……..hey, i’m all jacked up ’bout JERGELS this Tuesday, April 1………bring yo fine self to this wang dang doodle……we’ll be blowin’ all the real pittsburgh rock n’ roll from da bottom of our soul………Harry gonna be layin’ pavement, Flo gonna make a statement, Vinny be rockin’ raw n’ lean, Larry be honkin’ horn n’ tinklin’ keys……..i’ll be talkin’ loud n’ sayin’ nothin’……..Tuesday 8-11 at JERGELS, bike night…………hey, took a trip, t’ Aliquip……..me n’ da lady Shari went out to Joe Monroe’s studio t’ have a slap happy hell of a’ good time, makin’ music………Joe is a delight t’ hang wit……met Joe’s bud, guy name a’ Wayne………heard a song Wayne wrote n’ sang n’ Joe produced dat was very cool…….cut four tunes for da Lady……..we did a low slow take a’ “Minimum Wage”, hit a mid tempo groovelicious patch wit “New Blood”, lowered da key a whole step n’ come clean down t’ stark naked romance wit “Three Times Your Fool”………we then, as i tried to explain t’ Wayne, attempted to achieve all that is possible wit a true 70’s style rock epic such as “Rich Kid”……..we just got these tunes started so, we’ll just see, but i gotta say, “i’m chubbin”…………….hey, dug into a session we did two years ago at da Mononghela Studio……….Dave Erny engineered n’ cut t’ 2 inch tape…….WOW……Harry Bottoms on bass, Brice Foster played tubs on this collection of 11 gems…….tunes like “The Blues Come Blowin’ In” “It Is What It Is” “Corn Bread” “America’s Son” “Pittsburgh PA”………plus 6 more hunks a raw meat just waitin’ t’ be tenderized…………….went into da Monongahela studio this week wit Brice n’ engineer Darrell Rodgers n’ started t’ git some sounds…….Darrell studied under the legendary engineer Robert Casper…………looks like we’re gonna cut “The Devil” “Me n’ Josey Wales” and a song i wrote ’bout ten years ago called “The Horse Your Ridin” that’s about my status in the Evil Empire………….write it, n’ they will come, record it, n’ they will come……….it’s been a while since i got in da recordin’ state a’ mind……i’m headin’ in that direction……..giga d’ giga d’ do, wanna rock wit you………….come on out n’ say, “hey now”
hey now…………it’s nice out…….think i’ll leave it out……..hope your troubles are few n’ your blessin’s are huge………got a late date call on the “Fire Fighter” song that i’d written for the video to be used at The National Fire Fighter’s Convention next month. Turns out, that the Chief in charge said that he couldn’t use the tune because it didn’t reference female fire fighter’s………i said, “ain’t no problem”………so now our fire fighter has a daughter, instead of a son to follow in his footsteps……..da worlds a’ changin’, we all gotta change wit it, if we can……………me n’ the guys are gittin’ excited ’bout our upcoming April 1 date at Jergels, got a feelin’ dat we’re gonna have some large fun out in da north country…….they need us, they just don’t know it yet……..wrote a new essay this week called, The Caves, it’s about a time, back in ’69, when all the young long hair dopers would gather in the Oakmont caves n’ trip da night away………got the chance, with Skibo goin’ outta town, t’ work wit ole bud Mike Hayson, Mike engineered the first two Diamond Reo LP’s…..we spent a lotta time workin’ together at Fox Studio back in da 70’s……….. had an epic show at Moon Dogs Saturday night…….makin’ sleezy, look easy……..all night long…..rappin’ ’bout my pork chop eatin’ uncle Riley…….twerkin’ just like Miley…….runnin’ away from home, way back before cell phones…..kissin’ dogs on the lips n’ white trash fashion tips……..we don’t just play the best rock n’ roll in all these parts ………..we say what we wanna say, play what we wanna play, n’ at da end a’ da day, hell, we havin’ so much fun, we’d give it away………..let me blow my own horn, fer a minute……….hey now, me n’ my band…..Harry, Vinny, Larry, n’ Flo, have been killin’ it…our shows have been major up lifting experience’s………it reminds me our a time gone by, when folks would sit transfixed on the great iconic rock bands of yesteryear………….did “New Blood” wit Larry smokin’ da golden goose on da way out………..”Josey Wales” is findin’ higher ground everytime we play it, the cinematic sound is startin’ to relax n’ find it’s own confidence……MANFUL……..tried t’ talk a’ lil’ about my Evil Empire Rants on stage at Moon Dogs n’ just started playin’ a song i wrote about 10 years ago, “The Horse Your Ridin”……..played it real soft, by myself, at first………….the lyrics tell my true feelin’ about the Minons n’ the Empire……….folks seemed t’ git da point……….we gonna keep on walkin’ da walk, talkin’ da talk……..hey maybe i’ll see ya……if yer lookin’ t’ rock……….nn
hey now……..hope yer all doin’ well n’ stayin’ away from da gates of hell…….had a blast openin’ the show for young buck, Anthony Gomes at Moondogs……the kid got on old soul……..n’ a great singin’ voice t’ go wit it………also really enjoyed playin’ “I Hate A Nickel” wit Anthony’s rhythm section, Fred on tubs n’ Theodore on bass…………..just got a string a’ dates at Jergels booked……Tuesday bike nites startin’ April 1, every six weeks we’ll be back at it all summer long……..look forward t’ bringin’ our eastside sound out to da north country………….comin’ back t’ Greensburg this Friday March 21 at Jamison’s……..i’ll git t’ see Derron, which will start me thinkin’ ’bout Doug from da ole Eldorado out on Rt 30……….Saturday March 22 we will be in the Dog House…..Moondogs is da place i’ll be showin’ m’ face, Saturday nite………check the calendar for details………been workin’ on new tune “Fire Fighter”, gittin’ ready t’ finish up a solo take of it………it’s gonna be part of a video presentation for a National Fire Fighters Convention………still gittin’ used to the new Facebook Band Page, we will be very active in tryin’ to keep it entertaining as we learn more about how it works……i’ve been writin’ short essays and am startin’ t’ think about postin’ up my rendered writin’s……….i’ve got one called “hot dog” that explains how every beautiful woman is like a hot dog sizzlin’ on da grill, one ’bout “12 grade music theory n’ harmony class”, one ’bout “7th Grade”, got one ’bout my ole band from 1968, “Moon”……………sometime soon gonna be lettin’ all that loose……….been startin’ t’ think ’bout makin’ a new LP, ain’t sure, but i got a feelin’ dat somethin’ gotta give, somethin’ gotta give, somethin’ gotta give……….got all this music….new, old, in between…..years n’ years a’ songs dat need t’ be presented in a most delightful way…………if someone was t’ axe me, “Norman, are ya gonna make a fresh new collection a’ tunes all wrapped up together in what folks used t’ call an album?”…….i’d have t’ say…..”i reckon so”…………….please come to our Facebook page n’ let your presence be known, we’re tryin’ t’ develop a relationship wit people……see ya at a gig, sometime soon…….nn
hey now….spring is da thing n’ she’s a’ comin’ quick………bookin’ dates for the summer…….May 3 at a very cool venue in downtown Altoona called the Church in the Middle of the Block……..just hooked up June 28 at Johnstowns Thunder in the Valley……..been talkin’ t’ Moondog about some very cool idea’s for this years Pittsburgh Blues Festival show……we just did our first show at The Map Room in Regent Square, had a blast n’ look forward to some more shows at this eastside watering hole……….been workin’ on BG vocals for new tune “Me n’ Josey Wales”…..also wrote new BG vocals for “Cornbread”, so both of those tunes will be gittin’ a face lift in the next few weeks…………..i just read thru all my crazy rants from my January 2014 rampage………i’m loony……..i spent over 20 hours writing two completely different essay’s that attempted to sum up all that i said in my rants, i never posted either of those essay’s up………….
The Evil Empire
I know it sounds crazy, but i believe that i’ve finally found the way to penetrate the Evil Empire. Great news, huh? It ain’t easy, but it can be done if ya got the stomach for it. First, ya gotta go to Evil Empire headquarters with your head down. Don’t bother showing up if ya ain’t got your head down. I heard that it’s very important to look at the ground when ya get there. Then ya gotta find the Liver Lipped Troll, you’ll know him when ya see him, he’s the guy that looks like he’s never seen a grown woman naked in his entire life. Then ya gotta throw yourself at the mercy of the Troll. Then, ya gotta put your hand over your heart and recite the pledge. I ain’t totally sure of every word in the pledge but i think it goes somethin’ like this…..
I do solemnly swear that i pledge my allegiance to this Evil Empire and i promise to never even consider making any music that has soul.
I promise to clear my head of any impure thoughts.
I promise to never look anyone directly in the eye.
I promise to never speak my mind.
I promise to never stand on my own two feet.
I promise to never lift a finger to help another musician no matter how deserving that musician might be.
I promise to never have an original thought. Don’t worry ’bout this too much ’cause i’m not sure if anyone who’s ever had an original thought has gotten this far into the pledge.
I promise to believe that all Pittsburgh Allstars are free of sin.
I promise to believe in the power of TV Jesus.
I promise to drive to the designated studio, that ain’t even in Pennsylvania, and spend some money when i decide to record my rootless soul free music. I ain’t sure ’bout this part but i think ya almost gotta go there to meet a guy, he’s the one who does most all of the Liver Lipped Trolls dirty business. But don’t worry ’bout that guy, I heard he goes t’ church every sunday and i’ll bet ya he throws some a’ the money ya gotta give him into the basket.
I promise to never work at improving my skills.
I promise to believe that the Jingling Janglers are the best band, hands down, that ever took a crap in these hills.
I promise to believe that the Evil Empire has never profited by providing the Janglers more airplay than any slap happy trivial pop band has ever received since the beginning of time.
I promise to believe that the original music scene in this town began when the Janglers jumped in bed with the Evil Empire.
I promise to believe that the front man of the Janglers CAN tap his foot in time to the music.
I promise to believe the drummer of the Janglers can maintain a steady beat.
I promise to believe that Pittsburg’s own Bruce Springsteen tribute person is a nice person.
I promise to attach any and all of the respect that the real Bruce Springsteen has honestly earned to Pittsburgh’s own Bruce Springsteen Tribute Person.
I promise to believe that the Christmas singer is pure of heart.
I promise to believe the Christmas singer was born in a manger.
I promise to believe that the Evil Empire has done us all a great service by playing the same song list they played 30 years ago. We don’t need to hear any deeper album cuts, after all, i’m sure we don’t have the capacity to process all those songs.
I promise to believe that a closed society is a good society.
I promise to believe that the Evil Empire has done this city a great service by deciding who’s in and who’s out. I’m sure their very concerned about the best interest’s of one and all.
I promise to never ask the question, “who’s behind the curtain pulling the strings”?
I promise to believe every word the Liver Lipped Troll says.
I promise to believe that the Liver Lipped Trolls knows everything there is to know about rock n’ roll.
I promise to believe that the Troll has fairly and honestly earned the right to dangle the keys to radio air play heaven in front of anyone who ever tried to lift him or her self up from the doldrums of nothingness.
I promise to believe that real live Pittsburgh rock n’ roll does not exist.
The last and most important part of the pledge is simple, I promise to never take anything the Uncrowned King says seriously.
Norman Nardini
January 26
hey ya’ll……been a long long time since MY name been mumbled up on Greentree hill …..but i got a feelin’ dat there just might be a couple Italians dat hide behind da curtain gonna be doin’ some cussin’ n’ fussin’ ’bout da uncrowned king monday mornin’……ya’ll should a’ thrown me a bone every three or four years……i’d been glad t’ lick da crumbs off da floor if ya would a’ let me……but, nooooooo……..ya shouldnt’ a’ took more than ya gave gentleman…..hey, somebody call a plumber,my sh*ts in da street
Norman Nardini
January 27
captain’s log…….saturday January 18 the day after an amazing show at da dog house i came down wit dis vicious throat and sinus infection…….for the seven days dat followed i barely slept n’ i hardly ate a thing……saturday January 25 my fever continued to fester inside me and i started t’ think crazy comical thoughts, ain’t sure exactly what made me do it, but i typed those thoughts out, i then found da nerve to post those comedic thoughts, even though i new that once i posted those thoughts i could never take them back, i must be outta my mind….right?……but i’ve made mistakes before and i’ve been man enough to live wit da consequences of those mistakes…..this is where da fun starts……turns out dat lots a’ folks read my renderings and da world don’t stop turning da sky don’t fall and life keeps goin’ on and on and on…….wow…..i was preparing to be hung by my thumbs in da parkin’ lot of Evil Empire headquarters…..i figgered dat everybody would see me hangin’ there on their way t’ work monday morning……cause after all, ain’t no man or beast should ever say da truth ’bout da Empire…..it’s long been understood dat da Empire is untouchable…….sunday January 26…..dis here crazy ole greeze ball shows up at some medical out post in Monroeville to receive treatment for my ills…..a kind person asked me, what are your symptoms sir?….i told her i got a sore throat and sinus problems, but i really came out here cause i been actin’ crazy, i mean real crazy……she said what a’ ya mean, crazy?…..i told her dat i’d been doin’ stuff like standin’ up for myself n’ sayin’ da truth n’ pissin’ into da wind……she looked at me wit dis very concerned look on her face n’ said “oh my God, you really do need medical attention”…….she came back a short while later with some pills dat she said would kill da terribly powerful germs inside me dat has caused me to act this way…….i thanked her and drug my ole a** home…….monday January 27 i awoke all stinkin’ n’ sweaty from a nightmare dat took me back to a day in da in da late 1980’s when i ran into da Liver Lipped Troll down in Oakland……i was somewhere between The Decade and da dirty O when i saw da Troll….i vividly remember tellin’ da Troll dat i’d been listenin’ to a lot of new country music, folks like Lyle Lovett n’ Steve Earle….i’ll never forget da look of horror on da Trolls face, in fact i saw that look again in my nightmare and i screamed out loud as i awoke in horror this morning……i’d forgotten that ’bout that day in Oakland until my terrible dream last night, but it’s all comin’ back t’ me now………i wanna stop doin’ what i been doin’, but i can’t…..i’m hopin’ dat these pills i’m supposed t’ take will wipe out the powerful infection coursin’ thru my veins for close t’ two weeks now that caused me to do da terrible things i’ve done……….pray for me, i need help and lots of it…..i wanna stop, but i can’t….i need help…….before i crawl back in my hole i got one question i need t’ ask the Evil Empire and their sniveling minnions…….ARE WE HAVIN’ FUN YET??????????
Norman Nardini
January 27
somebody said….hey manful hanful, why now?…..thought ’bout it fer a minute n’ realized i ain’t sure why………..then i thought ’bout dat ole sailor name a’ Popeye……he’s da guy dat said, “i’ve had all i can stands and i can’t stands no more”……….hey i don’t know nothin’, maybe i smoked some bad spinach….
Norman Nardini
January 27
i’m starting realize just how easy it is t’ have honest t’ goodness fun wit da Empire and da snivelers……and and it ain’t even 48 hours since i spoke da ugly truth….been gittin’ lots a’ inside info from confidential informers dat got real tired a’ withholdin’ information…….i’ve learned dat Pittrsburgh’s own Bruce Springsteen Person got a new recording comin’ out, heard dat luckily he didn’t have much t’ do wit da process, heard dat him n’ Tricky spent most a da time in da studio lounge watching da comedy film “A Good Life” over and over and over again while an under paid intern computer operator did da heavy liftin’….heard dat both of ’em believe every word spoken in that hilarious film……i’ve got inside info dat leads me to believe dat Pittsburh’s own Bruce Springsteen person don’t pay his band very much or very often, and when he does pay ’em, he don’t pay ’em in green back American dollars, he pays ’em in Grasheckles……i been informed dat da last time da Christmas singer was seen without dat phoney smile on his face, Ike was in office…..i heard dat one time, back in da 90’s, da Jingling Janglers found da groove, although they lost it by da second verse……..i heard dat da Liver Lipped Troll was sighted this mornin’ draggin’ his knuckes across da Evil Empire Headquarters parkin’ lot wit dis wild look in his eyes…..heard dat he’s real pissed off at somebody because they had da balls in their shorts t’ try n’ pull back da curtain…….. see what i mean? it’s easy
Norman Nardini
January 27
an open love letter to the Evil Empire……hey guys hope your all doin’ well……how you like me now? i know you didn’t like me before. I wanted to take the time to thank you for EVERYTHING that you’ve done for me, my music, and the entire original music scene in general. You guys have been great….It’s been a real honor workin so closely with……hey, i know ya’ll got a sports talk guy workin’ in your system (you know da guy i’m talkin’ ’bout, the guy whose IQ walks into the room before he does} that ya pay good money to t’ say rotten things about our beloved football hero Jerome Bettis and the iconic Pittsburgh Pirate Willy Stargell, who by the way passed on years ago…..so i’m sure ya know what’s goin’ on here…..just a crazy clown lookin’ for a circus…..by the way,my MY IQ doesn’t walk into the room till after I’VE left the building……don’t hate the play’a gentlemen…..hate the game……hey, by the way, maybe we could meet, at a romantic spot on Walnut Street……..you know, talk about all da good times we’ve shared together…..when ya get there you’ll know me when ya see me, i’ll be raisin’ a glass n’ smackin’ my own ass……hugs n’ kisses n’ a sink full a’ dirty dishes…….the Uncrowned King
Norman Nardini
January 28
ya’ll might think dat i’m a fool, but i spent da day takin’ folks t’ school, now it’s time t’ wipe off da drool, before i crawl back in my hole
Norman Nardini
January 28 near Pittsburgh, PA
OH MY GOD….my life is fallin’ to pieces……i awoke this morning, for da second da in a row, screamin’ at da top of my voice….i saw a horrible vision in my nightmare…..a dear friend sent me a clip of last weeks rock n’ roll hall of fame induction at the hard rock and i made a huge mistake by watchin’ right before i went t’ bed….i saw a half hearted effort put on by these semi musical minnions…..hey guys, here’s a lil’ tip i offer you all, do as our beloved Pittsburgh Stiller’s do after ever game…..WATCH THE GAME TAPE……if any of yinz really cared about the music, yinz would have shown some growth from previous half a**ed shows that you’ve done as the Evil Empire’s Pittsburgh Lack Of Soul Allstars…..perhaps yinz should consider watchin’ the Game Tape after your shows with your own tired bands…..we ain’t no music city, we’re a sports town….there’s a thing called accountability, ever heard of it, it’s somethin’ dat Big Ben has t’ deal wit, it’s somethin dat Mike Tomlin has t’ deal wit, Clint Hurdle, Sid da Kid, da Flower….they all gotta deal with it….it makes ya a better person….let me say da word again for ya…………. ACCOUNTABILITY……simply put, it’s somethin’ dat looks good on a man……ya’ll outta try it some time…..as i watched the game tape of last thursdays show i felt da tears wellin’ up in my eyes…it was as if someone, something, some…some evil power had sucked all da soul outta these hollow men….i wanted to tell da minnions to stop hidin’ behind da same ole tired a** songs….here’s another lil’ tip i offer….hey guys, it’s not a good idea t’ play a tune if ya aren’t prepared t’ play it well…..it not a sin to admit that your not prepared, it’s a sin t’ git out there n’ make yourself look bad…..who is givin’ you guys advice?…..i ain’t got all da answers, but i do got a few…….gentlemen please try to appear as if you’ve grown better at this craft somewhat in the past 30 years……what your offering ain’t funny…you want funny, ya gotta call an idiot like me….i’ll show ya funny……..truth is, i could also teach ya how t’ improve your skills as a music maker…..i been hopin’ that you’d give me a call…..but that call has never come…..so now i offer my advice from da sideline….ya’ll never let me git in da game…..what yer doin’ ain’t makin’ nobody look good, it’s sad….the video that i saw is proof dat da Evil Empire’s Lack Of Soul Allstars are a tired delusional bunch….i saw Pittsburgh’s own Bruce Springsteen person wit dat familiar deer in da heads light look on his face….he struggled to appear as if he’s picked up his ax since his last half hearted gig…..i saw fear in the eyes of the front person of the Jingling Janglers, how could a man who’s received so much support have so little to offer….it’s like i’m in dis bizzaro world and i’m da only one dat can see what’s really happenin’ here…..i feel so all alone……back to my nightmare, as my brain was playin’ back the GAME TAPE in my sleep….the image freezed framed on a close up of the Christmas Singers face……some evil force had applied da exact same make up dat Tami Faye Baker made famous, back in day, to the face of the Christmas Singer……i awoke SCREAMING…..i’ll never git dat image out my mind….why must these men keep hidin’ behind da same tired material……have they nothin’ else to offer?…..are they followin’ da lead of da Evil Empire who ain’t changed THEIR play list since da hogs ate Grandma?……it’s a bizarro world……
Norman Nardini
January 28
bless me father for i have sinned…..i’ve spoken the ugly truth, i’ve failed to be the bigger stronger man that would have taken this story to the grave……..for this i AM sorry…….lots a’ folks have private messaged askin’ , “why you mad at da Janglers”?……….i ain’t mad at ’em, i’m dissapointed……..on January 15, 1990 an employee of da Evil Empire (KL) was stayin’ over night at my shack on Woodstock Ave in da Vale…..we stayed up late jammin’ wit some tunes n’ bull crappin’……toward da end of da evening i started to git heated up as i told this gentleman how important i believed it be for da Empire to include dis fresh n’ up n’ comin’ act on their new compilation CD…..my dear friend, who we’ll call Bull Balls, engineered da recording…..i didn’t believe this act was truly competitive but i felt very strongly that they deserverd da shot to become a competitive act….i was speakin’ of da Jingling Janglers…..by evenings end i was screamin’ in this guys face……shoutin’ out that new blood, new life, new sperm was necessary for any original music scene to grow…….i shouted, “please put these kids on on da radio”……..(KL) couldn’t believe dat i was arrogant enough to scream in his face……..lookin’ back now, i couldn’t be more proud of what i did that evening……i didn’t know da Janglers at da time…..and i don’t know da Janglers to this day…..did a few hours in da studio wit da geetar player, who, by the way plays very well…..did an acoustic show wit da front person, but i don’t really know any of ’em…….and they don’t know me…….i’ve never spoken wit da Janglers about what happened that evening………and as i sit in da middle of this shit storm i’ve created in da past few days, i wonder, have da Janglers ever stood up for anyone or anything dat benefits da scene more than it benefits da Jingling Janglers?…….i only have to look at da shape our original music scene is in today to git an answer to that question…..i’ve never spoken to (KL) again from da time i climbed da stairs t’ lay my ass down that night January 15, 1990……(KL) slept on da couch and left my home before i got up………….da Janglers have made a point to never EVER include any influence of blues or rhythm n’ blues in their music…….i think it’s important to point that out……..this is PITTSBUGH………PITTSBURGH da shot n’ a beer capital of these Pennsyltucky hills……when did we loose our roots….how could a band dat refuses to include soulful influence in their music receive so much support from da Evil Empire……somethin’ smells bad t’ me……….it just smells bad……..who speaking for da hard workin’ men n’ women in this town dat need some Stevie Ray flava, some Duane flava, some Bonnie flava, some Derrick n’ Susan flava, some Steve Earle flava, some Jimi flava, some Carlos flava, some Muddy n’ some Buddy some BB and some Hooker some Mick n’ some Tina, damn she’s still a looker…..and on and on and on…….there’s lottsa folks in these hills da love dem some Jingling Janglers…….more power to ’em…..but, by all da power invested in you, Evil Empire, give us back our roots, PLEASE give us back our roots……tree can’t grow, if it got no roots
Norman Nardini
January 29
WHAT’S WRONG WITH NORMAN?….da fit hit da shan n’ now everybody wanna know………..WHAT’S WRONG WITH NORMAN?……my phone ain’t hardly rung in three or four days…..folks is afraid t’ call my house……..somethin’ been wrong wit NORMAN all along……the question shouldn’t be WHAT’S WRONG WITH NORMAN?….it should be WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?…..i just wanna have a voice in my home town…..i’ve haven’t been allowed to compete on a musical level, so now i’m tryin’ to find a voice on a comedic level……what’ wrong wit dat……da Evil Empire has offered comedy every morning for decades…..they poke fun at anything and everything, and our city has embraced this comedic format…….i’m tryin’ to use the comedic skills i’ve developed while i been swimmin’ ’round on da bottom of da tank for the last 25 years…..i’m tryin’ to use the skills that i’ve developed as a writer…..is it a mortal sin t’ make fun of da Evil Empire and their minnions?……..i’ve played by THEIR rules all this time…….i’m tryin’ to create a new way to compete…..am i the A hole here?……WHY IS NORMAN LASHING OUT NOW?…..does it have somethin’ t’ do wit last thursday’s rock n’ roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony?……gotta say, not at all…..hey guys, i’d like to apologize ’bout da timing of my public mental breakdown……i never intended to take da shine off somebody else’s star….my crack up had nothin’ to do with that event…..truth is, i had no control what so ever in regard to the timin’ of my actions…..i had a high fever, started writin’ what i thought was a comical piece that i called the EVIL EMPIRE…..and i couldn’t stop myself from posting it up…..it might not seem like it, but i put a lotta work into that little jem……i don’t feel that i’m lashing out at all……i just tryin’ t’ make ya laugh……and i’m tryin’ get my piece of da original music scene……think about this, if who i am, is someone that is so invisible that i ain’t got called t’ play on any Evil Empire shows, (except one at South Park, n’ there’s a great story that goes along wit dat whole mess), in 25 years how can what i say even matter, if i ain’t earned da right t’ say…….i think the last time i was allowed on the Evil Empire friday mornin’ love fest was in da 80’s……how stupid do i have to be to believe dat i’m not being black balled by da Evil Empire……..that’s what makes my Evil Empire rant so funny……they don’t even know how obvious their being about my unfair treatment, that’s how pompous they are……that……is FUNNY……got a feelin’ dat folks is gonna be back trackin’ n’ shoutin’ out ’bout all that they’ve done t’ try n’ lift this piece a’ white trash up off da bottom of da tank……folks is gonna be sayin’ dat i’m my own worst enemy… i suggest dat you believe every word of dat kind a’ talk…….but please remember dat the Minnions have had over 20 years t’ stand togather against da Evil Empire in my defense…..OVER TWENTY YEARS…..i’ve remained, a do right man……it’s easy t’ say, he’s crazy, been crazy all along……and it’s easy t’ SAY, “I’VE tried t’ help”……hey, if ya been suckin’ on da nipple of da Evil Empire for 20 plus years it’s gotta be a real shock when some loser swims up from da bottom of da tank n’ starts t’ rock yer love boat……i welcome da Evil Empire and their minnions to use this format to air out their take on this whole mess…..honestly, it feels good t’ know that they’ve been forced t’ say my name…….WHAT’S MY NAME?…….hey man, i’m just tryin’ t’ git in da game……i’m sure you’ve all noticed dat i ain’t spoke of King Cool, got no problem wit King Kool, he’s always looked me in da eye and showed respect…nuf, said…….gotta say dat i idolize Mr Frank Czuri, he’s da rock dat Pittsburg rock n’ roll was built on all those years ago….he’s still someone i admire, n’ McKeag, he held da door open n’ welcomed me into da club…..ain’t sure if i ever really thanked him proper……gotta mention da Beadman, da Fish, n’ da Byrd….we was da eastsider’s………we changed da game in this town, please don’t forget it…….now i’m tryin’ t’ change da game again…….fer all these years, ya’ll been mess’ wit my bank……now i’m swimmin’ up from da bottom of da tank…..ya’ll keep yer good eye on me
Norman Nardini
January 29
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT NORMAN IS RIGHT about any of the crazy things he’s been sayin’ for da past three days?…the answer to that question would have to be, probably not……because if norman is right about any of this, the rest of us would have to come to the same conclusion……wouldn’t we?……and that conclusion would be hard t’ face….wouldn’t it?…….is it possible that the sniveling minnions have gone along, to get along, for so long, that they can’t even imagine their own passive aggressive participation in this black balling by simply turnin’ their heads all these years…..Nope, that’s not even possible is it?……i became addicted to the thrill of receiving attention the moment i stuck da needle in my arm….now i can’t stop….i wanna stop, but i can’t…..i’m a junkie…….i know that those in power and their minnions will find a way t’ knock me off my high horse…….but until that moment comes, and there ain’t no doubt in my mind, that moment will come sooner rather than latter, I SOAR WITH THE EAGLE…..my head above the clouds lookin’ down on one and all…….i pray that i can find da strength of will to stop………..when i opened up this can of worms i was on the bottom of the tank, i didn’t have far to fall, but now i’m up so high above it all that i can see how far that i have to fall to git all the way back into my stinkin’ hole…..so let ’em talk n’ say what they will, been along time since they’ve mentioned this man whose so ill……but, at this fleeting moment i’m high as a loone and i’m howlin’ at da moon….although know my demise will come soon…..said the uncrowned king with a tear in his eye……hey, before i go, i gotta ask, anybody notice how much i’ve learned about how hard it is for folks today t’ look away for a train wreck?……
Norman Nardini
January 29 near Pittsburgh, PA
hey guys…..it’s 1:15 tuesday afternoon and i’ve just received horrific news that a young man (Paulie) who i’ve gotten to know this past year has become very ill…..this beautiful kid is fightin’ for his life right now…….i need t’ shut up about my trival problems at this time….hey, it’s been a blast shootin’ my big mouth off, but when somethin’ like this happens it makes ya realize what really matters……….maybe we’ll git back t’ this soap opera some time……but fer now, i wanna stop talkin’ n’ count the blessing that i have in my life…….please say a prayer for a great kid dat’s strugglin’ to hang on t’ life itself…….tears…….
hey now……..OK, we’re off n’ runnin thru 2014 already……time IS marchin’ on n’ we’re marchin’ right in time wit time……knowin’ dat , long as we been ’round, we runnin’ outta time……..got the boys togather this week t’ work on some tuneage……..got “Word” stream lined a bit, worked on “Glory” but we still ain’t found da perfect approach, we’ll keep at it……..put some time into “Me n’ Josey Wales” n’ started to establish some things, but this song needs to be loved and i don’t wanna short change dis manful hunk a’ meat …….gotta show respect,what, are we animals?…..ain’t nothin’ more fun than takin’ a hunk a’ music n’ twist n’ turnin’ it into somethin’ beautiful……now that’s always been my idea of a GOOD TIME……..got a broken song?….bet i could fix it……….played a solo piano take of “Town With No Name” at our Jan 11 show, also did “Fire Fighter” for the first time………….startin’ t’ book shows for gig season this year, lookin’ fer work…….speakin’ a’ gigs, i would love t’ see yo fine self at a show sometime soon, come on out……i wanna touch you……
hey now………Happy New year to ya, here’s hopin’ life don’t screw ya……2014 is upon us n’ i’m thinkin’ back t’ 1964 when i got started playin rock n’ roll……..so many gigs, so many laughs, so many songs, too many to remember but i’m sure that it all added up t’ somethin’ beautiful…….50 years, still learnin’ and still burnin’……can’t recall ALL the buddie’s we’ve lost along the way…….guy’s like Glenn Pavone, Warren King, Rob Johns, Bird Foster, Nason Gieg, Paul Shook, Gary “Guitar Slim” Scalese, Jimmy King, Bobby Boyer….on and on and on…..damn we lost some good ones……make me feel lucky t’ still be on the planet, maybe i can represent for all boys we lost along the road……gonna do my best, you can take dat to da bank……..been thinkin’ ’bout what da new year will bring, and like always, i’m not sure……got a buncha new tunes ready t’ put in da oven…..”Word” “Me n’ Josey Wales” “Glory”…..workin’ on a new arrangement for “Cornbread”……just wrote a new tune the other night., a lil’ thing called “Fire Fighter”………i’d like t’ make a new lp but i’m lookin’ for a reason, so i’ll just keep gittin’ songs and arrangements ready……wanna keep doin’ lil’ live video’s with low tech high content approach, gotta do more vignettes and rambles……….gotta keep on keepin’ on……….new year new hope………..
hey now, wanna wish everybody a wonderful Happy Holidays……may all your hopes n’ dreams come true……….. played in Thomas West Virginia last night……me Harry n’ Skibo got into WV Friday n’ stayed up late watchin’ ole Lone Ranger episodes, n’ Dean Martin roasts……..we turned ourselves into a party band for our Saturday show which was Mike Goss’s annual birthday bash at Mountain State Brewery……did a bunch a’ cover tunes…….”Good Hearted Woman” “Like A Rolling Stone” we did a very cool take of “The Weight”………..”I Fall To Pieces”……Larry sang “Merry Christmas Baby” n’ “Run Run Rudolph”…..banged out my new jam “Word” two times, once in each set, i can tell dat “Word” is gonna git some play in 2014 fer sure……been listening to Dirty Diamonds the last couple weeks, damn, it IS delicious….”It Ain’t What Ya Say” is so desperate, so dangerous…..Frank Czuri’s lead vocals deliver da shit in a large way, WK violently chokes genius, my compulsive bass lines rubbin’ up against Beadman’s soulful passive aggressive tubs……every once in a blue moon a little miracle happens, sometimes ain’t hardly anybody even knows a miracle happened, but when it do happen, it’s so damn schweet…….kinda like a great gas engine runnin’ just right……the right players, the right song, the right arrangement, the right timing…….”It Ain’t What Ya Say” is one of those lil’ miracles as is the whole damn Dirty Diamonds LP…..we captured da true darkness in da heart of rock n’ roll……..startin’ think ’bout 2014……….we still throwin’ n’ we still showin’…….rock out
hey now…..got togather wit Flo n’ Harry this week, we started t’ put togather some arrangements for 3 new songs……”Me n’ Josey Wales” “Glory” and “Word”……..”Word” is a simple lil’ thang dat almost sounds like it wrote itself, it’s about payin’ back a debt, i think i’m gonna play slide on it……”Glory” is a song i wrote for my mom who passed away at the end of 2012, been playin’ it solo but i’m tryin’ t’ build it up into somethin’ more powerful……..”Me n’ Josey Wales” has da sound n’ feel of a spaghetti western, i got a feelin’ dat it’s gonna be special, haven’t decided what t’ do wit da solo yet but i’m gonna work on dat this week……………National Public Radio’s World Cafe show starring David Dye did a special on Pittsburgh music this week…….Billy Price did the part of da show featuring the older historic past…………he played “Since I Don’t Have You” by Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, “The Rapper” by The Jaggerz…..both national number 1 hits on the Billboard charts……he then spun “Porkology” a rap tune that features legendary Pittsburgh DJ Porky Chedwick backed by The Keystone Rhythm Band……up next was “Love Dog” by yours truly, gotta give huge thanks t’ Billy for including me……Billy Price did me a solid, ain’t gonna forget, you got my word on it……..The Houserockers “Pumpin’ Iron” come up next………it felt very cool to be included in a this national radio broadcast…..got a bunch a emails from ole friends dat heard it…….Christmas is just around da corner……hope ya’ll have a great one……..goin’ down t’ play in da hills a’ West by God Virginia this comin’ weekend………hope t’ see ya’ll at a show sometime soon…..kisses
hey now……winter weather is rearin’ up n’ kickin’ cold wind at us all…..long johns l’ keep yo pins warm…..i’m still highed up from last night’s show at R Bar…….we had a hoot n’a hollar, bet yo bottom dollar dat every man woman and child felt da call a’ da wild right there in lovely downtown Dormont…….have not slept a wink, no coffee did drink, hi on da fumes a’ rhythm n’ rhyme, ya’ll come n’ see my ole a** any time……….Danny Stag come out n’ ripped up a couple numbers wit us as did Jimmy Adler, two completely different styles, two bad a** geetar spankers…….the lady Shari Richards come out t’ celebrate her birthday, we was proud as a ruttin’ buck t’ have her…………gittin’ ready t’ post a few more live basement performances up on facebook…..”Somethin’s Cookin” “Comin’ Home” “Look What You Done” “Wonder”…….all stacked, racked n’ ready to attack…..these tunes were cut the same day as “It Is What It Is” and “The Tree” that are already posted on facebook…..they feature Harry on bass n’ bgv’s along wit Brice on snare…….three men goin’ in……with all da talk ’bout da re-release of Dirty Diamonds on Rock Candy Records i went back n’ started checkin’ out a bunch a’ out takes from da diamond mines…..sh*t like “Dangerous Stranger” wit Frank Czuri wailin’ n’ sailin’ on some tortured rock n’ roll testament………”Roxana”, dat’s a rock n’ roll lady…….”Ball n’ Chain” is just classic, classic rock, all p*ss n’ vinegar……..”High Rollers” takes off like a high steppin’ blue haze chainsaw…….the Diamonds was really somethin’…….Diamonds drummer Rob “Beadman” Johns was one soulful player, his Memphis style feel helped to keep da jams manful, there was always a relaxed dignity to everything da Beadman played, he was a natural……..i harken back t’ Mike’s Valley View……Saturday night would bring out da wild people…..da Diamonds would lead da charge…….we all were a part of some serious magic as the Diamonds stood up to all the naysayers n’ made world class gut bucket original Pittsburgh rock n’ roll that was so moving, so powerful dat we overcame our own crazyness to document an amazing catalogue of music that is more impressive as each year passes……..i wish more folks knew just how dangerous The Diamonds really were……….i’m very lucky, i was there, n’ i know in my soul, just what it feels like t’ part of a miracle……..hope t’ see ya’ll at a show some time
hey now, hope ya’ll had a wonderful Thanksgiving……..we gathered at my sister’s place n’ banged a 25 pound bird, we’re beautiful……..gotta mention our Moondog’s show wit Felix and the Hurricanes, what a wild affair……this lady that was dancin’ in front of the stage, just dropped her drawers n’ kept on dancin’…….ya’ll should a’ seen the looks on peoples faces when her laundry hit the floor, priceless……was so glad t’ see my friend Mayor Joe Sinnott of Erie Pa hangin’ wit da peoples, we called him up on stage n’ he sung the crap outta Van the man’s “Brown Eyed Girl”…….hey, ya never know who your gonna see at a Norman show……..Jim Price, long time Altoona DJ, promoter of live music, n’ all around good guy was also in the house as was Jonye Weber of the Western Pa Blues Society…….Pittsburgh’s own Shari Richards and Memphis Tennessee’s Barb Blue were also hangin’ on da wild side……i wish ya could a’ been there fer that……i got the raw tracks for the live at Square Fair in Lima Ohio this week and it doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to realize our hope of turning it into a live DVD……….wrote an article about the Diamond Reo “Dirty Diamonds” LP that is currently being re-released on Rock Candy Records for Enigmaimage and also posted a photo of the LP cover on facebook which got a lot of positive response………Warren King truly soars with the eagle on this LP…..the “Kingfish” was young n’ strong and had and endless flow of melodies rippin’ from is ax, he was an undiscovered monster, a true rock star, didn’t need no radio station t’ tell people that he was a star, people told HIM that he was a star………..which got me listenin’ to the JJ Burner LP that Fish n’ i did togather just before he passed away…..which made me think about how lucky i’ve been, to rock strong n’ proud wit somebody like WK, King Of The Blues, Warren “Kingfish” King………hey, we just posted up a lil’ lick on facebook of a song i wrote for my ole man, it’s called ‘The Tree” and it has Harry Bottoms playin’ bass n’ singin’ BGV’s wit Brice Foster who also taps out some sparse snare drum……….”I ain’t no better than my daddy was, n’ that’s all right with me, m’ daddy stood tall, never seen him fall n’ not get up off his knees”………..been thinkin’ that next year will be my 50th year playin’ rock n’ roll music……hey, the first couple years were a gas but the last 45 or so have been a real live mutha……..let me entertain you…..hope t’ see yo ass at a show sometime
hank….sorry t’ say, the Akron Tangiers show has been called off till sometime next year…..we too, we’re really lookin’ forward to it….thanks for your interest
hey now, gotta wish ya’ll a wonderful holiday season. i hope everybody gets the chance t’ celebrate with all of their most precious loved ones. i will not forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my simple life this Thursday as me n’ mine lick up some delicious bird…..got t’ see Chizmo Charles the other day n’ all we did was laugh out loud, truth is, we spread that laughter all over da room, ain’t nobody in da joint didn’t have a smile on their mug…….just found out that young geetar slapper Sam Louderback is gonna come t’ town n’ blow a couple tunes wit me n’ da boys on January 17, 2014 at our show at Moondogs, bring it on young buck, somebody got t’ do da heavy liftin’ after we’re dead n’ gone……i had the opportunity to appear before a handful of students at Winchester Thurston School this week, talkin’ about the ins and outs of song writing. John Maione brought myself and Shari Richards in to speak all about two of my favorite things, WORDS and MUSIC……….i’m really lookin’ forward to our show this Friday, November 29 at Moondogs…..Felix and the Hurricanes will be rollin’ into town wit a couple bus loads of serious party people for a full faced, don’t tell mama where i been, major league party…..some guys have all the fun………i’m hopin’ to git started very soon on mixin’ down the basic tracks from our show in Lime Ohio this summer. like John Lennon said all those years ago, “I got a feelin”……..it’s been a while since we’ve released any new material, but, i got a feelin’ dat we just might have da makin’s of a hi-level live DVD dat wants t’ touch everybody in a manful way…..just think, real Pittsburgh rock n’ roll bein’ captured out in da flatlands of Ohio………. hope t’ see ya’ll at show sometime soon
hey now, i just got t’ hear a small sample of the music we recorded live at Square Fair in Lima, Ohio this past August. i also got t’ see some of the video……looks good, sounds good……….i’ll be getting all the raw tapes this week……everything goes well, we’ll have a very cool live 60 minute CD available soon…..tunes like “End Of The Line” “The Devil” “”Friend Of Mine” “Weekend”………a couple tunes that date back to da Diamonds….”Rock n’ Roll City” and “Heat Of The Night”………large thanks go out to our friends Dennis Baker and Ron Frey for makin’ it all happen………..i’ve got an article in the Enigmaimage publication that just came out November 13, it’s all about writing songs……there’s also an interview with my ole bud Ron “Moondog” Esser in this issue……i’ve written a story for next month’s issue about the re-release of Diamond Reo’s classic LP from 1976, Dirty Diamonds…….this recording is considered by many to be one of the top un-discovered hard rock LP’s of all time……just think, four young, crazy, eastside of Pittsburgh musicians cut a world class record that hardly nobody in this town knows even happened……….this was the band that stood up and said, “We ain’t playin’ cover songs no more”……..this was the band that made it safe for the nice people that followed us to play their own music……thing is, we wasn’t the nice people, nice people ain’t got the stones in their pants t’ stand up when the who damn world is smackin’ ya down……Diamond Reo had more than enough stones…….Look for Dirty Diamonds by Diamond Reo on Rock Candy Records outta London England…………spent a couple long days with Brice Foster this week workin’ on putting togather some entertaining Vignettes and Rambles that will be showin’ up on facebook and also right here on this new and exciting website………i’m all fired up about our upcoming wang dang doodle this Thanksgiving weekend with Felix and the Hurricanes at Moondogs…….i hope t’ see ya’ll at a show sometime soon…….
hey now, went to Club Cafe Monday Nov. 4th…..wanted t’ see David Jacobs-Strain, an artist from Eugene Oregon…….got there too late, missed his show but i did get t’ see soundman Denny and my ole friend, harp player Bob Beach, who is touring with David Jacobs-Strain. Mr Beach asked me to come on stage t’play piano for the evening’s closing number, “Your Wife’s Cheatin’ On Us”. Dave Pella was all over some upright bass…………..been workin’ on the song i wrote for my mom, “Glory”……..i’ve also been workin’ on a re-write of the lyrics to “Town With No Name”, i’d like t’ get Whitey Cooper t’ sing dat hunk a meat………..Brice Foster, Harry Bottoms and i recorded rough live versions of six tunes, “It Is What It Is” “The Tree” “Comin’ Home” “Somethin’s Cookin” “Wonder” “Look What You Done”……gonna look at the video this week n’ maybe do some vignette’s or somethin’ wit ’em….also cut some video wit Brice doin’ comedy n’ poetry, well, street poetry……..check here at the website or check us out on Facebook for some new fun stuff comin’ up shortly……..Rock Candy Records is re-releasing Dirty Diamonds, the classic underground master piece that we cut with Diamond Reo back in the late 70’s……it features the late great geetar master Warren King and Frank Czuri the eastside of Pittsburgh vocalist who has it all goin’ on …….i played bass and Rob Johns is on tubs……..this is a high level recording, cut at Jeree Recording in New Brighton and over dubbed and mixed at the Hit Factory in NYC, it features a great version of “Lover Boy” that just grooves so damn deep dat da catfish feels it in his bone……..hope t’ see ya’ll at a show sometime soon
hello tiger fans…I think back to he days of the tigers at the decade and the silencers…and those steamy summer swissvale nights. wow is anybody out there?
hey now, Happy Easter t’ you n’ yours…….hope da Easter bunny don’t git funny wit ya money…….we used t’ have Easter Egg hunts in our back yard over on Woodstock Ave……back when Buster was the dog king of Swissvale in the 90’s, my folks was still alive n’ sister’s kids were young enough t’ run up n’ down the hill side lookin’ for Booty, colored plastic eggs wit chocolate treats inside…….i can still see the joyful looks on my parents faces as they watched the kids, bein’ kids……….hey, this Wednesday evening i’m doin’ a short hit at The Penn Hills Coffee House, Moondogs is ‘pose t’ do a couple tunes wit me, my ole bud Chuck Battey is also on the show, i’m really lookin’ forward t’ watchin’ him work, he’s a natural……. we’re doin’ a show this Saturday night at The Map Room in Regent Square 9:00 start to da madness of his royal badness……..gonna be a revival right their in da Square…..we will be touchin’ peoples………hey, have ya been lovin’ this sping weather?…..i been goin’ out in da yard, over da hill n’ just gittin’ my ole ass dirty…….i love playin’ in da yard, think it’s da ginny in my garlic eatin’ blood…….can’t stop da wop………..hey, spent some time this week with film maker Frank Ferraro, we hung at his studio in Regent Square n’ talked about some possible projects…….ya never know just what we might come up wit…….how do you spell potential?…………hey, got Vinny Q’s narrow ass in da studio this week n’ did some vicious geetar on “The Devil”……ya, we hacked n’ we wacked till we set da table wit some 6 strang thang dat did da trick, strong……..i spent all day Saturday cuttin’ guitar on Monongahela Ave, Swissvale PA in da studio wit Darrell Rodgers engineerin’ da festivities………..did lead work on “The Devil” dat is just ’bout as nasty as can be……i might have t’ go t’ hell, just cause i played it…….also did a rhythm guitar on “Me n’ Josey Wales”………i been really enjoyin’ cuttin’ again……it’s been a couple years since i’ve gone in da studio face first, i forgot how much fun it is t’ work……..hey, why don’t ya’ll come out n’ see me some time?
hey now, played Moondogs last night n’ Billy Price come out t’ hang……Billy got up n’ sang a couple tunes wit us n’ just did his thing……got me thinkin’ ’bout the Rhythm Kings back in da early 70’s……i remember hangin’out at the Fox Cafe on Walnut St in Shadyside n’ watchin’ the Kings teach all the white people ’bout soul music……i remember a black dude, i think his name was Ruben, would sing wit the Kings sometimes, a white girl name a’ Debbi Asbury also sang at those jams, Kenny Blake would be there, Martin Soloman was another singer dat hung……..saw Roy Buchanan jam wit the Kings at the Crazy Quilt in Market Square…….folks don’t seem t’ remember just how influential the Rhythm Kings were in this town……soul music was universal and a ton a’ folks in my generation were touched by the phenomenon dat was the RHYTHM KINGS……….remember hearin’ Billy Price singin’ Al Green tunes, Otis Clay tunes, how ’bout “If Lovin’ You Is Wrong”, “Let The Four Winds Blow”…..hell yes, we was all highed up on some soul music…….while were on da subject a’ soul music, i gotta tell ya’ll dat i been tunin’ in to new AM radio station ZOOM 1550 on your AM dial, these folks is throwin’ down all dat junk from da 70’s stuff like “Backfield In Motion” “Who’s That Lady” “What’s Goin’ On” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”………..hey, brought my Korg piano t’ last night’s MOONDOGS show, first time dat i done somethin’ like dat since the early 70’s when i was playin’ wit Borrowed Time……..Larry Siefers our keyboard player, was off in Europe somewhere n’ i been playin’ keys at home alot so i figgered dat i’d give it a shot……did “The Tree” “Wonder” “Minimum Wage” “Fire Fighter”…………….hey , i’m plannin’ on gittin’ into da studio this week t’ do some overdub guitars for “Me n’ Josey Wales” “The Horse Your Riding” “The Devil”……can’t wait t’ start stackin’ some tracks for these tunes…..hopin’ t’ jump back in the following week t’ cut some more rhythm tracks………don’t be afraid t’ respond t’ these blogs, if ya wanna type somethin’ in, just do it………..hope t’ bump into ya at a show………
hey now, had a blast at Pam Bryan’s place last Monday night doin’ a sneak attack happy birthday song for Maria Maria, also enjoyed doin’ a few solo acoustic tunes out in the beautiful party room……did “The Horse Your Riding” “The Morning After” “Me n’ Josey Wales”……had Jill Simmons n’ Andrea Pearle join in on BG vocals for “You Go Your Way”…….make me think ’bout all the amazing party nights spent at Pam’s place over da years……Grubby, WK, Bird………..how ’bout the party in Pam’s back yard when we played acoustic, out under the apple tree……she was worried all night dat an apple was gonna fall on some ones head……………hey,Tuesday was our first of five, JERGELS bike nights……….Shari Richards showed up n’ did a couple, “New Blood” “You Go Your Way”, damn she sounded good……sent da last tune out t’ young Paulie, who’s been on da mend, hit ’em wit a delicious take a’ “Nothing To Lose”…….got a feelin’ dat we’re gonna have some huge Tuesdays this summer at JERGELS…………this Saturday, April 12, we gonna be raisin’ da roof at MOONDOGS in Blawnox……our recent MOONDOGS shows have all been outstanding……heard a rumor dat the Mayor of Erie PA, the gentleman Joe Sinnott just might show up n’ sing a tune wit da uncrowned king…….9:00 start this Saturday at Pittsburgh’s long time, real music hot house, MOONDOGS……….hey, i spent most a’ this week at the ole Monongahela Studio, cookin’ up some brand new lick, da good kind, da kind dat l’ snap yer girddle…….hell to da yes, been sloppin’ in da mess……hour after hour after hour…..like in da ole days…..buildin’ from da ground up, just like i hear it in my head…….what could be more fun than birthin’ beauty?……..had Darrell Rodgers engineerin’, bringin’ some a’ dat Robert Casper back bone to da eastside…….i beat da hell outta my dear friend Brice Foster on tubs……we worked very hard t’ catch somethin’ dat we both used all dat we had t’ build………giant cinematic drums tracks dat l’ support da weight…….we then brought in Mr Harry Bottoms t’ lay da bass in place……………..Harry, Brice n’ Darrell all showed some manful ways……..we cooked three filet’s……….”The Devil” “Me n’ Josey Wales” “The Horse Your Riding”…………so, we got somethin’ started dat is just delightful……i’ll keep ya posted on da progress………..gotta shout, if ya ain’t been out, what’s dat about?………….come see about me….
hey now…………tomorrow da Bucs open up da season against, “da Cubs”……………..Barry Bonds is comin’ t’ town as part of the celebration…….makes me think of Nason, Nason was hangin’ out wit Barry Bonds back in the early 90’s…….maybe, Barry’s wife or girl friend was a singer n’ Nas was recording the sessions…….i think, at Alpha Star studio in McKeesport…….i miss Nason, he was truly one of a kind ……..hey, i’m all jacked up ’bout JERGELS this Tuesday, April 1………bring yo fine self to this wang dang doodle……we’ll be blowin’ all the real pittsburgh rock n’ roll from da bottom of our soul………Harry gonna be layin’ pavement, Flo gonna make a statement, Vinny be rockin’ raw n’ lean, Larry be honkin’ horn n’ tinklin’ keys……..i’ll be talkin’ loud n’ sayin’ nothin’……..Tuesday 8-11 at JERGELS, bike night…………hey, took a trip, t’ Aliquip……..me n’ da lady Shari went out to Joe Monroe’s studio t’ have a slap happy hell of a’ good time, makin’ music………Joe is a delight t’ hang wit……met Joe’s bud, guy name a’ Wayne………heard a song Wayne wrote n’ sang n’ Joe produced dat was very cool…….cut four tunes for da Lady……..we did a low slow take a’ “Minimum Wage”, hit a mid tempo groovelicious patch wit “New Blood”, lowered da key a whole step n’ come clean down t’ stark naked romance wit “Three Times Your Fool”………we then, as i tried to explain t’ Wayne, attempted to achieve all that is possible wit a true 70’s style rock epic such as “Rich Kid”……..we just got these tunes started so, we’ll just see, but i gotta say, “i’m chubbin”…………….hey, dug into a session we did two years ago at da Mononghela Studio……….Dave Erny engineered n’ cut t’ 2 inch tape…….WOW……Harry Bottoms on bass, Brice Foster played tubs on this collection of 11 gems…….tunes like “The Blues Come Blowin’ In” “It Is What It Is” “Corn Bread” “America’s Son” “Pittsburgh PA”………plus 6 more hunks a raw meat just waitin’ t’ be tenderized…………….went into da Monongahela studio this week wit Brice n’ engineer Darrell Rodgers n’ started t’ git some sounds…….Darrell studied under the legendary engineer Robert Casper…………looks like we’re gonna cut “The Devil” “Me n’ Josey Wales” and a song i wrote ’bout ten years ago called “The Horse Your Ridin” that’s about my status in the Evil Empire………….write it, n’ they will come, record it, n’ they will come……….it’s been a while since i got in da recordin’ state a’ mind……i’m headin’ in that direction……..giga d’ giga d’ do, wanna rock wit you………….come on out n’ say, “hey now”
how much is jergels tomorrow.?!?!?!
hey now…………it’s nice out…….think i’ll leave it out……..hope your troubles are few n’ your blessin’s are huge………got a late date call on the “Fire Fighter” song that i’d written for the video to be used at The National Fire Fighter’s Convention next month. Turns out, that the Chief in charge said that he couldn’t use the tune because it didn’t reference female fire fighter’s………i said, “ain’t no problem”………so now our fire fighter has a daughter, instead of a son to follow in his footsteps……..da worlds a’ changin’, we all gotta change wit it, if we can……………me n’ the guys are gittin’ excited ’bout our upcoming April 1 date at Jergels, got a feelin’ dat we’re gonna have some large fun out in da north country…….they need us, they just don’t know it yet……..wrote a new essay this week called, The Caves, it’s about a time, back in ’69, when all the young long hair dopers would gather in the Oakmont caves n’ trip da night away………got the chance, with Skibo goin’ outta town, t’ work wit ole bud Mike Hayson, Mike engineered the first two Diamond Reo LP’s…..we spent a lotta time workin’ together at Fox Studio back in da 70’s……….. had an epic show at Moon Dogs Saturday night…….makin’ sleezy, look easy……..all night long…..rappin’ ’bout my pork chop eatin’ uncle Riley…….twerkin’ just like Miley…….runnin’ away from home, way back before cell phones…..kissin’ dogs on the lips n’ white trash fashion tips……..we don’t just play the best rock n’ roll in all these parts ………..we say what we wanna say, play what we wanna play, n’ at da end a’ da day, hell, we havin’ so much fun, we’d give it away………..let me blow my own horn, fer a minute……….hey now, me n’ my band…..Harry, Vinny, Larry, n’ Flo, have been killin’ it…our shows have been major up lifting experience’s………it reminds me our a time gone by, when folks would sit transfixed on the great iconic rock bands of yesteryear………….did “New Blood” wit Larry smokin’ da golden goose on da way out………..”Josey Wales” is findin’ higher ground everytime we play it, the cinematic sound is startin’ to relax n’ find it’s own confidence……MANFUL……..tried t’ talk a’ lil’ about my Evil Empire Rants on stage at Moon Dogs n’ just started playin’ a song i wrote about 10 years ago, “The Horse Your Ridin”……..played it real soft, by myself, at first………….the lyrics tell my true feelin’ about the Minons n’ the Empire……….folks seemed t’ git da point……….we gonna keep on walkin’ da walk, talkin’ da talk……..hey maybe i’ll see ya……if yer lookin’ t’ rock……….nn
hey now……..hope yer all doin’ well n’ stayin’ away from da gates of hell…….had a blast openin’ the show for young buck, Anthony Gomes at Moondogs……the kid got on old soul……..n’ a great singin’ voice t’ go wit it………also really enjoyed playin’ “I Hate A Nickel” wit Anthony’s rhythm section, Fred on tubs n’ Theodore on bass…………..just got a string a’ dates at Jergels booked……Tuesday bike nites startin’ April 1, every six weeks we’ll be back at it all summer long……..look forward t’ bringin’ our eastside sound out to da north country………….comin’ back t’ Greensburg this Friday March 21 at Jamison’s……..i’ll git t’ see Derron, which will start me thinkin’ ’bout Doug from da ole Eldorado out on Rt 30……….Saturday March 22 we will be in the Dog House…..Moondogs is da place i’ll be showin’ m’ face, Saturday nite………check the calendar for details………been workin’ on new tune “Fire Fighter”, gittin’ ready t’ finish up a solo take of it………it’s gonna be part of a video presentation for a National Fire Fighters Convention………still gittin’ used to the new Facebook Band Page, we will be very active in tryin’ to keep it entertaining as we learn more about how it works……i’ve been writin’ short essays and am startin’ t’ think about postin’ up my rendered writin’s……….i’ve got one called “hot dog” that explains how every beautiful woman is like a hot dog sizzlin’ on da grill, one ’bout “12 grade music theory n’ harmony class”, one ’bout “7th Grade”, got one ’bout my ole band from 1968, “Moon”……………sometime soon gonna be lettin’ all that loose……….been startin’ t’ think ’bout makin’ a new LP, ain’t sure, but i got a feelin’ dat somethin’ gotta give, somethin’ gotta give, somethin’ gotta give……….got all this music….new, old, in between…..years n’ years a’ songs dat need t’ be presented in a most delightful way…………if someone was t’ axe me, “Norman, are ya gonna make a fresh new collection a’ tunes all wrapped up together in what folks used t’ call an album?”…….i’d have t’ say…..”i reckon so”…………….please come to our Facebook page n’ let your presence be known, we’re tryin’ t’ develop a relationship wit people……see ya at a gig, sometime soon…….nn
hey now….spring is da thing n’ she’s a’ comin’ quick………bookin’ dates for the summer…….May 3 at a very cool venue in downtown Altoona called the Church in the Middle of the Block……..just hooked up June 28 at Johnstowns Thunder in the Valley……..been talkin’ t’ Moondog about some very cool idea’s for this years Pittsburgh Blues Festival show……we just did our first show at The Map Room in Regent Square, had a blast n’ look forward to some more shows at this eastside watering hole……….been workin’ on BG vocals for new tune “Me n’ Josey Wales”…..also wrote new BG vocals for “Cornbread”, so both of those tunes will be gittin’ a face lift in the next few weeks…………..i just read thru all my crazy rants from my January 2014 rampage………i’m loony……..i spent over 20 hours writing two completely different essay’s that attempted to sum up all that i said in my rants, i never posted either of those essay’s up………….
The Evil Empire Rant Collection Jan. 25 – Jan. 29., 2014
Norman Nardini
January 25
The Evil Empire
I know it sounds crazy, but i believe that i’ve finally found the way to penetrate the Evil Empire. Great news, huh? It ain’t easy, but it can be done if ya got the stomach for it. First, ya gotta go to Evil Empire headquarters with your head down. Don’t bother showing up if ya ain’t got your head down. I heard that it’s very important to look at the ground when ya get there. Then ya gotta find the Liver Lipped Troll, you’ll know him when ya see him, he’s the guy that looks like he’s never seen a grown woman naked in his entire life. Then ya gotta throw yourself at the mercy of the Troll. Then, ya gotta put your hand over your heart and recite the pledge. I ain’t totally sure of every word in the pledge but i think it goes somethin’ like this…..
I do solemnly swear that i pledge my allegiance to this Evil Empire and i promise to never even consider making any music that has soul.
I promise to clear my head of any impure thoughts.
I promise to never look anyone directly in the eye.
I promise to never speak my mind.
I promise to never stand on my own two feet.
I promise to never lift a finger to help another musician no matter how deserving that musician might be.
I promise to never have an original thought. Don’t worry ’bout this too much ’cause i’m not sure if anyone who’s ever had an original thought has gotten this far into the pledge.
I promise to believe that all Pittsburgh Allstars are free of sin.
I promise to believe in the power of TV Jesus.
I promise to drive to the designated studio, that ain’t even in Pennsylvania, and spend some money when i decide to record my rootless soul free music. I ain’t sure ’bout this part but i think ya almost gotta go there to meet a guy, he’s the one who does most all of the Liver Lipped Trolls dirty business. But don’t worry ’bout that guy, I heard he goes t’ church every sunday and i’ll bet ya he throws some a’ the money ya gotta give him into the basket.
I promise to never work at improving my skills.
I promise to believe that the Jingling Janglers are the best band, hands down, that ever took a crap in these hills.
I promise to believe that the Evil Empire has never profited by providing the Janglers more airplay than any slap happy trivial pop band has ever received since the beginning of time.
I promise to believe that the original music scene in this town began when the Janglers jumped in bed with the Evil Empire.
I promise to believe that the front man of the Janglers CAN tap his foot in time to the music.
I promise to believe the drummer of the Janglers can maintain a steady beat.
I promise to believe that Pittsburg’s own Bruce Springsteen tribute person is a nice person.
I promise to attach any and all of the respect that the real Bruce Springsteen has honestly earned to Pittsburgh’s own Bruce Springsteen Tribute Person.
I promise to believe that the Christmas singer is pure of heart.
I promise to believe the Christmas singer was born in a manger.
I promise to believe that the Evil Empire has done us all a great service by playing the same song list they played 30 years ago. We don’t need to hear any deeper album cuts, after all, i’m sure we don’t have the capacity to process all those songs.
I promise to believe that a closed society is a good society.
I promise to believe that the Evil Empire has done this city a great service by deciding who’s in and who’s out. I’m sure their very concerned about the best interest’s of one and all.
I promise to never ask the question, “who’s behind the curtain pulling the strings”?
I promise to believe every word the Liver Lipped Troll says.
I promise to believe that the Liver Lipped Trolls knows everything there is to know about rock n’ roll.
I promise to believe that the Troll has fairly and honestly earned the right to dangle the keys to radio air play heaven in front of anyone who ever tried to lift him or her self up from the doldrums of nothingness.
I promise to believe that real live Pittsburgh rock n’ roll does not exist.
The last and most important part of the pledge is simple, I promise to never take anything the Uncrowned King says seriously.
Norman Nardini
January 26
hey ya’ll……been a long long time since MY name been mumbled up on Greentree hill …..but i got a feelin’ dat there just might be a couple Italians dat hide behind da curtain gonna be doin’ some cussin’ n’ fussin’ ’bout da uncrowned king monday mornin’……ya’ll should a’ thrown me a bone every three or four years……i’d been glad t’ lick da crumbs off da floor if ya would a’ let me……but, nooooooo……..ya shouldnt’ a’ took more than ya gave gentleman…..hey, somebody call a plumber,my sh*ts in da street
Norman Nardini
January 27
captain’s log…….saturday January 18 the day after an amazing show at da dog house i came down wit dis vicious throat and sinus infection…….for the seven days dat followed i barely slept n’ i hardly ate a thing……saturday January 25 my fever continued to fester inside me and i started t’ think crazy comical thoughts, ain’t sure exactly what made me do it, but i typed those thoughts out, i then found da nerve to post those comedic thoughts, even though i new that once i posted those thoughts i could never take them back, i must be outta my mind….right?……but i’ve made mistakes before and i’ve been man enough to live wit da consequences of those mistakes…..this is where da fun starts……turns out dat lots a’ folks read my renderings and da world don’t stop turning da sky don’t fall and life keeps goin’ on and on and on…….wow…..i was preparing to be hung by my thumbs in da parkin’ lot of Evil Empire headquarters…..i figgered dat everybody would see me hangin’ there on their way t’ work monday morning……cause after all, ain’t no man or beast should ever say da truth ’bout da Empire…..it’s long been understood dat da Empire is untouchable…….sunday January 26…..dis here crazy ole greeze ball shows up at some medical out post in Monroeville to receive treatment for my ills…..a kind person asked me, what are your symptoms sir?….i told her i got a sore throat and sinus problems, but i really came out here cause i been actin’ crazy, i mean real crazy……she said what a’ ya mean, crazy?…..i told her dat i’d been doin’ stuff like standin’ up for myself n’ sayin’ da truth n’ pissin’ into da wind……she looked at me wit dis very concerned look on her face n’ said “oh my God, you really do need medical attention”…….she came back a short while later with some pills dat she said would kill da terribly powerful germs inside me dat has caused me to act this way…….i thanked her and drug my ole a** home…….monday January 27 i awoke all stinkin’ n’ sweaty from a nightmare dat took me back to a day in da in da late 1980’s when i ran into da Liver Lipped Troll down in Oakland……i was somewhere between The Decade and da dirty O when i saw da Troll….i vividly remember tellin’ da Troll dat i’d been listenin’ to a lot of new country music, folks like Lyle Lovett n’ Steve Earle….i’ll never forget da look of horror on da Trolls face, in fact i saw that look again in my nightmare and i screamed out loud as i awoke in horror this morning……i’d forgotten that ’bout that day in Oakland until my terrible dream last night, but it’s all comin’ back t’ me now………i wanna stop doin’ what i been doin’, but i can’t…..i’m hopin’ dat these pills i’m supposed t’ take will wipe out the powerful infection coursin’ thru my veins for close t’ two weeks now that caused me to do da terrible things i’ve done……….pray for me, i need help and lots of it…..i wanna stop, but i can’t….i need help…….before i crawl back in my hole i got one question i need t’ ask the Evil Empire and their sniveling minnions…….ARE WE HAVIN’ FUN YET??????????
Norman Nardini
January 27
somebody said….hey manful hanful, why now?…..thought ’bout it fer a minute n’ realized i ain’t sure why………..then i thought ’bout dat ole sailor name a’ Popeye……he’s da guy dat said, “i’ve had all i can stands and i can’t stands no more”……….hey i don’t know nothin’, maybe i smoked some bad spinach….
Norman Nardini
January 27
i’m starting realize just how easy it is t’ have honest t’ goodness fun wit da Empire and da snivelers……and and it ain’t even 48 hours since i spoke da ugly truth….been gittin’ lots a’ inside info from confidential informers dat got real tired a’ withholdin’ information…….i’ve learned dat Pittrsburgh’s own Bruce Springsteen Person got a new recording comin’ out, heard dat luckily he didn’t have much t’ do wit da process, heard dat him n’ Tricky spent most a da time in da studio lounge watching da comedy film “A Good Life” over and over and over again while an under paid intern computer operator did da heavy liftin’….heard dat both of ’em believe every word spoken in that hilarious film……i’ve got inside info dat leads me to believe dat Pittsburh’s own Bruce Springsteen person don’t pay his band very much or very often, and when he does pay ’em, he don’t pay ’em in green back American dollars, he pays ’em in Grasheckles……i been informed dat da last time da Christmas singer was seen without dat phoney smile on his face, Ike was in office…..i heard dat one time, back in da 90’s, da Jingling Janglers found da groove, although they lost it by da second verse……..i heard dat da Liver Lipped Troll was sighted this mornin’ draggin’ his knuckes across da Evil Empire Headquarters parkin’ lot wit dis wild look in his eyes…..heard dat he’s real pissed off at somebody because they had da balls in their shorts t’ try n’ pull back da curtain…….. see what i mean? it’s easy
Norman Nardini
January 27
an open love letter to the Evil Empire……hey guys hope your all doin’ well……how you like me now? i know you didn’t like me before. I wanted to take the time to thank you for EVERYTHING that you’ve done for me, my music, and the entire original music scene in general. You guys have been great….It’s been a real honor workin so closely with……hey, i know ya’ll got a sports talk guy workin’ in your system (you know da guy i’m talkin’ ’bout, the guy whose IQ walks into the room before he does} that ya pay good money to t’ say rotten things about our beloved football hero Jerome Bettis and the iconic Pittsburgh Pirate Willy Stargell, who by the way passed on years ago…..so i’m sure ya know what’s goin’ on here…..just a crazy clown lookin’ for a circus…..by the way,my MY IQ doesn’t walk into the room till after I’VE left the building……don’t hate the play’a gentlemen…..hate the game……hey, by the way, maybe we could meet, at a romantic spot on Walnut Street……..you know, talk about all da good times we’ve shared together…..when ya get there you’ll know me when ya see me, i’ll be raisin’ a glass n’ smackin’ my own ass……hugs n’ kisses n’ a sink full a’ dirty dishes…….the Uncrowned King
Norman Nardini
January 28
ya’ll might think dat i’m a fool, but i spent da day takin’ folks t’ school, now it’s time t’ wipe off da drool, before i crawl back in my hole
Norman Nardini
January 28 near Pittsburgh, PA
OH MY GOD….my life is fallin’ to pieces……i awoke this morning, for da second da in a row, screamin’ at da top of my voice….i saw a horrible vision in my nightmare…..a dear friend sent me a clip of last weeks rock n’ roll hall of fame induction at the hard rock and i made a huge mistake by watchin’ right before i went t’ bed….i saw a half hearted effort put on by these semi musical minnions…..hey guys, here’s a lil’ tip i offer you all, do as our beloved Pittsburgh Stiller’s do after ever game…..WATCH THE GAME TAPE……if any of yinz really cared about the music, yinz would have shown some growth from previous half a**ed shows that you’ve done as the Evil Empire’s Pittsburgh Lack Of Soul Allstars…..perhaps yinz should consider watchin’ the Game Tape after your shows with your own tired bands…..we ain’t no music city, we’re a sports town….there’s a thing called accountability, ever heard of it, it’s somethin’ dat Big Ben has t’ deal wit, it’s somethin dat Mike Tomlin has t’ deal wit, Clint Hurdle, Sid da Kid, da Flower….they all gotta deal with it….it makes ya a better person….let me say da word again for ya…………. ACCOUNTABILITY……simply put, it’s somethin’ dat looks good on a man……ya’ll outta try it some time…..as i watched the game tape of last thursdays show i felt da tears wellin’ up in my eyes…it was as if someone, something, some…some evil power had sucked all da soul outta these hollow men….i wanted to tell da minnions to stop hidin’ behind da same ole tired a** songs….here’s another lil’ tip i offer….hey guys, it’s not a good idea t’ play a tune if ya aren’t prepared t’ play it well…..it not a sin to admit that your not prepared, it’s a sin t’ git out there n’ make yourself look bad…..who is givin’ you guys advice?…..i ain’t got all da answers, but i do got a few…….gentlemen please try to appear as if you’ve grown better at this craft somewhat in the past 30 years……what your offering ain’t funny…you want funny, ya gotta call an idiot like me….i’ll show ya funny……..truth is, i could also teach ya how t’ improve your skills as a music maker…..i been hopin’ that you’d give me a call…..but that call has never come…..so now i offer my advice from da sideline….ya’ll never let me git in da game…..what yer doin’ ain’t makin’ nobody look good, it’s sad….the video that i saw is proof dat da Evil Empire’s Lack Of Soul Allstars are a tired delusional bunch….i saw Pittsburgh’s own Bruce Springsteen person wit dat familiar deer in da heads light look on his face….he struggled to appear as if he’s picked up his ax since his last half hearted gig…..i saw fear in the eyes of the front person of the Jingling Janglers, how could a man who’s received so much support have so little to offer….it’s like i’m in dis bizzaro world and i’m da only one dat can see what’s really happenin’ here…..i feel so all alone……back to my nightmare, as my brain was playin’ back the GAME TAPE in my sleep….the image freezed framed on a close up of the Christmas Singers face……some evil force had applied da exact same make up dat Tami Faye Baker made famous, back in day, to the face of the Christmas Singer……i awoke SCREAMING…..i’ll never git dat image out my mind….why must these men keep hidin’ behind da same tired material……have they nothin’ else to offer?…..are they followin’ da lead of da Evil Empire who ain’t changed THEIR play list since da hogs ate Grandma?……it’s a bizarro world……
Norman Nardini
January 28
bless me father for i have sinned…..i’ve spoken the ugly truth, i’ve failed to be the bigger stronger man that would have taken this story to the grave……..for this i AM sorry…….lots a’ folks have private messaged askin’ , “why you mad at da Janglers”?……….i ain’t mad at ’em, i’m dissapointed……..on January 15, 1990 an employee of da Evil Empire (KL) was stayin’ over night at my shack on Woodstock Ave in da Vale…..we stayed up late jammin’ wit some tunes n’ bull crappin’……toward da end of da evening i started to git heated up as i told this gentleman how important i believed it be for da Empire to include dis fresh n’ up n’ comin’ act on their new compilation CD…..my dear friend, who we’ll call Bull Balls, engineered da recording…..i didn’t believe this act was truly competitive but i felt very strongly that they deserverd da shot to become a competitive act….i was speakin’ of da Jingling Janglers…..by evenings end i was screamin’ in this guys face……shoutin’ out that new blood, new life, new sperm was necessary for any original music scene to grow…….i shouted, “please put these kids on on da radio”……..(KL) couldn’t believe dat i was arrogant enough to scream in his face……..lookin’ back now, i couldn’t be more proud of what i did that evening……i didn’t know da Janglers at da time…..and i don’t know da Janglers to this day…..did a few hours in da studio wit da geetar player, who, by the way plays very well…..did an acoustic show wit da front person, but i don’t really know any of ’em…….and they don’t know me…….i’ve never spoken wit da Janglers about what happened that evening………and as i sit in da middle of this shit storm i’ve created in da past few days, i wonder, have da Janglers ever stood up for anyone or anything dat benefits da scene more than it benefits da Jingling Janglers?…….i only have to look at da shape our original music scene is in today to git an answer to that question…..i’ve never spoken to (KL) again from da time i climbed da stairs t’ lay my ass down that night January 15, 1990……(KL) slept on da couch and left my home before i got up………….da Janglers have made a point to never EVER include any influence of blues or rhythm n’ blues in their music…….i think it’s important to point that out……..this is PITTSBUGH………PITTSBURGH da shot n’ a beer capital of these Pennsyltucky hills……when did we loose our roots….how could a band dat refuses to include soulful influence in their music receive so much support from da Evil Empire……somethin’ smells bad t’ me……….it just smells bad……..who speaking for da hard workin’ men n’ women in this town dat need some Stevie Ray flava, some Duane flava, some Bonnie flava, some Derrick n’ Susan flava, some Steve Earle flava, some Jimi flava, some Carlos flava, some Muddy n’ some Buddy some BB and some Hooker some Mick n’ some Tina, damn she’s still a looker…..and on and on and on…….there’s lottsa folks in these hills da love dem some Jingling Janglers…….more power to ’em…..but, by all da power invested in you, Evil Empire, give us back our roots, PLEASE give us back our roots……tree can’t grow, if it got no roots
Norman Nardini
January 29
WHAT’S WRONG WITH NORMAN?….da fit hit da shan n’ now everybody wanna know………..WHAT’S WRONG WITH NORMAN?……my phone ain’t hardly rung in three or four days…..folks is afraid t’ call my house……..somethin’ been wrong wit NORMAN all along……the question shouldn’t be WHAT’S WRONG WITH NORMAN?….it should be WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?…..i just wanna have a voice in my home town…..i’ve haven’t been allowed to compete on a musical level, so now i’m tryin’ to find a voice on a comedic level……what’ wrong wit dat……da Evil Empire has offered comedy every morning for decades…..they poke fun at anything and everything, and our city has embraced this comedic format…….i’m tryin’ to use the comedic skills i’ve developed while i been swimmin’ ’round on da bottom of da tank for the last 25 years…..i’m tryin’ to use the skills that i’ve developed as a writer…..is it a mortal sin t’ make fun of da Evil Empire and their minnions?……..i’ve played by THEIR rules all this time…….i’m tryin’ to create a new way to compete…..am i the A hole here?……WHY IS NORMAN LASHING OUT NOW?…..does it have somethin’ t’ do wit last thursday’s rock n’ roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony?……gotta say, not at all…..hey guys, i’d like to apologize ’bout da timing of my public mental breakdown……i never intended to take da shine off somebody else’s star….my crack up had nothin’ to do with that event…..truth is, i had no control what so ever in regard to the timin’ of my actions…..i had a high fever, started writin’ what i thought was a comical piece that i called the EVIL EMPIRE…..and i couldn’t stop myself from posting it up…..it might not seem like it, but i put a lotta work into that little jem……i don’t feel that i’m lashing out at all……i just tryin’ t’ make ya laugh……and i’m tryin’ get my piece of da original music scene……think about this, if who i am, is someone that is so invisible that i ain’t got called t’ play on any Evil Empire shows, (except one at South Park, n’ there’s a great story that goes along wit dat whole mess), in 25 years how can what i say even matter, if i ain’t earned da right t’ say…….i think the last time i was allowed on the Evil Empire friday mornin’ love fest was in da 80’s……how stupid do i have to be to believe dat i’m not being black balled by da Evil Empire……..that’s what makes my Evil Empire rant so funny……they don’t even know how obvious their being about my unfair treatment, that’s how pompous they are……that……is FUNNY……got a feelin’ dat folks is gonna be back trackin’ n’ shoutin’ out ’bout all that they’ve done t’ try n’ lift this piece a’ white trash up off da bottom of da tank……folks is gonna be sayin’ dat i’m my own worst enemy… i suggest dat you believe every word of dat kind a’ talk…….but please remember dat the Minnions have had over 20 years t’ stand togather against da Evil Empire in my defense…..OVER TWENTY YEARS…..i’ve remained, a do right man……it’s easy t’ say, he’s crazy, been crazy all along……and it’s easy t’ SAY, “I’VE tried t’ help”……hey, if ya been suckin’ on da nipple of da Evil Empire for 20 plus years it’s gotta be a real shock when some loser swims up from da bottom of da tank n’ starts t’ rock yer love boat……i welcome da Evil Empire and their minnions to use this format to air out their take on this whole mess…..honestly, it feels good t’ know that they’ve been forced t’ say my name…….WHAT’S MY NAME?…….hey man, i’m just tryin’ t’ git in da game……i’m sure you’ve all noticed dat i ain’t spoke of King Cool, got no problem wit King Kool, he’s always looked me in da eye and showed respect…nuf, said…….gotta say dat i idolize Mr Frank Czuri, he’s da rock dat Pittsburg rock n’ roll was built on all those years ago….he’s still someone i admire, n’ McKeag, he held da door open n’ welcomed me into da club…..ain’t sure if i ever really thanked him proper……gotta mention da Beadman, da Fish, n’ da Byrd….we was da eastsider’s………we changed da game in this town, please don’t forget it…….now i’m tryin’ t’ change da game again…….fer all these years, ya’ll been mess’ wit my bank……now i’m swimmin’ up from da bottom of da tank…..ya’ll keep yer good eye on me
Norman Nardini
January 29
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT NORMAN IS RIGHT about any of the crazy things he’s been sayin’ for da past three days?…the answer to that question would have to be, probably not……because if norman is right about any of this, the rest of us would have to come to the same conclusion……wouldn’t we?……and that conclusion would be hard t’ face….wouldn’t it?…….is it possible that the sniveling minnions have gone along, to get along, for so long, that they can’t even imagine their own passive aggressive participation in this black balling by simply turnin’ their heads all these years…..Nope, that’s not even possible is it?……i became addicted to the thrill of receiving attention the moment i stuck da needle in my arm….now i can’t stop….i wanna stop, but i can’t…..i’m a junkie…….i know that those in power and their minnions will find a way t’ knock me off my high horse…….but until that moment comes, and there ain’t no doubt in my mind, that moment will come sooner rather than latter, I SOAR WITH THE EAGLE…..my head above the clouds lookin’ down on one and all…….i pray that i can find da strength of will to stop………..when i opened up this can of worms i was on the bottom of the tank, i didn’t have far to fall, but now i’m up so high above it all that i can see how far that i have to fall to git all the way back into my stinkin’ hole…..so let ’em talk n’ say what they will, been along time since they’ve mentioned this man whose so ill……but, at this fleeting moment i’m high as a loone and i’m howlin’ at da moon….although know my demise will come soon…..said the uncrowned king with a tear in his eye……hey, before i go, i gotta ask, anybody notice how much i’ve learned about how hard it is for folks today t’ look away for a train wreck?……
Norman Nardini
January 29 near Pittsburgh, PA
hey guys…..it’s 1:15 tuesday afternoon and i’ve just received horrific news that a young man (Paulie) who i’ve gotten to know this past year has become very ill…..this beautiful kid is fightin’ for his life right now…….i need t’ shut up about my trival problems at this time….hey, it’s been a blast shootin’ my big mouth off, but when somethin’ like this happens it makes ya realize what really matters……….maybe we’ll git back t’ this soap opera some time……but fer now, i wanna stop talkin’ n’ count the blessing that i have in my life…….please say a prayer for a great kid dat’s strugglin’ to hang on t’ life itself…….tears…….
hey now……..OK, we’re off n’ runnin thru 2014 already……time IS marchin’ on n’ we’re marchin’ right in time wit time……knowin’ dat , long as we been ’round, we runnin’ outta time……..got the boys togather this week t’ work on some tuneage……..got “Word” stream lined a bit, worked on “Glory” but we still ain’t found da perfect approach, we’ll keep at it……..put some time into “Me n’ Josey Wales” n’ started to establish some things, but this song needs to be loved and i don’t wanna short change dis manful hunk a’ meat …….gotta show respect,what, are we animals?…..ain’t nothin’ more fun than takin’ a hunk a’ music n’ twist n’ turnin’ it into somethin’ beautiful……now that’s always been my idea of a GOOD TIME……..got a broken song?….bet i could fix it……….played a solo piano take of “Town With No Name” at our Jan 11 show, also did “Fire Fighter” for the first time………….startin’ t’ book shows for gig season this year, lookin’ fer work…….speakin’ a’ gigs, i would love t’ see yo fine self at a show sometime soon, come on out……i wanna touch you……
hey now………Happy New year to ya, here’s hopin’ life don’t screw ya……2014 is upon us n’ i’m thinkin’ back t’ 1964 when i got started playin rock n’ roll……..so many gigs, so many laughs, so many songs, too many to remember but i’m sure that it all added up t’ somethin’ beautiful…….50 years, still learnin’ and still burnin’……can’t recall ALL the buddie’s we’ve lost along the way…….guy’s like Glenn Pavone, Warren King, Rob Johns, Bird Foster, Nason Gieg, Paul Shook, Gary “Guitar Slim” Scalese, Jimmy King, Bobby Boyer….on and on and on…..damn we lost some good ones……make me feel lucky t’ still be on the planet, maybe i can represent for all boys we lost along the road……gonna do my best, you can take dat to da bank……..been thinkin’ ’bout what da new year will bring, and like always, i’m not sure……got a buncha new tunes ready t’ put in da oven…..”Word” “Me n’ Josey Wales” “Glory”…..workin’ on a new arrangement for “Cornbread”……just wrote a new tune the other night., a lil’ thing called “Fire Fighter”………i’d like t’ make a new lp but i’m lookin’ for a reason, so i’ll just keep gittin’ songs and arrangements ready……wanna keep doin’ lil’ live video’s with low tech high content approach, gotta do more vignettes and rambles……….gotta keep on keepin’ on……….new year new hope………..
hey now, wanna wish everybody a wonderful Happy Holidays……may all your hopes n’ dreams come true……….. played in Thomas West Virginia last night……me Harry n’ Skibo got into WV Friday n’ stayed up late watchin’ ole Lone Ranger episodes, n’ Dean Martin roasts……..we turned ourselves into a party band for our Saturday show which was Mike Goss’s annual birthday bash at Mountain State Brewery……did a bunch a’ cover tunes…….”Good Hearted Woman” “Like A Rolling Stone” we did a very cool take of “The Weight”………..”I Fall To Pieces”……Larry sang “Merry Christmas Baby” n’ “Run Run Rudolph”…..banged out my new jam “Word” two times, once in each set, i can tell dat “Word” is gonna git some play in 2014 fer sure……been listening to Dirty Diamonds the last couple weeks, damn, it IS delicious….”It Ain’t What Ya Say” is so desperate, so dangerous…..Frank Czuri’s lead vocals deliver da shit in a large way, WK violently chokes genius, my compulsive bass lines rubbin’ up against Beadman’s soulful passive aggressive tubs……every once in a blue moon a little miracle happens, sometimes ain’t hardly anybody even knows a miracle happened, but when it do happen, it’s so damn schweet…….kinda like a great gas engine runnin’ just right……the right players, the right song, the right arrangement, the right timing…….”It Ain’t What Ya Say” is one of those lil’ miracles as is the whole damn Dirty Diamonds LP…..we captured da true darkness in da heart of rock n’ roll……..startin’ think ’bout 2014……….we still throwin’ n’ we still showin’…….rock out
hey now…..got togather wit Flo n’ Harry this week, we started t’ put togather some arrangements for 3 new songs……”Me n’ Josey Wales” “Glory” and “Word”……..”Word” is a simple lil’ thang dat almost sounds like it wrote itself, it’s about payin’ back a debt, i think i’m gonna play slide on it……”Glory” is a song i wrote for my mom who passed away at the end of 2012, been playin’ it solo but i’m tryin’ t’ build it up into somethin’ more powerful……..”Me n’ Josey Wales” has da sound n’ feel of a spaghetti western, i got a feelin’ dat it’s gonna be special, haven’t decided what t’ do wit da solo yet but i’m gonna work on dat this week……………National Public Radio’s World Cafe show starring David Dye did a special on Pittsburgh music this week…….Billy Price did the part of da show featuring the older historic past…………he played “Since I Don’t Have You” by Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, “The Rapper” by The Jaggerz…..both national number 1 hits on the Billboard charts……he then spun “Porkology” a rap tune that features legendary Pittsburgh DJ Porky Chedwick backed by The Keystone Rhythm Band……up next was “Love Dog” by yours truly, gotta give huge thanks t’ Billy for including me……Billy Price did me a solid, ain’t gonna forget, you got my word on it……..The Houserockers “Pumpin’ Iron” come up next………it felt very cool to be included in a this national radio broadcast…..got a bunch a emails from ole friends dat heard it…….Christmas is just around da corner……hope ya’ll have a great one……..goin’ down t’ play in da hills a’ West by God Virginia this comin’ weekend………hope t’ see ya’ll at a show sometime soon…..kisses
hey now……winter weather is rearin’ up n’ kickin’ cold wind at us all…..long johns l’ keep yo pins warm…..i’m still highed up from last night’s show at R Bar…….we had a hoot n’a hollar, bet yo bottom dollar dat every man woman and child felt da call a’ da wild right there in lovely downtown Dormont…….have not slept a wink, no coffee did drink, hi on da fumes a’ rhythm n’ rhyme, ya’ll come n’ see my ole a** any time……….Danny Stag come out n’ ripped up a couple numbers wit us as did Jimmy Adler, two completely different styles, two bad a** geetar spankers…….the lady Shari Richards come out t’ celebrate her birthday, we was proud as a ruttin’ buck t’ have her…………gittin’ ready t’ post a few more live basement performances up on facebook…..”Somethin’s Cookin” “Comin’ Home” “Look What You Done” “Wonder”…….all stacked, racked n’ ready to attack…..these tunes were cut the same day as “It Is What It Is” and “The Tree” that are already posted on facebook…..they feature Harry on bass n’ bgv’s along wit Brice on snare…….three men goin’ in……with all da talk ’bout da re-release of Dirty Diamonds on Rock Candy Records i went back n’ started checkin’ out a bunch a’ out takes from da diamond mines…..sh*t like “Dangerous Stranger” wit Frank Czuri wailin’ n’ sailin’ on some tortured rock n’ roll testament………”Roxana”, dat’s a rock n’ roll lady…….”Ball n’ Chain” is just classic, classic rock, all p*ss n’ vinegar……..”High Rollers” takes off like a high steppin’ blue haze chainsaw…….the Diamonds was really somethin’…….Diamonds drummer Rob “Beadman” Johns was one soulful player, his Memphis style feel helped to keep da jams manful, there was always a relaxed dignity to everything da Beadman played, he was a natural……..i harken back t’ Mike’s Valley View……Saturday night would bring out da wild people…..da Diamonds would lead da charge…….we all were a part of some serious magic as the Diamonds stood up to all the naysayers n’ made world class gut bucket original Pittsburgh rock n’ roll that was so moving, so powerful dat we overcame our own crazyness to document an amazing catalogue of music that is more impressive as each year passes……..i wish more folks knew just how dangerous The Diamonds really were……….i’m very lucky, i was there, n’ i know in my soul, just what it feels like t’ part of a miracle……..hope t’ see ya’ll at a show some time
hey now, hope ya’ll had a wonderful Thanksgiving……..we gathered at my sister’s place n’ banged a 25 pound bird, we’re beautiful……..gotta mention our Moondog’s show wit Felix and the Hurricanes, what a wild affair……this lady that was dancin’ in front of the stage, just dropped her drawers n’ kept on dancin’…….ya’ll should a’ seen the looks on peoples faces when her laundry hit the floor, priceless……was so glad t’ see my friend Mayor Joe Sinnott of Erie Pa hangin’ wit da peoples, we called him up on stage n’ he sung the crap outta Van the man’s “Brown Eyed Girl”…….hey, ya never know who your gonna see at a Norman show……..Jim Price, long time Altoona DJ, promoter of live music, n’ all around good guy was also in the house as was Jonye Weber of the Western Pa Blues Society…….Pittsburgh’s own Shari Richards and Memphis Tennessee’s Barb Blue were also hangin’ on da wild side……i wish ya could a’ been there fer that……i got the raw tracks for the live at Square Fair in Lima Ohio this week and it doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to realize our hope of turning it into a live DVD……….wrote an article about the Diamond Reo “Dirty Diamonds” LP that is currently being re-released on Rock Candy Records for Enigmaimage and also posted a photo of the LP cover on facebook which got a lot of positive response………Warren King truly soars with the eagle on this LP…..the “Kingfish” was young n’ strong and had and endless flow of melodies rippin’ from is ax, he was an undiscovered monster, a true rock star, didn’t need no radio station t’ tell people that he was a star, people told HIM that he was a star………..which got me listenin’ to the JJ Burner LP that Fish n’ i did togather just before he passed away…..which made me think about how lucky i’ve been, to rock strong n’ proud wit somebody like WK, King Of The Blues, Warren “Kingfish” King………hey, we just posted up a lil’ lick on facebook of a song i wrote for my ole man, it’s called ‘The Tree” and it has Harry Bottoms playin’ bass n’ singin’ BGV’s wit Brice Foster who also taps out some sparse snare drum……….”I ain’t no better than my daddy was, n’ that’s all right with me, m’ daddy stood tall, never seen him fall n’ not get up off his knees”………..been thinkin’ that next year will be my 50th year playin’ rock n’ roll music……hey, the first couple years were a gas but the last 45 or so have been a real live mutha……..let me entertain you…..hope t’ see yo ass at a show sometime
hank….sorry t’ say, the Akron Tangiers show has been called off till sometime next year…..we too, we’re really lookin’ forward to it….thanks for your interest
hey now, gotta wish ya’ll a wonderful holiday season. i hope everybody gets the chance t’ celebrate with all of their most precious loved ones. i will not forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my simple life this Thursday as me n’ mine lick up some delicious bird…..got t’ see Chizmo Charles the other day n’ all we did was laugh out loud, truth is, we spread that laughter all over da room, ain’t nobody in da joint didn’t have a smile on their mug…….just found out that young geetar slapper Sam Louderback is gonna come t’ town n’ blow a couple tunes wit me n’ da boys on January 17, 2014 at our show at Moondogs, bring it on young buck, somebody got t’ do da heavy liftin’ after we’re dead n’ gone……i had the opportunity to appear before a handful of students at Winchester Thurston School this week, talkin’ about the ins and outs of song writing. John Maione brought myself and Shari Richards in to speak all about two of my favorite things, WORDS and MUSIC……….i’m really lookin’ forward to our show this Friday, November 29 at Moondogs…..Felix and the Hurricanes will be rollin’ into town wit a couple bus loads of serious party people for a full faced, don’t tell mama where i been, major league party…..some guys have all the fun………i’m hopin’ to git started very soon on mixin’ down the basic tracks from our show in Lime Ohio this summer. like John Lennon said all those years ago, “I got a feelin”……..it’s been a while since we’ve released any new material, but, i got a feelin’ dat we just might have da makin’s of a hi-level live DVD dat wants t’ touch everybody in a manful way…..just think, real Pittsburgh rock n’ roll bein’ captured out in da flatlands of Ohio………. hope t’ see ya’ll at show sometime soon
Nice site…..looking forward to the Akron show November 30th.
hey now, i just got t’ hear a small sample of the music we recorded live at Square Fair in Lima, Ohio this past August. i also got t’ see some of the video……looks good, sounds good……….i’ll be getting all the raw tapes this week……everything goes well, we’ll have a very cool live 60 minute CD available soon…..tunes like “End Of The Line” “The Devil” “”Friend Of Mine” “Weekend”………a couple tunes that date back to da Diamonds….”Rock n’ Roll City” and “Heat Of The Night”………large thanks go out to our friends Dennis Baker and Ron Frey for makin’ it all happen………..i’ve got an article in the Enigmaimage publication that just came out November 13, it’s all about writing songs……there’s also an interview with my ole bud Ron “Moondog” Esser in this issue……i’ve written a story for next month’s issue about the re-release of Diamond Reo’s classic LP from 1976, Dirty Diamonds…….this recording is considered by many to be one of the top un-discovered hard rock LP’s of all time……just think, four young, crazy, eastside of Pittsburgh musicians cut a world class record that hardly nobody in this town knows even happened……….this was the band that stood up and said, “We ain’t playin’ cover songs no more”……..this was the band that made it safe for the nice people that followed us to play their own music……thing is, we wasn’t the nice people, nice people ain’t got the stones in their pants t’ stand up when the who damn world is smackin’ ya down……Diamond Reo had more than enough stones…….Look for Dirty Diamonds by Diamond Reo on Rock Candy Records outta London England…………spent a couple long days with Brice Foster this week workin’ on putting togather some entertaining Vignettes and Rambles that will be showin’ up on facebook and also right here on this new and exciting website………i’m all fired up about our upcoming wang dang doodle this Thanksgiving weekend with Felix and the Hurricanes at Moondogs…….i hope t’ see ya’ll at a show sometime soon…….
hey now, went to Club Cafe Monday Nov. 4th…..wanted t’ see David Jacobs-Strain, an artist from Eugene Oregon…….got there too late, missed his show but i did get t’ see soundman Denny and my ole friend, harp player Bob Beach, who is touring with David Jacobs-Strain. Mr Beach asked me to come on stage t’play piano for the evening’s closing number, “Your Wife’s Cheatin’ On Us”. Dave Pella was all over some upright bass…………..been workin’ on the song i wrote for my mom, “Glory”……..i’ve also been workin’ on a re-write of the lyrics to “Town With No Name”, i’d like t’ get Whitey Cooper t’ sing dat hunk a meat………..Brice Foster, Harry Bottoms and i recorded rough live versions of six tunes, “It Is What It Is” “The Tree” “Comin’ Home” “Somethin’s Cookin” “Wonder” “Look What You Done”……gonna look at the video this week n’ maybe do some vignette’s or somethin’ wit ’em….also cut some video wit Brice doin’ comedy n’ poetry, well, street poetry……..check here at the website or check us out on Facebook for some new fun stuff comin’ up shortly……..Rock Candy Records is re-releasing Dirty Diamonds, the classic underground master piece that we cut with Diamond Reo back in the late 70’s……it features the late great geetar master Warren King and Frank Czuri the eastside of Pittsburgh vocalist who has it all goin’ on …….i played bass and Rob Johns is on tubs……..this is a high level recording, cut at Jeree Recording in New Brighton and over dubbed and mixed at the Hit Factory in NYC, it features a great version of “Lover Boy” that just grooves so damn deep dat da catfish feels it in his bone……..hope t’ see ya’ll at a show sometime soon
hello tiger fans…I think back to he days of the tigers at the decade and the silencers…and those steamy summer swissvale nights. wow is anybody out there?
still out there……all these years later……and still rockin’
welcome to our blog….this is all new to me…..