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  • norman nardini on

    hey now, ain’t it good to be alive?………another week in the life of a pencil necked geek…….may Classy Freddie Blassey rest in peace, loved that big hunk a’ wrestler……..Monday April 11 started off with an appointment at my Doctors office for my routine exam…….did a couple hours a piano chopin’, tryin’ t’ get it together, also worked on vocal for “21”…….Tuesday, more piano studies and vocal work on “21” “Sick n’ Tired” “I Was Blind”……..also spent a few hours listening to songs i’ve written but haven’t developed, of which there are many……..”Pennsylvania Rain” “Dance A Little Closer” “Town With No Name” “Steady As A Rock” “Two Story House” and on and on and on, gonna start learning a few of these pieces for performance, i’ll teach ’em to Larry first, then, learn ’em with the full band……..Wednesday me n’ Larry did a few hours shorin’ up “Dignity” and “I Was Blind”……did piano work and vocal stuff on “21”……..also went out n’ hit a bucket a’ balls with my old friend Moon………Thursday got together with young Lee Holler n’ checked out some video of our get togethers, “Comin’ Home” should be showin’ up on You Tube Facebook and this here website…….continued piano and vocal work…..Friday we played happy hour at the STARLITE, had a blast, love these low volume low key affairs, it will help our band get stronger…..Saturday we hit the MAP ROOM and had a good time as well…….love giggin’ in a large way………….couldn’t sleep after the show so i was up all night workin’ and reworkin’ the lyrics to “Dance A Little Closer” also worked on melody for “21” and “Dignity”………makin’ high level music is not easy for me t’ do, it takes all my time and brain space……….onward and upward…………….


    • Lisa on

      glad to here all is well with you Norm. I am a good friend of Glenn Pavones and I am just getting back into the music after his loss. Also lost my only child- a son just before Glenn..its been a few years now….almost seven but seems like yesterday. Glenn left us on 8-9-10…so life goes on. And so do we.


    • norman nardini on

      hey Lisa….thanks for gettin’in touch……glad to hear that your gettin’ back to music…….miss THE BIG CHEESE so much, ain’t NOBODY played like dat guy, he was the absolute best


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……..i love this planet, and i’m thankful to be here……..the week in review…..Monday April 4th spent two n’ a half hours doin’ vocal work on “Look What You Done” “I’ve Lived” “Dignity” “Black Sheep Blues” and some piano sheddin’ on the old standards i been workin’ on, “All The Way” and “Over The Rainbow”……also did a couple hours doin’ book work foe income taxes…..Tuesday me n’ Larry hooked up for a long hang developing “Dignity” “I Was Blind” and “Dixie Chicken” the ole Little Feat tune that Larry’s been doin’ at his other shows….went to Wolfe Funeral Home to pay respects to an amazing young lady who passed on, Caileigh McDowell the grand daughter of my neighbor Al Banazak, the out pouring of love that i felt this evening was huge, the planet lost alot when this angel passed on………Wednesday the 6th Larry n’ i played at the Penn Hills Coffeee House out on Jefferson Road, Moondog was on the show as well as my buddy Neil Gerjuoy’s act, Sweetheart Of The Barricades……we had a blast workin’ for this audience……i also did my piano studies as well as a couple hours workin’ my vocals on “I Was Blind” and “Ole Number 21” that afternoon……..Thursday i did piano work as well as vocal studies………Friday was our first happy hour hit at the STARLITE LOUNGE in Blanox…..after our set a troupe of local bluegrass guys kicked some shit in the back room, really enjoyed hangin’ with the grassers…….still detailing the lead vocal for “21”……Saturday the 9th did 3 hours of piano studies…….also spent a couple hours listening to ole Merle Haggard stuff in honor of his recent passing, started to learn the Hagg’s classic “Big City” on piano…….listening to Hagg led me to a couple hours a’ Willie n’ Hank Senior, classic country is such an amazing thing, i can’t get enough of it…….Sunday morning i woke up n’ went straight to an undisclosed location to play piano and sing for some special folks, as always, i walked outta there feelin’ better than when i walked in…….like i said, i love this planet…….i only wish that young Caileigh McDowell could have lived a long and full life……my she rest in peace


  • norman nardini on

    hey Nick……yer beautiful……..i rewrote the lyrics to “Dance A Little Closer” a few years back…….i made the song become the story of my parents……..the first verse is about them dancin’ at Kennywood Danceland where they met, the second verse is about their wedding and the third is about them being older and the children being gone……i gotta bring it back…….it’s a very romantic hunk a’ meat……


  • Burny White on

    Norman my man. Burny White here. I’m still rockin, your still rockin. Life is as it should be old friend. Check out my band Unordained (U-tube, Reverb nation , Fukbook, and a shitload more. Friend me. I’ll send ya a copy of my E.P. Workin onna full length now. Kipp just had surgery but is O.K. Maybe we can work together again someday. Be good to yourself man.


    • norman nardini on

      Burny….still rockin’, i love it…….keep on keepin’ on now…….


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……..was it good to ya?…….winter come back to us…….recap on this week…..Monday March 28th was spent in the studio workin’ on a geetar shot at the end of “Ole Number 21” as well as some lead vocal touch ups, also did some pianny sheddin’ when i got back home……Tuesday the 29th was spent cuttin’ a new tenor sax on “Wonder”, we had Larry in n’ really worked t’ git somethin’ strong, i also cut a lead vocal on “The Horse”……Wednesday i recut the vocal i did yesterday……also had Bubs McKeag come in’ do BG vocals on “The Horse”…..worked on vocals for “Sick n’ Tired” n’ “Look What You Done” when i got home………on Thursday i cut a new geetar to replace the geetar i cut on Monday at the end of “21”, i’m really tryin’ t’ focus on that tune…..we also had ole buddy Joe Kelly come in n’ take a listen t’ “21”, i asked Joe to introduce me to the gentleman that owns the Roberto Clemente Museum, i need for him to hear this tune……..got up Friday n’ chopped on the pianny………me n’ Harry drone to Altoona together for the evening’s show at THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK……enjoyed the opening act, RailCity Improv, a comedy troupe for Toona……..we had a real good set, made it look easy……………on Saturday we went lookin’ for the grave of ole buddy Nason Gieg, couldn’t find it, but well try again next time……..drove to Johnstown n’ set up t’ play at SOUTHMONT GARDENS……we did this hit 3 piece, which was fun……..Gene Sweeny and Mark Middleton both sat in with us n’ kept things interesting, had a ball in this local neighbor rock n’ roll bar…….drove home in a snow blizzard n’ stayed up all night workin’ vocal execution…..some times when i hear myself sing, i think i should be executed……………..another week a’ livin’ the dream in these Pennsyltucky hills……..carry on…..


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……..in doing this blog, i hope to let folks know a little about the day t’ day life of a maniac music person, the mundane maintanance of skills and the search for newer higher ground……there is an exciting side to this workman life style, but the true excitement only comes when the day to day work is done on an extremely regular basis…….Monday March 21st was spent doin’ vocal work on “Sick n’ Tired” “Ole Number 21” “The Have Nots” “Look What You Done” “I’ve Lived”……….ya’ll might wonder why i’d still be spendin’ time workin’ on vocal approach to songs i wrote 25 years ago……well, truth is, i’m not a great natural singer like Frank Czuri or Bubs McKeag, i’m a guy that’s just now findin’ his voice……i’m also someone who is still developing not only the melodies but the lyrics to these songs, 25 years ago i was not capable of writing as deeply as i am now, so, i’m not afraid to take an old tune and breath a new and deeper life into it……i kinda feel like i owe to the songs……i got a couple old tunes that i been tryin’ take to a deeper place for years and i haven’t found the right path yet, but, i continue to search…….i also spent some time developing a guitar solo for the end of “Ole Number 21”, which we’ll be workin’ on in the studio soon……..but, the most fun i had on Monday the 21st was layin’ down a demo of new tune “My Phone Don’t Ring No Moe”…..i used a rhythmic chord pattern that i’ve had sittin’ ’round for 2 or 3 years……….on Tuesday i did vocal work on “Sick n’ Tired” and “21”….also did some house cleaning, we had my beautiful niece, Rena, and her boyfriend Patrick bring their baby, Aiden, over for dinner………on Wednesday i spent all afternoon runnin’ around workin’ on gettin’ the apartment above my Monongahela Ave studio together…..also did vocal work on “The Horse”, did some piano playin’, and guitar solo work on “21”……on Thursday i sent a song that wrote for my Jersey buddy, Bobby Bandiera out to him….the song is called “A Father Loves His Son”……the demo is just me singin’ n’ Larry Siefers playin’ piano…….vocal work, “The Horse”…….also 4 hours workin’ on the Monongahela Apartment……Friday we played MOONDOGS and had an absolute blast…..my ole friends Bob n’ Helayna Tayor showed up with 3 sons, i was real glad t’ see ’em………..also saw Jimmy Hoyson, high level engineer who is back in Pittsburgh after many years in LA…….Saturday the 26th of March was spent in the studio singin’ “21” and “The Horse”…….another great week in the life of an ole bag a’ meat dat’s gittin’ a ‘lil saggy in da back seat……….tonight, we’re havin’ my other niece, Tara, and her husband, John, n’ their 3 boys over for dinner…….livin’ the dream right here on Dowling Avenue…….happy Easter to ya


    • Joe Balla on

      Great idea workin new ideas into songs!


    • Nick Uriah on

      Hey Norman, I think one of the best songs you ever wrote, but never really played was “Dance a Little Closer,” sure would like to hear you play/record that one. It would still sound good today, maybe add a little sax…

      Nick


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……got sick yesterday n’ spent all day today, sunday, in bed so far…….monday the 14th was in my mancave doin’ basic upkeep…..playin’ pianny and doin’ vocal work on “Look What You Done” “Dignity” “I Was Blind” “Ole Number 21”, wrote two new lyric lines for “21”, “he’d make a basket catch and a windmill throw, did everything he did, like none had done before”, it was like i discovered gold, been tryin’ t’ upgrade the lyrics on that tune for years……….tuesday me n’ Larry boned down hard on “I Was Blind” to git it ready to play this week, we also spent a ggod while developin’ a great piano feel for “Dignity” which ain’t ready t’ play out yet, but, it’s comin’ along real nice……on wednesday, me n’ D-Rod, spent all day in the studio filmin’ an interview……we did a show about song writin’, which focused on songs i’ve written about family, i would talk about each tune then play 1 verse on geetar or pianny, did “The Tree” “Dignity” “Glory” “All Growed Up” “New Blood” and “The Man Who Loves You…….we also did a couple hours of random bullcrap…………on thursday we played the STARLITE for St Patricks day….did a 3 hour first set, ole buddy Ed Jonnet came n’ blew sax wit us, had a blast….really enjoyed when Ed n’ Larry played some instant horn parts…….when i got home from the gig i stayed up all night writin’ a song i been workin’ for about a month or so called “My Phone Don’t Ring No More”, it’s a tune about the gigs bein’ sucked up by the young musicians…….friday was spent tryin’ t’ recover from thursday……saturday i got back to basic vocal work on “Ole Number 21” “Pittsburgh PA” “Dignity”……started feelin’ sick in the afternoon, my head was stuffed wit snot……so here i am just tryin’ t’ get thru the day…….


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……can ya smell it?…….spring time, it has a smell all it’s own……Monday March 7th was spent workin’ on my piano playin’ and refreshing myself on tunes like “Sick n’ Tired” and “Dignity”…..on Tuesday the 8th i started workin’ on a guitar solo for the end on “Ole Number 21”, we had tried puttin’ horns on it, but that didn’t come off well so i’m workin’ on developin’ some cool geetar licks to take it on home……Wednesday morning i was rehersing with Larry on “Dignity” and “I Was Blind”, we should doin’ these two pieces fairly soon, although, they both need more develpment……later that day i wrote a new melody for the bridge to “I Was Blind”, i think it will work well in vocal harmony, also spent some time on my piano hackin’, i need mega work……on Thursday the 10th i had a two hour meeting with Darryl Rodgers about doin’ some video’s for social media, i really hope it works out, i would love to throw some crazy video at the world……continued my piano studies as well as detail work on “I Was Blind” “Sick n’ Tired” “Dignity”………Friday was a general maintaince day for song tweekin’ and pianny playin’………saturday was more of the same as well as cleaning up my office day…….spent a couple hours dustin’ n’ listenin’ to Gary Clark Jr.’s new LP, “The Story Of Sunny Boy Slim”…..very nice stuff, feels like Curtis Mayfield mixed in wit some rippin’ string bendin’………..today i started learnin’ the ole Dave Clark Five tune, “Because”, i’ve always loved dat thang also boned down on “Ole Number 21” n’ wrote a couple new lines in the first chorus, wrote a couple new lines a few weeks ago, i’m feelin’ like this tune is startin’ t’ reach a high level………..got a gig this Thursday at the STARLITE in Blawnox to celebrate St Patricks day, i’m jacked for the action…………everyday’s a blessin, ya’ll know i ain’t messin’…………


  • norman nardini on

    hey Tedd…ain’t seen ya in a coons age………i been stickin’ to it, really enjoyin’ myself……saw your boy Frank out in Cowtown, he seems t’ be gittin’ alot outta life, hope yer doin’ the same


  • Tedd on

    Norman, I miss seeing you playing out. I talked to Frank and he raved about your show in Ohio. I’ll try to get out there when you play there next. In reading your words I see you’re doing real cool things, working on songs, arrangements, and the piano playing must be totally gratifying. That is a tremendous instrument. Thanks for all the good times, hope to see you soon. Tedd


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……spring is just around the corner, foe sho……monday leap day feb 29th i went to the grave yard to visit my parents grave, also saw my uncle Larry n’ my grand parents on my father’s side Ernie n’ Minnie Nardini……strolled over to my mother’s parents grave site t’ see Elpidio “Dom” and Mary DeDominicis…..also saw my uncle Carl and aunt Rose……..and my uncle Rip and aunt Ida……love that all of these graves are so close together…….stopped t’ see Tookie Delio’s grave as well, walked outta there feelin’ close t’ my roots…….worked on my awful piano playin’ as well, learnin’ some a’ my songs like “All Growed Up” “Look What You Done” “Sick n’ Tired” and some ole standards that i enjoy playin’ on the ward, tunes like Frank Sinatra’s “All The Way” and “That’s Life”…….Frankie Vali’s “Can’t Take my Eyes Off You”…..”Over The Rainbow” “I Can’t Stop Loving You”………….on tuesday i had a meeting ole buddy Lou Bridy about him doin’ some engineering work at the studio…….also continued my studies of ole standards on pianny…….wednesday morning was spent with Larry Siefers as we continued our work on “A Father Loves His Son” and started learning “I Was Blind”…….in the evening i worked with young Lee on our stark video of “Comin’ Home”, we’re starting to make some progress………..spent thursday morning doin’ a solo show at an undisclosed location on the eastside, i played piano n’ sang some ole standards mixed in with some a my tunes for some very nice folks on the ward…….in the afternoon, i started to study a tune i wrote a few years back…..”Dignity”, it’s a song that speaks about the tough circumstance that can arise when someone you love is at a point in their life when some tough decisions have to be made…..i hope to start performing it soon……..spent all day friday workin’ on “Dignity” “I Was Blind” “I’ve Lived” “Sick n’ Tired” and relearning ole classic “High Times”……….had an absolute blast working at The Scottdale Fireman’s Club saturday night, lot’s a laughter mixed with some major league rockin’……..also, i have to mention that i met a guy named Frank who is the stepson of the late great Frankie Yankovic, the polka king…….we played the “Just Because Polka” and Frank got out on the floor and put on a show as he taught all in attendance what it looks like to polka at a high level……….had a great week, hope ya’ll did as well


    • millie hribal on

      Hey now, my friends and I thouroly enjoyed you and your bands new tunes as well as the old. You’re a class act!


    • norman nardini on

      hey Millie….thank you so much for your kind words, we really appreciate it


  • norman nardini on

    hey now….my ass is draggin’, still ain’t really slept since Friday night, i was so jazzed up from Saturdays gig, can’t turn my brain off…..Monday Feb 22 was spent lookin’ at possible horn arrangements for “Ole Number 21”, i also prepared myself t’ sing that sucker, spent some time tweekin’ words n’ melody to “I’ve Lived”, was hopin’ to be able to do it this weekend……it’s hard to git a band together for rehersal so i wrote this tune to be able to perform without any rehersal………..spent all day Tuesday in studio singin’ “Ole Number 21” and “It Is What It Is”…….Wednesday we brought my ole bud Bob “Bubs” McKeag to sing BG vocals on “21” and “what it is”, had a ball talkin’ bought da ole days in the early 70’s when we were both livin’ at a farm house in Union Kentucky playin’ in a band called Borrowed Tyme……..spent Thursday tryin’ to build horn parts for “21” and harmonica for “what it is”, we learned alot about alot but never really found parts that enhanced the work we’ve already done……..found out that, sometimes, less is more…….spent friday goin’ over odds n’ ends that needed tweeked for saturday’s gig……..woke up at 6:00 in the morning on saturday cause my brain was writin’ a song while i was sleepin’…….it’s a song about realizin’ that time is passin’ guys my age by…….tentatively titled “My Phone Ain’t Ringin’ No Moe”………Saturday’s gig at The Map Room was an absolute blast, we did a 3 hour n’ 10 minute first set…….Bill Toms, Phil Brontz n’ Tom Valentine all showed up as did Terrance Vaughn who i just met for the first time…….Neal n’ Vanessa of Sweetheart Of The Barricade’s also showed……Moondog n’ Superdog were doin’ the hang….we played our best n’ truly soared with the eagle………..hopin’ i can sleep tonight……


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……..had a great Monday this week, continued workin’ on the new song i started the day before, “I’ve Lived”…….”under the radar and over the top, planted seeds n’ raised a crop, where it don’t rain and the sun don’t shine and the colds winds blow all a’ the time……started swimmin’ up stream when i was a kid, against all odds, did what i did, still standin’ in the 15th round, feelin’ like i’m glory bound…i’ve lived, i’ve laughed, i’ve loved”………..new meat…….got together with my ole bud, Neil Gerjuoy, who i’ve known since 1968…..Neil brought a beautiful lady named Vanessa over to the house n’ they entertained me……they’re doin’ some great ole American music and a few originals, love Neil’s tune about bootleggin’……Vanessa plays a strong rhythm n’ sings most of the leads n’ Neil is soundin’ great doin’ the flat pickin’ lead stuff and has really developed his vocals, they’re callin’ their act Sweetheart of the Barracades……..on Tuesday me n’ Larry got together n’ worked on “A Father Loves His Son”……it still needs work…..i wish i could say that song building is an easy process, truth is, it ain’t………i’m always amazed by the amount of work hours it takes to create hi level music……n’ just because ya do the work don’t mean it’s gonna be great…..but, ya do the work cause dat’s what ya do……..on Wednesday i worked on my vocals for “It Is What Is Is” and “Ole Number 21” which i’ll be in the studio cuttin’ next week……..Thursday’s show at Western PA’s School For Blind Children was a thrill……..we played at a low volume and intensity, but the emotion spent was huge……..tryin’ to reach these amazing kids was our goal and i think that we put some smiles on their faces…..meeting and seeing the folks that work with these kids was an honor as well……..i’d love t’ do more of this kind of work, it makes ya feel good……on Friday, i woke up thinkin’ about my Mom, who we lost over three years ago……i was thinkin’ about her last days and the hours we spent together….i would push her around the ward in her wheel chair and sing to her……….songs like “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” “All Of Me” and “All The Way”……….so i started t’ study Frank Sinatra’s “All Of Me”…..spent all day learnin’ the right words, also put together a chart for chord changes that make sense t’ me………for alot of those old tunes from the 40’s n’ 50’s you can use any number of chord changes depending on what makes sense to you, i always try to simplify things for my personal ability level……..love the words to this ole classic, like these lines……..”happy to be near you, when you need someone to cheer you” or, how about this “who knows where the road will lead us, only a fool would say, but if you let me love you, it’s for sure i’m gonna love you, All The Way”………..miss my Mom, all day, everyday………played MOGIE’S in Lower Burrell Saturday night……watched the blending of generations right before my eyes…….older folks, like us, watching and listening closely to our performance, and, younger folks that had absolutely zero interest in any thing we did…….it’s a totally natural thing……but, i continue to work to bridge the gap….tryin’ with all i have to find a way to have value to folks old AND young……i love it when young folks look up from their cell phones n’ take notice of this music we play and the things that we say…………i always say, “it ain’t our world no more”…….truth is, these times belong to the young ones, just like the 60’s n’ 70’s n’ 80’s belonged to us……..been saddened by the retirement of Mr Heath Miller, great classy guy, we’re all gonna miss this man……..can’t wait for some Bucco baseball, i’m ready……………play ball………


  • norman nardini on

    hey now…….Happy Valentines Day to one and all……..i hope yer feelin’ loved today……..me n’ my Valentine will be dining out this evening, really lookin’ forward it………damn, it’s been so cold this week, winter finally showed up………Larry Siefers came over to the house on Tuesday n’ we worked on “Cornbread” and “Sick n’ Tired”, the two songs we’ve been doin’ together as a duo……we then started t’ work out a new one “A Father Loves His Son”, we’ve still got a bunch a’ work t’ do on it, but, i got a good feelin’ ’bout it……….on Thursday night i got together with my new young buddy, Lee, Lee plays guitar, mandolyn n’ sax, he also sings……we worked up an arrangement with him finger pickin’ geetar n’ singin’ “Comin’ Home” with me singin’ BGV’s n’ playin’ some guitar…….we recorded a video of our workout n’ plan to get back together in the next few weeks to work up a presentable version of this tune, keep your eyes n’ ears open for it, i’m kinda chubbin’ ’bout the possibilities of doin’ and presentin’ video’s of Norman tunes with different configurations of peoples………played Moondogs Friday night and had a grand ole time, an over 3 hour set gave folks a bunch t’ chew on…..Crash McCracken came out n’ sat in on tubs, he’s gittin’ better all the time…..Shari Richards also came out n’ sang with us…..she also laughed out loud with us, did a smokin’ version of “Three Times Your Fool” and a funky “New Blood”…….Vincent Price AKA Super Dog sang BGV’s on “Cornbread” n’ put smiles on everybody’s faces…….woke up at 7:00 this mornin’ cause my brain was writin’ a song while i slept……check it out, it kinda wrote itself, i had very little t’ do with it………………….done everything there is t’ do, been in jail a time or two, took the blows that come my way, stood up tall, my dues been paid, i’ve lived, i’ve laughed i’ve loved….ain’t a line i ain’t crossed, there’s some folks i’ve pissed off, them same folks l’ curse my name, truth be told, i feel no shame, i’ve lived i’ve laughed i’ve loved….got restless feet so i laid some track, took my shots n’ never looked back, danced to the beat a’ my own sound, like a king without a crown, i’ve lived i’ve laughed i’ve loved…………………….gonna do some more work on it this comin’ week, i’m hopin’ t’ start playin’ it real soon, the music will be real simple, i want it t’ be a song that we don’t even have t’ rehearse t’ git it goin’………….i’m listenin’ to Keith Richards new LP, “Crosseyed Heart”, as i type this out, that title makes me think a’ the time that Chizmo Charles said t’ Harry, “Shut up you tangle eyed bitch”……..wanna thank ya’ll for readin’ these posts that i feel compelled t’ push out…..guess i just really feel the need to be heard…….


  • norman nardini on

    hey now………it’s Super Bowl Sunday………i was raised up on NFL action……my father had season tickets in the 50’s and 60’s…….used t’ take us t’ games once in a while…..i remember seein’ the Stillers playin the Rams and the New York “football” Giants at Pitt Stadium, also remember seein’ a pre season game at Forbes field against the Baltimore Colts…….Johnny Unitas, crew cut n’ all…….shook Big Daddy Lipscome’s huge hand, John Baker, John Regar, Tom the bomb Tracy,. John Henry Johnson……Myron Potios…Ernie Stautner……….my ole man never liked Sam Huff, said he was a dirty player………me n’ Nason Gieg used t’ have season tickets to the Pittsburgh Maulers back in the 80’s…….we’d always see The Boss Man Porkey Chedwick at those games……saw Hershell Walker, Jim Kelly, Cliff Stout, Mike Rozier…..i think Donald the Trump owned the New Jersey Generals…….Myron Cope bummed a light for his cigarette off me at a Steeler event Larry Germack took me to in the 90’s………i’ve always related rock n’ roll to football…..some people think rock n’ roll is somethin’ ya do on the weekends, i’ve always believed rock n’ roll is a 7 day a week 52 week a year thing…….just like football, ya prepare n’ plan all week then ya compete at the gig, but, preparation is paramount………it ain’t a part time thing for me, never was, it’s balls to the wall……i’ve truly spent my entire life as a full time rocker…..nothin’ else ever mattered………never wanted the things that normal people find to be important……..i’ve been blessed to be able to pursue the dream all the way thru…….i’m a lucky man, i love this country………at this moment, i continue to chase the same dream that i chased years ago, rock n’ roll high ground is my destination………i really feel proud to have been a part of Diamond Reo back in the 70’s…..our first LP got my career started and our next two, Dirty Diamonds and Ruff Cuts are truly world class efforts…..every time i take a listen to those two recordings i soar with great pride……..in 81′ we released “Eat’n Alive” by Norman Nardini and the Tigers which received a 4 star review from Rolling Stone magazine, i’m still proud of that one………i really can’t say that i’m proud of the two LP’s that we did for CBS in the 80’s…..like every artist, i’ve come up short sometimes…..but, i continued to grow and learn, never stopped workin’ on my skills…..started t’ find myself again in the 90’s with “This Ole Train” “Breakdown In Paradise” and “It’s Alive” all on the Circumstantal label outta NYC……….i thought i wrote some great songs for the “There Was A Time” LP in the late 90’s, but, the production was real weak……………really feel good about the “Redemption” recordin’ from 2007, made it to make up for the poor work i did in the 80’s……..also feel real good about the “Bone A Fide” LP from a few years back, it’s a strong effort, good songs………..which all leads to today, the here and the now……..been workin’ on some new meat, ain’t sure where it’s all goin’ but i’m hopin’ to snap some girdle’s with my next release………hey, if ya get a minute, take look back to the Diamond Reo recordings from the 70’s……….Bob “Bubs” McKeag and Frank Czuri really stand out on our first release………Dirty Diamonds is a showcase for the genius of Warren King and Mr Czuri……Ruff Cuts is a classic recording in the tradition of The Stones, Free, Pistols……..what i’m tryin’ to say is, we achieved a world class level of rock n’ roll, right here in these Pennsyltucky hills back then………..ya don’t have t’ look to London England New York City or Los Angeles to find da shit, it was right here under yer nose, the whole damn time………..’nuff said


    • Jim on

      Okay…..just pulled out my copy of Dirty Diamonds and will drop it on the old turntable tonight….All Over You is still my favorite on that SWEET piece of vinyl….some downright nasty in your face Pittsburgh style Rock…..the way it was supposed to be played by real men. Got a bunch of copies of Eat n Alive over the years but none more favorite than the one that is signed by Norm, Whitey, Ray, Nason, Shook, & special guest signature by Warren the KingFish. I am not one who likes to ask anyone for an autograph but I had to get this Pittsburgh Classic signed back in 1983 by the guys as a keeper…..glad I did because we lost some of those friends.


  • norman nardini on

    hey now……2016 is already flyin’ by…….gonna continue t’ work on the recordings we started back in late 2014…….tunes like “The Devil” “Pittsburgh PA” “Wonder” “It Is What It Is” “Josey Wales” n’ tunes we don’t play out live like “Girl With A Gun” “The Horse” “Ole Number 21″….we got 11 of songs goin’…..Larry Siefers has been workin’ his can off on keys n’ sax, n’ Bubs Mckeag has been doin’ BG vocals……would like t’ cut a few more songs…. “Boilermaker” “The Blues Come Blowin’ In” “Cornbread”…….we’ll see……….we’ll soon be cuttin’ some live video’s at the studio……hopin’ t’ get some other folks singin’ Norman songs…….folks like Whitey Cooper, Mark Stutso, Shari Richards, my new young bluegrass buddy Lee………………plannin’ on doin’ some road work as well…Wilberts in Cleveland, Mountain State Brewery in Davis WV, THe Celtic Cottage in Long Branch New Jersey, Erie PA, Colombus Ohio, Altoona Pa, Johnstown PA……….Moondog is helpin’ me put together some big shows this summer for a new live band project, The Pennsylvania Plowboys, that will feature me, Jake Banta and Felix Kos……….the Nighthawks will soon be releasin’ a new documentary film that will include a scene that the features the Hawks rehearsin’ a Norman tune, “Let’s Burn Breakfast”……..tryin’ t’ work out a deal t’ do the music for a new film called “Tough Guys” that was filmed here in Pittsburgh…..hopin’ t’ record a new Mark Stutso Lp this year that will feature tunes like “The Have Nots” “I Hate A Nickel” “Somethin’s Cookin”…………..all kinds a’ action goin’ on……..2016, i welcome all that you’ll bring……..hope ya’ll have an amazin’ year


    • normannardini on

      Sounds great Norm!


    • Jan Donachy on

      Sooooo friggin COOL!! We miss ya Norm! Can’t wait to see you in Erie! Summer is almost here. Party on…. Love you guys. 🙂


  • nn on

    hey now…..how you doin’?………playin’ at Moondogs this comin’ Friday…….gonna do it as an acoustic show……Sam Klinginsmith aka Lamont Samuels will be joinin’ in with his fine singin’ voice, accordian, mandolyn, and dobro……Whitey Cooper will also be out t’ sweeten it all up….we’ll make a point of not usin’ a traditional drum kit…….this show will be about songs…..we’ll be doin’ lots a stuff that we don’t normally do…….it should be very interesting…………spent last week in the studio with Brice Foster……on Monday, we cut Larry Siefers playin’ keys on “The Devil”, Tuesday was all about Larry n’ Josey Wales, n’ all i can say is that it sounds very cinematic……..on Wednesday Larry played organ on “The Horse”………did lots a piano playin’ all week as well…….on Saturday October 11 we played at the Brothers Grim out in Robinson Twp……..


  • nn on

    hey now………love the fall weather…….love the changin’ of the seasons……it amazes my lil’ peanut brain……..been busy……Monday September 15, spent all day writin’ a bridge for new song, “It Sure Don’t Seem Like Christmas”…….it’s a Christmas song for older folks that have lost their parents……check it out…..”now all i want for Christmas, is one more Christmas day, like the ones we used t’ have when i’d sit on your knee n’ play, wish things was like they was, ’cause without you here, it sure don’t seem like Christmas”…….make an ole man cry………Tuesday the 16th we did Jergels Bike Night…….Wednesday, back t’ work on “It Sure Don’t Seem Like Christmas”……….Thursday the 18th did 3 hours cleanin’ the studio basement and started back t’ work on “The Horse Your Ridin”……..that Friday worked all my new Christmas tunes and played piano all day………Saturday night hit the Kosbar Ranch n’ threw down some meat to a rock n’ roll beat……….woke up n’ spent most all day tightnin’ up “Just Another Christmas Song”…………spent Tues n’ Wedns workin’ the same tunes i been workin’……….Wednesday the 24th me n’ Brice Foster spent the day settin’ up the recordin’ gear at Eastside Sound on Monongahela Ave……spent the next three days playin’ piano n’ workin’ m’ tunes……did 3 or 4 hours cleanin’ the studio……..Sunday the 28th was all about our show at the Boston Waterfront, we played two, two hour sets of grizzly sweatin’ manful rock n’ roll music………makes ya strong like bull…….Mon n’ Tues was all about the tunes…..on Wednesday Larry came over n’ we tweeked some things in tunes like “T-Bird” “Over Said and Done”……….also went over a few ole tunes that Larry likes t’ sing, one crazy thing called “I Ain’t Got No Home” by some guy called Frogman………..Thursday October 2 i started studin’ the ole classic song “Over The Rainbow”, don’t know why………..spent Friday the 3rd with Brice in the studio cuttin’ vocals for “The Devil” and “The Horse”……….had a Bone A Fide blast at the Map Room on Saturday Oct 4……………lookin’ forward to next Saturday and our first show at Brothers Grim in Robinson…………i wonder if i played at Brothers Grim back in the day, sometimes i forget stuff………..me n’ Josey Wales, we’re alot alike, both know the wars over, but were both still in the fight, n’ we both know that justice ain’t never been black n’ white, n’ our souls ain’t for sale………guys like…….me n’ Josey Wales


  • nn on

    hey now………..the last few evenin’s things have gotten a bit nipply……fall’s a comin’ on n’ summer is slippin’ away…….Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th i started t’ put together a new arrangement of “Just Another Christmas Song” as well as tweekin’ “It Sure Don’t Seem Like Christmas”……..on Wednesday n’ Thursday me n’ Brice spent the days settin’ up gear for the new studio…..listened t’ the songs we cut earlier this year……”Me n’ Josey Wales” “The Horse Your Riding” “The Devil” “Pittsburgh PA” and “Girl With A Gun”……..i’m all fired up ’bout gittin’ back t’ work on a new Norman release……..on Friday we played Moondogs n’ tore da dog house up, 3 hrs straight, powerful stuff…….Saturdays show at R-Bar was a stone gas, it was Vinny’s birthday n’ we played our tails off………….got a show this comin’ Saturday at the Kosbar Ranch out in Corey that we’re all jazzed up about………..life’s flyin’ bye in da wink of an eye……..still thinkin’ ’bout puttin’ together a hi level Christmas show for this year but i ain’t sure if i can get the business end of it worked out……wish i was better at the business end of things………..why don’t ya come out n’ see me sometime?


  • nn on

    hey now………been lovin’ every precious moment on this planet, been busy……..let’s go back n’ look at it……Monday August 18 got da chance t’ hang wit ole friend Basil n’ meet a young lady name a’ Lexy from out Beaver Falls way, heard her sing n’ liked it…….Tuesday, me n’ Brice got together with young singer Madi Lapre n’ fooled around wit dat ole song “Three Times Your Fool”………later that evening me n’ Brice cut a modern rhythm track for it…….Wed Aug 20…….me n’ Brice cut geetars for our modern track a’ “Three Times Your Fool”……Saturday Aug 23 we played Scotchie’s party in Monongahela PA, had a blast, Shari was our guest singer…….on Sunday we hit the Boston Waterfront as a four piece, Larry couldn’t make it, da place was packed n’ we played our shit can’s off…….spent the whole next week playin’ piano n’ cleanin’ out 2053 Monongahela Ave…….Sunday the 31st we played my sister’s party…….Larry had t’ split for anther gig after the powerful first set, i started off act 2 playin’ piano…….did “All Growed Up” for my niece Tara and i also played “Glory”, the song i wrote for my Mom…….spent all week playin’ piano n’ cleaning out 2053 Monongahela, just like last week…….on Friday September 5th we played the Dead Horse Cantina for their grand opening, got t’ meet opening act, Nickymo and the Mamalukes……..very cool basic rock n’ roll band from da Rocks………Saturday we played an ABATE show in White Valley PA…….under an ole wooden pavillion we rocked fer some ole fashoined biker types, my kind a’ folks……..as we was pullin’ out t’ head home we saw a bunch a’ folks walkin’ ’round naked…………shit happens………..this comin’ week we’re playin’ Moondogs on Friday September 12 and on Saturday we’re hittin’ the R-Bar out in Dormont………..summer’s comin’ to and end, i’ve really tried t’ make the most of this summer…….workin’ in the yard n’ cleanin’ up Monongahela Ave………love gittin’ dirty


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