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Sunday, December 31-2006,
NEW YEARS EVE
Moondogs: Blawnox, Pa.
"Boilermaker", "Somethin's
Cookin", "Rock n' Roll City", "We Come A Long Way", sent
out "Graceland" to my baby. "Ain't It Amazin" felt
strong. "I Seen Too Much" rocked the joint. We closed
out the first set with a couple ole classics, "Burnin
Up" and "Lovedog". Mark Stutso took over the lead vocals
in the second set and this hillbilly boy was bringing
it. "Million Tears" has a feel all it's own when Stutso
is shoutin out da woids. "Victoria's Secret" ain't a
secret no mo, dis jam was spanking me, ouch. The sultry
"Let's Burn Breakfast" was my favorite of Stutso's set.
The audience seemed to think "Three Times Your Fool" was
the show stopper, loads of applause. We then played a
tune Whitey Cooper and I wrote years ago, "Just Like A
Woman".The ole Canned Heat, Wilbur Harrison penned "Work
Togather" got broken off short so we could bring in the
new year with the song you play every new year's eve at
12'clock midnight. I won't mention the name of that
tune, cause I don't know how to spell it, but I know
ya'll know the tune I'm talking about! "You Go Your Way"
was the first tune we played after that tune that I
can't spell the name of, and Stutso sang the crap outta
that laid back soulful lament. What did I say? "This
hillbilly boy was bringin it".We banged the crap outta
"Heart Break Shake", then started up where we left off
on "Work Togather". Great set, I really enjoy playing
guitar behind a strong vocalist. Stutso came up in the
third set and sang "If I Had A Child" and "Bow Legged
Woman" which gave me a chance to choke some tortured
sounds outta my axe. Long time buddy Chuck Koler joined
us on stage to sing "Secret Agent Man", "Teddy Bear" and
"Can't Help Fallin In Love". A few couples got up and
slow-danced to the Elvis ballad. ROMANCE BABY. Enter
Whitey Clyde Cooper, center stage, Mark Stutso behind
the drum kit. Lottsa fun watching Whitey walk the floor,
he's really become a nice front man. "Shama Lama Ding
Dong" followed by "634-5789", the blond bomber was
singing all high, tight n' white, yea boooouuueeyy.
Mister Cooper totally smacked "Mojo" around, then closed
out the night axin da question, do you like good music,
sweet soul music? Yesh, yesh, yesh, I do like dat sweet
soul music Mr Cooper, and I sure like da way ya sing it.
Hey you, thanks for taking the precious time to read
these here gig updates. I sure appreciate it. Hey you,
happy new year.
Saturday, December 30-2006
Billy's Roadhouse: Wexford,
Pa.
We played a strong rocking
first set. Lottsa newer Norman tunes mixed in with a few
older jams "High Times", "Lovedog ", "Here Comes The
Weekend". Harry Bottoms sang "King Of The Road" and
reached his people in the house, go Harry, go Harry.
Later in the show he also hit a high note singing "Pots
'n Pans". The second set was sprinkled with ole cover
tunes "Ya Really Got A Hold On Me", "Are You Lonesome
Tonight", "Into The Mystic". Everyone was fascinated as
they watched 6 or 7 deer out on the lawn behind the
club, just hangin out, eating and playing. As we were
closing out the night I started thinking about all the
gigs we played this year, all the laughs, all the tunes,
all the nice folks that come out to the shows, and I
thought how much fun it can be to be the uncrowned of
all that is left of rock n' roll. Press on? We must.
Saturday, December 23-2006
Excuses: Southside,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
It all seemed so easy
tonight, sometimes it is, sometimes it ain't. Blessed
are these special moments in time. "Graceland" roared
off the stage. "Bulldog" and "Somethin's Cookin" almost
played themselves. I mentioned that Whitey didn't like
us doing "Jingle Bell Rock", we then did it and Whitey
thought it felt great, it was one of those nights.
"White Christmas", the Irving Berlin classic sung by
Whitey Clyde was well received. We also tried "Just
Another Christmas Song" and it came off pretty well.
Just as we hit the opening phrase of "Nothin To Lose" I
looked up and saw ole pal Grubby and lady Pam enter the
bar. A hardy version of "Steeler Nation" put smiles on
the faces in attendance, children of the black n' gold.
Amen. Long time Houserockin' drummer Joffo Simmons gave
a shout out for "Million Tears", and it came down like
falling rain. How bout the south oakland Decade gang
Angelo, Osh, Terry, Rocky and Gib, whose kicking a**
announcing outlaw auto races world-wide. Da Ratman had
bells on his toes. The rumor that I was wearing a
matching pair of bra and panties on the evening's last
tune are totally untrue."Burnin Up" and "Sick n' Tired"
closed down the house. I won't even try to detail the
insane laughter that happened between us and the
audience, ya had t' be dere.
Friday, December 22-2006
P.D.'s Pub: Squirrel Hill,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
This is a nice sounding room,
my guitar was very happy."Lazybones" felt like a garbage
truck coming down the alley. My hands felt like meat
hooks ripping huge hunks a' flesh and just tossing 'em
in people's laps. "Yesterday's Gone" and "Last Night I
Had A Dream" rang out a proud soulful sound that
shivered my own timbers. And I was baptised in the
manful way of this blessed music. Let me touch you in a
manful way. If you haven't been out to see us in a
while, you gotta come back to church. Donny Dread of the
Freedom Band jumped on stage and sang a crushing version
of "Shout", Harry and Whitey was ripping some B.G.
vocals, I was happy as a dog eatin sh*t. Early in the
second set we sent "Burnin Up" out to Travis and his
special lady friend. Donny Dread got back up and sang
"My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg". Hey, dis guy
Donny has a great voice, ya gotta hear Donny Dread sing.
Chuck and Sandy wanted to hear "Graceland". Larry G and
Devo wanted to hear "High Times" for the ole times. Da
Booty Doctor..........Booty Juice............see what
I'm sayin........How bout my boy Gator. Rest In Peace
Joey P, with love from me and my gang and always "Poor
Little Rich Kid" for Frankie.
Saturday, December 16-2006
Sports Rock: Strip District, Pittsburgh, Pa.
We played pretty well on this
fall-like December eve. Not much of an audience so the
music was all we had to hang on to. We did an impromtu
"Amazing Grace" intro and outro during "You Go Your Way"
that felt very powerful. "Pennsylvania Rain" is coming
along nicely, although it still seems to be missin
something. Harry belted out "Pots n' Pans", we've got to
record him singing that someday. We did a short
Christmas set, me singing "Jingle Bell Rock" and Whitey
just nailing "White Christmas". "Just Like A Woman"
showed up in the second set, hadn't played dat 'un in a
coons age. "Play" came off well, hadn't played that in
many moons. This was a perfect night to try any thing at
all. I asked the guys to try a tune we'd been doing in
the key of B flat, to play it a half step lower, in the
key of A. "Ain't It Amazin" felt different for us all,
especially the vocals. I loved the lower key, Whitey
said he felt like Ed Ames singing the low part. "Up
Jumps The Devil" jumped up in set two, hadn't played
that since the cow jumped over the moon. Dancin Gary cow
pants and the Jan man we're in attendance, along with
some very attractive young people who couldn't have
cared less about some manful hanful type of individual
from some church of rock 'n roll, throwin n'
showin.................. |
