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Friday, January 26-2007
Moondogs: Blanox, Pa.
Whitey, Harry and I opened
the show with a short but very sweet 40 minute set. ONE
and ONE, an IMP and an IRON, "Boilermaker" felt a bit
strange, but came off well. "Somethin's Cookin" also
felt a bit creepy, but also came down strong. Next up,
batting third, the ole Pittsburgh rock n' roll classic "Nothin
To Lose", now we're cooking with gas. Whitey's drums
sounded like cannons, nice. Harry's bass rolled out da
velvet carpet. Daddy Clean's guitar lifted his body and
mind to places only the eagle and the turkey buzzard go.
A rippin version of "Graceland" got a great audience
response. "We Come A Long Way" went out to all the long
time rockers in the joint, and it was good. A short
break and we returned to the fabulous Moondog stage with
ole buddy Vinny Q joining us on guitar. Vinny never
looked better, in Rocky Lamonde's over sized white
shirt. "Ready Freddy" and "Nightclub" set the table for
Vinny,s banging solo on "Shackin Up". It was so much fun
to play rythm guitar behind V.Q. "High Times",
"Weekend", "You Go Your Way". The two guitar attack
really helped "Son Of A Gun" realize the potential I
heard in my head when I wrote it. "Who Dat Do Dat" was
also upgraded by Vinny's guitar. Star time, V.Q. sings
da ole Stone's standard "Dead Flowers" and brings down
the house. I tried to get him to sing another tune but
he got shy, if ya know Vinny, ya know what I mean.
"Shake Your Money Maker" and that's exactly what I did,
I took off my guitar and did da Pennsyltucky shake. We
invited Ron "Moondog" Esser up to close out the first
set singing "I Shall Be Released". Set two opened up the
flood gates with "End Of The Line", and it was good. "Burnin
Up" was another chance for V.Q. to rip. Good buddy,
Shades joined us to sing "Tossin And Turnin". "Love Dog"
was stupit just like daddy likes it. I think it would be
a smashing idea for us to do some more dates with Vinny
Q. Dis Connelsville native has a real fine feel for
Norman music. It's also a wonderful opportunity for
Daddy Clean to dance around like a chicken wit his head
cut off. I'm paintin a picture here.
Saturday, January 20-2007
Excuses: Southside-
Pittsburgh Pa.
Sometimes I really need to
play. This was one of those evenings. What a pleasure it
is to play music with Harry Bottoms and Whitey Cooper.
They spoil me so much. My guitar sounded great rite from
the first note. “Git By”, “Good Rockin Man”, then we
took a few moments to talk a little crap. You know,
loosen up the joint a bit. “Nightclub” smoked, somewhere
between blues rock and surf a’ billy. Whitey sang the
ole Arthur Conley classic “Sweet Soul Music” and rocked
the soul out da joint. “Weekend” soared with the eagle,
I love playing the solo at the end. The two hour first
set was a gas. During the break, my friend Carol said
she’d had a tough week and tonight’s show was helping
her to feel better, I felt exactly the same. I kind of
spazzed out in the second set and forgot the words to
some of my own songs! I was glad that it didn’t turn
into a train wreck. We all laughed it off and got on
with the show. “When I Die And Go To Hell”, “Please
Don’t Talk About Me”, “Easy Money” by request for some
guy who looked like Travis Tritt, I smell T R O U B L E.
We did a decent version of “Into the Mystic” the ole Van
tune. Our beloved club owner George turned on the lights
as we kicked into the last tune of the show “Ready
Freddy”. I had a serious good time and I’m sure everyone
else did too. Dat’s a warm feelin.
Wednesday, January 10-2007
Moondogs: Blanox, Pa.
Once again I got the chance
to open the show for Jersey rocker John Eddy. Once again
John's Guitar player, P.K. Lavengood was gracious enough
to turn my solo acoustic set into a very interesting duo
performance. A laid back, gentle version of "Night
Riders" eased the room into the music after P.K. told a
wonderful story about his family's personal Christmas
miracle. Before you know it we're all riding down
"Hell's Highway". We took a laid back approach to "You
Go Your Way ", and played it in a lower key than I
normally sing it in. It turned out a little creepy. I
don't usually do two slow tunes in a row but this was a
different kinda show. "The Morning After" quieted the
room with it's simplicity, loved that. A sh*t kicking
version of "Playin In A Rock n' Roll Band" got the house
rocking hell billy style. "The Horse Your Ridin" was a
shower of ole P.K. pouring melodies all overr the joint.
It was kind of like a little miracle. The stark dynamics
of "I Was Blind" got folks clapping, so we came back on
for one more tune. Someone in the joint yelled let P.K.
sing one. I hope it didn't show, but at that moment I
felt stupid, cause I didn't think of that. That's just
one of many reasons I've been called the dork boy. So
ole P. sings a tune he and I wrote togather about 12
years ago, "Beyond The Point Of Caring". I had almost
forgotten the song completly, but ole P.'s been playing
it on acoustic shows for years. Ain't dat a thang. It
was a lot of fun playing all the tunes tonight, cause I
don't get to play them often enough. I think it was
obvious I don't get to play with P.K. Lavengood often
enough. This was the second time I watched John Eddy's
new drummer, Rich work. This kid is a strong player. He,
along with rock legend Kenny AAronson on bass, are a
serious rythm section. I'll say it again, ain't too many
bands gonna kick John Eddy's bands a**. Moondogs has
been the site of a whole lotta magic moments, mighta
been a few come tumblin down dis good rockin nite.
Saturday, January 6-2007
Wilberts: Cleveland, Ohio
I don't know what else was going on in Cleve, but I do
know we had a ball at Wilberts. Ole buddies, The Back Up
Band opened the show and got things rolling."Ole cow
died wit a rag in ise a**...........",
"Hey bartender gimme a
shot...........", "Somethin's Cookin", "Rock n' Roll
City", "We Come A Long Way", special request for "Burnin
Up" & I was feeling loose as a goose. Musta been da red
beans n' rice, good lick.We hit a nice "You Go Your Way"
then slapped around "End Of The Line". Whitey scored big
on "Sick n' Tired". I got a chance to talk a little sh*t
with the nice foks in attendance, and yes, we did have a
few giggles. We brought Neon Don, guitar player of The
Back Up Band, on stage for the slow burning blues, "Bow
Leggrd Woman" and a rocking "Shake Your Money Maker".
Tommy, the other axe man in The Back Up Band, got up and
played "Work Togather" and "Shake Rattle and Roll" with
us. Both of these long time Cleveland string benders
sounded different but each one had a cool style, it's
fun to play with ole friends. We slammed the door shut
with a banging "Smoke Two Joints". Saw a bunch of folks
I ain't seen in a while, cool. I talked about the
Steelers n' the Browns, I didn't use the word Clowns
cause I got respect and when it all comes down, we both
really hate the Pigeons a whole lot more. I wanna play
Wilberts for the tribes home opener, look for us there.
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