Gig Updates

July 26, 2009-Sunday

La Casa Narcisi: Gibsonia, PA

It was pourin down rain on da way to da show but I knew da show would go on. I guess I just felt good about our chances. I don’t know why I had such a positive outlook considering dat I only got about an hour of sleep last night. The rain stopped pourin n’ da sun started shining as soon as we got to da stage. A new buddy of mine, Jack Russo, who is a world class film maker, was already onstage setting up his crew to do some shooting for a new picture he’s doing that stars our featured singer for this show, Shari Richards. You’ll be hearing more about this in the next month or two. We did some lazy but delicious jams before we got Shari onstage to sing “Million Tears”, “Minimum Wage” & “Look What You Done”. The sun was beatin down on us all by this time and da rain was just a memory. I saw a hawk flying low overhead & I started to channel his energy on a couple tunes, “Rich Kid” & “Big Boss Man”. I could feel myself soaring above da trees……..Set two started with a double take of “New Blood”. The cameras were rolling for that cause that’s one of the tunes that’s gonna be in the movie, “Song Of The Dead”. Shari was right on da money for dat joint. Stutso ripped “It’s My Own Fault” & got folks screaming for more. I met on older Italian gentleman named Uncle Frank and got a chance to hang with an ole school classic. They don’t make ‘em like Uncle Frank anymore. I love it when Shari sings “Victoria’s Secret”, there’s something unique there when a woman sings those lyrics. This beautiful summer afternoon was well spent.

July 25, 2009-Saturday

Moondogs: Blawnox, PA

I wanted to start off hi intensity, low volume, so we had Stutso playing with brushes on “Rebel Rouser” which led to “Nightclub” then another low volume number, “Comin Home”. We then hit “Somethin’s Cookin” as an eye opener & then stuck “Shit House Rat” in der ears. Bout dis time we got ole friend, Phil Brontz the tenor sax man up to throw it n’ show it. “Burnin Up” was on fire wit da golden goose blowin thick beefy columns of hot lava……. Stutso sang “You Go Your Way” & “Victoria’s Secret” as Phil peppered up da stew wit da horn. We took a crack at “She’s A Friend of Mine” and it came off. I called Jimmy Adler up to join us on guitar & he did a nice job on “I Hate A Nickel”. Frank Giove took my spot & was spankin it out wit Adler n’ Brontz on a steamin slow blues. Katey Simone sang “I’d Rather Go Blind” & “Honky Tonk Women” with Jimmy Adler standin out on da ax. Deb Callahan, the blues singer from Philly, brought her ax man Alan James up onstage and sang da crap outta a couple numbers. Jill Paone joined Stutso, Dave Talberg on bass, Frank Giove on guitar & Ron Yaroz on harp & myself for “Hidin n’ Peepin”. Our host, and Blues Festival booking tycoon, Ron “Moondog” Esser got onstage & sang David Allen Coe’s “You Don’t Have To Call Me Darlin” & “I Shall Be Released”. I must say that the warm feelin dat was fillin da joint was powerful. Jill Paone got back onstage with Randy Eugene and the two of ‘em did some nice soulful renderings of “Stir It Up” & “Bring It on Home”. Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” was performed by this guy named Dave who was in town working as Curtis Salgado’s keyboard player. Thing is, Dave played guitar, and he’s actually a key man. We had some fun with Dave’s struggles with his minimal guitar ability. SHOWTIME……..we banged out “Wild Thing” & the legendary Ratman belted it out as he threw ladies thongs at the peoples. We closed out dis semi-incredible eve with me & Giove on guitar, Harry on bass, Erie’s own Ron Yaroz on harp & vocals, n’ some guy I saw sittin at da bar named Joe on drums. “Help Me” felt fresh as a daisy, & “Mojo” got me to drop my axe & dance. Found out latter, back stage that Joe is from Australia and he has a sense of humor.

July 24, 2009-Friday

Moondogs: Blawnox, PA

Magic was in da air, as it always is, on these after the Blues Fest jams. Harry, Stutso and I started rollin bout 10:30 wit “Lazy Bones”. Then we started rockin, “Rockin n’ Roll City”, “High Times”, “Nothin To Lose”, “Somethin’s Cookin”. We sent “Boilermaker” out to a dear friend Glenn Pavone, the Pittsburgh guitar hero, although not in attendance at da club, we heard Glenn put on a show stopping performance at the Fest earlier. While I’m on the subject, I’d like to thank Mr Pavone for including “Boilermaker” on his first CD, Twist This and for including it in so many of his live shows over da years. I always say, that a song’s best friend is da artist dat performs it. What better friend could a guitar instrumental have than da BIG CHEEZE ? “Little Things” & “Rich Kid” set up Stutso to sing da crap outta “You Go Your Way” & “Victoria’s Secret”. We then got Louisiana legend, Eric Lindell and Pittsburgh axeman Jimmy Adler on guitars with Stutso on tubs & some big dud named Manny on bass for a few lazy but smoking blues grooves. Fank Giove replaced Adler on guitar for a few tunes, then this dude named Jimmy Dreams from Austin Texas got up on guitar & vocals n’ did his thing. Bob “Bubs” McKeag took center stage & sang his tune “Sail On” & I got back up to play on that. We then called Jill Simmons up to sing “Million Tears” & “I’d Rather Go Blind”. She sounded strong & McKeag was sweetening it all up wit some unique slide work. We turned McKeag lose on some shuffle & I handed my guitar back to Jimmy Adler. Harry, Stutso & I got back up together and Stutso ripped “Three Times Your Fool” which was followed by some nice applause. Eric Lindell got a nice response when he sang an ole Impression’s tune with a ton o’ soul. I got on stage mid tune with Lindell to play on a thing he was rippin called “Louisiana Saturday Night”. Da whole thang came tumbling down after a long blow out wit Stutso on drums, Harry on bass, Frank Giove & Jimmy Dreams on guitar, Jill Simmons & this tall handsome black dude who called himself Stormin Norman. I think he is a keyboard player for one of the Neville Brothers, anyway, Jill & Stormin Norman was center stage blowin it out…….magic was in the air……..

July 18, 2009-Saturday

Mogie’s: Lower Burrell, PA

It was raining on and off all day, and yes, it was a touch gloomful. As always, I tried to keep a positive outlook on the situation. This time, my positive outlook was on da money, I knew it when I saw a beautiful rainbow draped across da skyline behind da patio stage at da club. We kicked it off real lazy like, and then gathered steam as the house filled out. By the end of a dynamic first set we was stoking da engine. Set two was an answer to all the requests for ole Tiger tunes. “Nightclub”, “Rock n’ Roll City”, “High Times”, “Heat Of The Night”, “Burnin’ Up” ……the tune that got the most response was “Nothin To Lose”…..seems like folks was feelin dat…..Stutso was a hit singing “Million Tears” & “Three Times Your Fool”……and I think he touched some folks singing ole cover tunes “It’s My Own Fault” & “Work Together”. I got a chance to say hey to a couple ole greezeball goomba’s, luv dat. We touched ole Mogie up with a fatty. It’s all good in da hood. Katey Simone sang “Help Me Make It Thru The Night” and did a good job considering that I played it in the key that I sing it in, not the key she sings it in. Sorry bout dat. I‘d like to brag for a minute, somebody threw an egg over da fence, & towards da stage, I think somebody tried to egg me………….I am the egg man………

Stay tuned for the latest updates! Better yet, come to one of the shows and experience "The Manful Handful" himself, first hand!

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