Norman Nardini Gig Updates!

Gig Updates

June 28, 2008-Friday

Birdies Landing: Portview, Pa.

The weather report was atrocious, the TV weather reporters claimed it was an abomination, yet bikers, boaters, n’ just plain ole folks came down to the water to pray. Our starting time was delayed an hour or so because of the downpour. Stuff got wet, the show went on. We started up with some lazy grooves, so as not to hurt ourselves as we climbed to a higher peak “HighTimes” “That Girl” n, such. Ole buddy, Bobby Bettors got onstage to blow harp on “Like A Rolling Stone”, Harry Bottoms got some love for singing “Pot’s n’ Pans”. I sent “Every Time I See a Rainbow” out to Nicky Bettors, cause we all saw a rainbow in the sky right after the rain stopped. A much requested “Smoke Two Joints” ended set two. Set three was an opportunity for Whitey, Harry, and I to play with sax legend, Kenny Blake. “Bare Footin” was slick with Kenny pouring melody over the sloppy groove. Van Morrison’s “In to the Mystic” felt kind of spooky. “Mercy, Mercy” was the perfect vehicle for Kenny Blake’s alto sax. We then blew thru a take of Pharaoh Sanders haunting classic, “The Creator Has A Master Plan” ……..powerful……….the beaver people, Stu’s Bar BQ, da Yough, ole buds from Al’s Riverside, da rat fam………see ya next year…….rain or shine

June 20, 2008-Friday

The Grove: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Harry and I both played this room in the early 1970’s. It’s a room with a lot of local history. Just strappin it on was a pleasure. We came outta da gate wit a subdued version of “Rebel Rouser” straight into “Lazy Bones”………..nice…. I could tell that the folks in the house wanted to have a good time…..nice…. “Yesterday’s Gone” worked well, Whitey sang “Chain Gang” and Harry sang “King Of The Road”….It seemed like a good idea to throw in a few cover tunes, but the song that got the best response was “That Ain’t Gonna Happen” .“Bare Footin” and “Suspicious Minds” helped to keep everybody interested. I talked to a couple on the break that said they met at a Tigers gig at the Decade back in da 80’s. We sent out “That Girl” to those nice folks. “T-Bird” was crushing. Young Katie Ramone got up with us to sing “I’d Rather go Blind”, she got the locals shoutin……..look for me n’ Harry back at the Grove…in another 30 years!

June 13, 2008- Friday

Excuses: Pittsburgh, Pa.

“Lazy Bones” and “Good Rockin Man” kicked off this good rockin night. Sometime early in the first set between songs, folks started singing “Happy Birthday” to me, made me feel good n’nat. We did lots of ole tunes in the first set. “Easy Money”, “Loverboy”, “Nothin To Lose”, “That Girl” and “Burnin Up”. I thought the highlight of the first set was “Ain’t It Amazin”. The solo was soaring with the eagle. “Son Of A Gun” also smoked, even though I forgot the first verse and it kind of threw me out there. Saw hockey hall of famer, Mike Lange sitting at the bar on the break, what a classy gentleman. Had a request for “Please Don’t Talk About Me”, I blew a couple things but, over all the song came thru. Step right up to the cavalcade of stars……………..one off my favorite musicians, Sam Klinginsmith stepped up behind the mic and sung the livin shit outta “Help Me Make It Thru The Night”. Jill Simmons followed with “Million Tears” and a breath taking version of “I’d Rather Go Blind”. Next up, the under appreciated local soul singer Randy Eugene, who rendered a take on “Funky Broadway”. That got Whitey all excited and he started shoutin out…………………….nice way to spend a birthday……………….rockin………….strong…………..

June 7, 2008-Saturday

P. D.’s Pub: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Everything sounded great onstage, dat’s cool, then we was off. “Good Rockin Man” set the tone for act one. “People Takin’ Care” and “Yesterday’s Gone” both came down strong. “Son Of A Gun” earned its keep. Act two showed hard with “End Of The Line” and “Hoochie Mama” which led into an epic version of “Rich Kid”. I was thinking bout Frankie’s ole club in Swissvale, and all the gigs we did over there in the 90’s. Act three got right when we did “Ain’t It Amazin”. Katie Ramone got onstage with us and did a nice version of “I’d Rather Go Blind”, the ole Etta James thing. Later that evening she sang “Be My Baby” to close out the show. Luv having a club like P.D.’s around; close to the city, walk up crowd, real music people.

June 6, 2008-Friday

Michael O’Malley’s: Austintown, Ohio

Not a large crowd tonight, but we gave ‘em two strong shows. We did “Mercy, Mercy”; we learned it to play with Warren King. It came off real well with just the three of us. “Son Of A Gun” smoked. I spoke of mountain people and the flatlanders and seemed to find common ground with the locals. “That Ain’t Gonna Happen” was like a river flowing, luv dat. Harry hit a homer with “Singin The Blues”, Whitey satisfied the usual requests to sing “Shama Lama Ding Dong”. How bout Ohio, the state god forgot…………………..he forgot to give them……. Mountains…………them flatlanders sure can rock though!

June 1, 2008-Sunday

Mountaineer Casino: Chester, West Virginia

Most of the crowd was older than us, didn’t know that was possible. We had a blast playing every old song we ever knew. I was totally awesome as I entertained 1600 gambling machines. My performance was mind numbing, or was that the machines. Somewhere in the madness, a 70 somethin woman flashed her tits at me……….I’m ok now………..

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