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Saturday, May 28, 2003
Tugboat's - Chalfont, PA
The 2 hour first set featured a guest appearance by
"Will E. Try" on chromatic harmonica. He played a really
cool version of the old Stevie Wonder song, "I Wish".
Thanks for showing up Will and thanks for sitting in.
Then Norm played a great version of the 6 month old song
"Play" along with a hot version of "At The Bottom of
This Bottle". After the break, everybody was ready to
party. The hour and a half second set got everybody in
the whole room up. They played the new song "Mr. Right
Now" for the second time in public. It has yet to be
rehearsed. They also played a new unfinished song called
"Who Dat? Do Dat?" and a great version of the old
standard "Nothin To Lose". The Rat Man made an
appearance toward the end of the second set to show
everybody what a real man looks like. See
pics gallery
for a nipple shot. He sang "Wasted Days and Wasted
Nights" by Freddie Fender and made sure that that night
was not a wasted night. Special Thanks to Jerry and Dee,
the owners, for havin us.
Notables in attendance: Will E. Try, Norm's
sister Ann & husband J.P., The Rat Man, Mike, Tony & Joe
DeLeo, Jenny (Tony's girlfriend), Dave and Carol, Young
Eric, The JanMan & Gary, Marsha & Don, Paul & Lisa, T
Wallace, Don & Paula, Bartenders Stasy & Tommy, Maria,
her sister Gina, Paul Adamo and Tony "P"
Footnote: Happy Birthday to Lisa (with Paul) & Mike
Deleo!
Sunday, May 25, Donzi's (Bike Night) Strip District,
Pittsburgh, PA:
The floating stage is no longer there and everybody in
the band was happy to be playing on solid ground. "The
Intent" band opened the show and did a great job and
they really worked hard. Just as Norman and the guys
started playing, it began to rain so they had a little
trouble getting the people up and dancing. Still, a
great time was had by all in spite of the rain.
Notables in attendance: Dave & Carol, Michelle
Williams of the "Hillbilly Three", Norman's ole lady,
also of the "Hillbilly Three" (missing Lindie the third
of the trio), also Rat and his lovely wife. Gary & "The
JanMan". Keep your eyes open for the band to be back
there a few more times this year.
Saturday, May 24, 2003
(Second Gig of evening) Excuses, South Side, Pittsburgh,
PA:
Norm packed in 8 songs at Rosebud opening for Southside
Johnny & The Asbury Jukes before heading over to
Excuses, South Side, Pittsburgh, to do to his Saturday
night show and then played all night there. They were on
a major roll. Lenny Ferrari, formerly of Lou Reeds's
band showed up and played a couple numbers with the
band, playing drums while Whitey got up and sang lead.
Then, Lo and behold Shawn, Hood from "The Jukes Crew"
Marco (drummer), Steve (bassist), Jeff (Keys), and Bobby
Bandiera (Guitar) all showed up at Excuses at 1 a.m. and
Bobby played the whole last set with the guys. Norman
talked Bobby into singing Elvis's "Can't help falling in
love with you" and ripped the whole house down. Jeff got
up and joined the band and sang harmony on the Bob Dylan
classic "I shall be released". The last song of the
night featured Norman singing, Bobby on guitar, Marco on
drums, Steve on Bass on a rippin' version of Chuck
Berry's "Round and Around" You should have been there!
Notables in attendance: Patty & Ron, Debbie and
Dale, Mike Lange (Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play
hockey hall of fame celebrity), who was sighted taking
pics the whole last set. Terry, Angelo & a seldom seen
Bobby Lamonde. Also, Wonderful Tom.
Side Note: We're sorry to say that Sandy, the ass kickin'
waitress of 15 years at Excuses just retired. Norm, the
guys and all the fans who know her are really going to
miss her comically boisterous interactions to Norm's
public flirtations with her over the past 15 years, as
she served up drinks and wings at lightening speed to
the audience.
Saturday, May 24, 2003
(First Gig of evening) Rosebud, Strip District,
Pittsburgh, PA:
The evening started off with Norman saying " We're here
tonight with Southside John and now it's time to get it
on!" Kevin ( in-house sound guy) had just recently
tweaked the PA system. Everything sounded phenomenal so
it was an extra great night for the sound to a packed
house. Norman got a request from "The Jukes" guitar
player Bobby Bandiera of ( Hope concert fame featuring
Norm, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springs teen, Southside Johnny
and Gary U.S. Bonds), to perform a seldom played song
called "Today I Stepped In Something That Reminded Me Of
You". Norm has played that song with Bobby in bars in
the Jersey area many times in the past and it got quite
a few laughs. Everybody knows that when people are
laughing Norman gets happy... and then he gets down!
After 8 songs the band rolled over to Excuses, South
Side, Pittsburgh to jam. While we weren't there at
Rosebud at the time, we heard later that Bobby Bandiera
did "An Old Cow Died With A Rag In His Ass" one of
Norm's tunes you may have heard him do a million times.
This happened when Bobby got up to do his feature spot.
Then he sang his most famous tune " Come on Caroline".
When he sang the "Old Cow..." song, Southside Johnny was
laughing his ass off on stage.
Notables in attendance: Buffalo Bill, Mike
Filosemi (Singer of 8th Street Rox), Dave & Larry (stage
hands), Sue Bottoms & Marsha, Peanuts.
Friday,
May 23, 2003 - VFW Turtle Creek PA:
What a fantastic night! Highlight: Local sensation Rat
got up and sang Blue Suede Shoes, in full Elvis Ragalia.
It was a great turn out. Norm and the band were smokin'.
The hot dogs and kielbasa were appreciated by all.
Notables in attendance: Chooch, Rat, ( Pig was not there
and was missed by all), Timmy & Debbie, Jimmy Clark.
Thanks to Cathie and the staff for helping to put a
really fun evening together.
May 17, 2003 - Cafe Supreme
- Irwin, PA
The band played a broad mix of great tunes throughout
the night. It's really cool how sometimes they'll play
straight rock-dance jams and other nights a combination
of stories, mixed tunes, etc. This night was mostly one
kick ass jam after another. Norm later performed a new
song for the first time in public without warning the
band and it was an instant hit with the crowd entitled
"Mr. Right Now". Whitey and Harry blended right in. It
was Ralph, the owner's wife Adrian's birthday and we
appreciate him having them play.
Notables in attendance: Jimmy Sinclair, Jim Wexell, a
writer for the Steelers, Ray and Barbara, Dave & Brenda
who brought some great musician friends from Ligonier
including Jason and wife Jill (Jason, is a great guitar
player from "Fat Daddy" and Jill an open stage singer) ,
Hugo from Florida (night club owner-possible booking in
the works), Guy and wife, Pete Oddo (Norm's cousin) who
sat in on drums while Whitey Cooper got up and sang
several soulful tunes up front.
May 9,
2003 - Excuses - Pittsburgh PA- Excuses, South Side:
Norm featured Zack Weissinger on guitar who is fast on
his way from teenage blues virtuoso to blues legend.
Stay posted for the new CD Norm is producing of him due
later this summer. Zack was on a roll and did great
versions of "Bulldog" and "Nightclub" and also a great
solo on "Bull Legged Woman".
Notables in attendance: Angelo and Terry from the
now defunct Ultamatics, Leanne Regalla and friend
May 3,
2003 - Pittsburgh (Blawnox) PA - Moondog's:
Another one of Norm and band's regular stomping grounds.
A great night it was indeed! For some reason since
Norm's been playing so many great gigs lately his B.S.
level was really on and the crowd was on a roll!
Notables in attendance: Dale & Birthday girl Debbie,
brother Ron & Patty, Kim from Minnesota (formerly from
Pittsburgh and missing it badly), Gil & Sue, Mary the
bartender also a birthday girl!
May 2,
2003 - Columbus Ohio -
The Thirsty Ear Tavern:
Cool opening act, can't remember their name, sorry
guys...our bad. Norm got up and played for 3 hours
straight and were on fire the whole night, saying he
can't ever remember playing for 3 hours straight, but
the crowd was on fire! So that's a record. Those
Columbus folks must have big bladders and so must Norm
and band! You should have been there!
Notables in attendance: Bruce & Charlie Nutt |
