Nov. 29 - 2003 map | driving directions 
Chesapeake Steak & Seafood 1965 Streets Run Road, 
Pittsburgh, PA  15236 412-885-0650 (Click here for pics)
(Also, Drink special beer promotion night: Bud, Bud Light & Yuenling $1 bottle between 9pm - 11 pm)
9:30 - 1:30 am. - Sat.
The bullshit was flyin' and the manful handful was at the top of his game throwin it and showin it and makin it look easy. "Ready Freddy", "Heat Of The Night and Burnin" Up brought back the old days. "Ole Number 21" came off great tonight. Norman said he wrote a new song today and although he didn't sing it, he did read the chorus like a poem. "Let's Burn Breakfast In The Mornin" is the title. For some reason, tonight it was painfully obvious what a great job Harry Bottoms and Whitey Cooper do playing with Norman. Think about it...that crazy Italian is liable to do anything at any time and those guys have to deal with it. What a great show tonight! Like he says...makin' it look easy...The guys did "You Go Your Way" again tonight and it sounded like they found the right key. The night closed with an Elvis Presley style soul jam. Man you should have been there. Nights like tonight is why they call him he manful handfull!
Notables in attendance:  Kathy & Frank Zariznak & Birthday Girl Jessica! Happy Birthday Jessica! Martha & Maria, Nick, Ron the gay wrestler & Kathy, Dave & Carol & both of their sister and husband Norman. Whew! Hope I got that right and Chrissy and her girlfiend.
 

Nov. 25 - 2003  Map 
Excuses (Night Before Thanksgiving!!!): 2526 E. Carson St. (South Side), Pittsburgh, PA (412) 431-4090 
10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.
"Lazy Bones", "How You Like Me Now", "Play", "Yesterday's Gone" just rolled off the stage. It sounded like Norman actually learned the real words to Johnny Cash's Fulsom Prison Blues, instead of just mumbling like he has been the past month or so. Better late than never! Now if he could only learn his own words! Ready Freddy popped up early in the show and at least he remembered the words to it. But it was the new songs that seemed to dominate the night. "That Ain't Gonna Happen". Has anybody noticed how "bad" that song is?! "Who Dat Do Dat" Powerful! Whitey Cooper singin' "Town With No Name". Then Norman did an instant version of "You Go Your Way" and said he picked the wrong key to sing it in. Nashville drummer Brice Foster of Wheeling West Virginia sat in while Whitey sang "Shamalama Ding Dong" , "Just Another Christmas Song", Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", Wilson Pickett's "634-5789". Sue Thompson's old 1950's classic "Norman", closed the show.
Notables in attendance: Marsha & Susan, Nick & Jim, Terrible Tom, Maria, Ted Gordon, Dave & Carol, Tony P. and lady Friend, Toni Martelli & Bagpiper Bill Fife
Footnote: Just heard our dear froend Alan Land hasn't been feeling well. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Nov. 22 - 2003  Map 
Excuses: 2526 E. Carson St. (South Side), Pittsburgh, PA (412) 431-4090 
10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.

Third night in a row, the guys were playin' strong. "How You Like Me Now", "Play", "Yesterday's Gone", (just makin' it look easy). "Pittsburgh PA" sounded great. "That Ain't Gonna Happen" and "I Seen Too Much"...Powerful! Then "Ole Number 21" by request and it's not even baseball season. Chizmo Charles came up and sang "Green, Green Grass Of Home", "The Just Because Polka" and a bad-ass slow blues. You could just see how much Norman loves Chizmo. Second set, "Who Dat Do Dat", "Mr Right Now", then an old friend Jerry Stanek got up and sang "Truck Drivin' Man", Elvis' "can't Help Falling In Love", then stayed up to play bass while Norman crushed "Up Jumps The Devil". Harry got back up on bass and George the Greek got up on drums while Whitey sang "White Christmas" and Norman's "Just Another Christmas" song.
Notables in attendance: Brother Ron, Dale & Debbie, Terrible Tom, Nick, Ron the gay wrestler, Angelo & Dream Date, Melissa & Gentleman friend

Nov. 21 -2003  Map
VFW Turtle Creek: (Benefit for the kid's Christmas party) Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 207, 912 Penn Ave, Turtle Creek, PA 15145 (412) 823-3260
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Fri.

The club looked great with red & white balloons and a great food layout. Although this crowd seemed more interested in drinkin' than eatin'. In the middle of the first set, Norman called up an old friend, Chris Franchese and Shari Richards to sing with him on "Hidin' and Peepin''". The music just poured off the stage tonight in the most powerful fashion. Three man band or three man orchestra? A fairly well-behaved Rat Man got up in full costume to bark on "Love Dog" and stayed up to sing "Wasted Days And Wasted Nights" (something he knows a lot about). A rarely done Patsy Kline's "Walking After Midnight" sounded great. Harry Bottoms sang "Singin The Blues", Whitey shined on "Sick N Tired", Shari and Chris came back up on "Mojo". Norman handed Chris his guitar and started dancin' with Shari...and all was right with the world.
Notables in attendance: Sissy & Wayne, Betty Lou, Norman's sister Ann, Kathy & Mark, Donna Montedoro, Ruth-Ann, Bob & Pam and Buddy who traveled 70 miles to be there on his birthday.

Nov. 20  - 2003  Map
Moondog's: 378 Freeport Rd, Blawnox, PA (412) 828-2040  
10:00 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Thurs.

Opening act "The Offenders" did a hot set of cool covers and a couple originals. Cool new band! Featuring on guitar and vocals, Ray Morreton and bass and vocals "Shades". Then, Norman and the guys got up and played 2 hours straight. Norman was playing through Ray's amp because he said he blew up his amp at the Crazy Horse (It must have been a pretty crazy horse!) Tonight was about laughin' and havin fun. "Three Times Your Fool" kicked ass. "My Old Rock n Roll Guitar" raged, "Rainbow" was turned into "Reindeer" and dedicated to Mary the bartender. That's her favorite song. "I Hate A Nickel" was dedicated to the poor people (our people). Mostly, Norman just ranted and raved and talked out of his mind. That man's a super freak. Mike Flocarri got up and sang on "Smoke Two Joints" and did an improv reminiscent of Jim Morrison. Norman pointed out what hairy forearms he had. Turn on? Turn off?
Notables in attendance: Mike Flocarri and Mark the vet, Gordon & Lovely Wife,

Nov. 15 - 2003 Crazy Horse: 28 S Main St, Ellsworth, PA 15331 (724) 239-3749 
9 pm - 1 am - Sat.

The first set just came firin' from the stage. Lot's of new stuff..."That Ain't Gonna Happen", "I Seen Too Much", "This Ain't Gettin It". Then out of the blue, a song the guys haven't played in a couple years "Pittsburgh, PA" You could tell the guys felt like playin'. "Burnin Up" smoked! "I Hate A Nickel" kicked! Then as he's been doing lately, Norm paid tribute to Johnny Cash. For no apparent reason, "Brown Eyed Girl" and the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers". Second set, everybody was dancin. Great performance on "My Old Rock N Roll Guitar". Rarely do the guys play "Bow Legged Woman" unless Chizmo or Zach are sitting in. But, during this night's version, a chick fight ensued right in front of the stage. It seemed to excite Norman! There's a good chance he's real weird. Then he saw a girl in the audience grabbin a guy's ass. He told him "Dude, she's on you like ugly on an ape!" He hit the nail right on the head. "Ready Freddy" closed an amazing second set.
Notables in attendance: Melissa, Dave (short hair), Dave (long hair), Bobby Moore and a cast of local loonies

Nov. 8 - 2003 McArdle's Pub (click for their website!) 2811 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA  15131    [412] 754-3722 10pm - 2am. - Sat.

Wow! What a night! Rockin strong with double N! People of all ages from 21 to 60 joined at the groove. "How You Like Me Now", "That's Enough About Me", right into "Burnin Up". Pittsburgh rock n roll today and Pittsburgh rock n roll yesterday for everyone to see and hear. Some young dudes wanted to hear some Johnny Cash. How cool?! Norman stuck it right in their ear. Norman's cousin Pete Oddo got up on drums to end the first set with Whitey u front doin lead vocals on the Ronett's "Be My Baby". Then Norman closed the set with Bobby Womack's "It's All Over Now". The second set started with a barrage of new songs..."Someone I Can't Live Without", "Who Dat Do Dat", "This Ain't Gettin It", "That Ain't Gonna Happen" and "I Seen Too Much". The evening ended with a lot of old standards..."Nothin To Lose". "High Times", "I Just Want To Rock You". The dance floor was full and the people were goin nuts! The guy layin on his back on the floor, having beer poured into his mouth was not an illusion. Just another beautiful person enjoying the power and glory of real Pittsburgh rock n roll.
Notables in attendance: Pete Oddo and in-laws, Skip & Grey from New Jersey, Ron & Patty, Bobby & Jen, Misty & Lady Friend, Rat & Betty Lou, Marcia, Don & Sue, Jimmy Sinclair & his Norwin Class of 78!!, special thanks to Jim Booker our gracious host.

Nov. 1 - 2003 Map   Driving Directions Tugboat's Halloween Party!!!!!: 1105 West St, East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 (Chalfont by Turtle Creek - take Greensburg Pike exit from Parkway to Turtle Creek , right onto West Street at bottom of hill on left) 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Sat.

"Lazy Bones", "I Hate A Nickel", "Mr. Right Now", "Who Dat Do Dat", "Yesterday's Gone" and "Nothin To Lose" all shined in the first set. Norman seemed more interested in playin' than bullshittin' and the band seemed to come to life. "Shutup and play dork boy!" Bar owner, Jerry and his staff did a great job collecting money for muscular dystrophy. We'd like to thank everybody for their contributions. Young Zack Weissinger came struttin' in and joined the band for the entire second set. The kid freaked on "Bulldog", "Boilermaker", "Let's Start All Over Again", "Walkin' With My Baby" and "Bow Legged Woman". Zack sounded like he's been listening to surf music. For an encore, the guys came out and did "That Girl" to end the night. Norman blew the last high note of the song. What a dork.
Notables in attendance: Marsha and Don, (the commander in chief), Sue, Rat & Betty Lou & Sis, Wies & Charmaine, Ann, Dee & Rachel, Todd & Shawn, The Jan Man, Cowpants, John & 2 lady friends!