DUELING PIANOS @ THE BELMAR HOTEL, ALTOONA 9/20/08
After a full day and seeing nine bands at Roar in the Mountains, I was not done yet! I had two more shows this night to check out! My next destination was Altoona’s Belmar Hotel, to check out Dueling Pianos.
If you’ve vacationed in locales such as Orlando or Myrtle Beach, you may have seen dueling pianos performances, where two or more piano players trade off performances to provide nonstop musical entertainment. The Altoona edition of Dueling Pianos has been performing and honing their routine regularly at the Belmar Hotel in recent months. Two familiar and seasoned local keyboard and singing vets comprise this edition of Dueling Pianos: Adam D and John Koeck.
I arrived just before the start of their second set, as a mid-sized Belmar crowd looked on. Facing each other on their respective keyboards, Adam and John traded off songs, honoring audience requests and improvising tunes and humor along the way. The second set started off appropriately enough with Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” and continued as the two pianists alternated songs. Adam sang songs from the Hollies, Violent Femmes, Journey, Guns N’Roses, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and more; while John sang tunes from Neil Diamond, BTO, Elton John and more. The two had fun along the way, trading quips with each other and the audience, and honoring the occasional audience request. They fired up the party during this set, finishing with a crowd shout-along version of the Isley Brothers favorite “Shout.”
Dueling Pianos’ nightcap set featured some interesting highlights as well, as the two piano slingers continued to duel and blend their talents. John kicked things off with another Elton John favorite, “Bennie and the Jets,” and also sang a version of Wings’ “Live and Let Die.” Adam crooned on versions of Styx’s “Come Sail Away” and Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll,” before the pair launched a back-and-forth medley of Elvis Presley hits, doing “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Devil in Disguise,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Satisfy Me” and “Hound Dog.” Adam took things the rest of the way to finish out the night, singing lead on tunes from Journey, Dr. Hook, ELO, Queen and John Mellencamp.
Adam explained to me that audience participation is an important ingredient of this show, and the goal every night is to get the full house involved in singing and cheering along. Although the Belmar wasn’t its rowdiest this night, it was still a good time. Adam and John are hoping to soon expand Dueling Pianos into new markets such as Pittsburgh, State College and Harrisburg, to see if they bring a little bit of that southern beach vacation magic home to Pennsylvania stages.
Adam D and John Koeck of Dueling Pianos.
Looking over John Koeck’s shoulder at Adam D during Dueling Pianos’ performance.
HAIR FORCE ONE @ 30 SOMETHING, ALTOONA 9/20/08
Since Dueling Pianos was finished performing shortly after midnight, I still had enough time to head to 30 Something for one of the last performances of local headbanging favorites Hair Force One before they take an indefinite hiatus from area stages.
This night featuring singer Victor Synn, guitarists Philip DaPussee and Jimi Hatt, bassist Iva Biggin and drummer G; Hair Force One took the Altoona audience through the Decade of Decadence one more time. I arrived early in their final set, and watched as a huge crowd helped Hair Force One celebrate the hair-band 80’s with tunes from Cinderella, Faster Pussycat, Twisted Sister, Warrant, Guns N’Roses, Poison and more. The group welcomed stage assistant Heywood Jablome, dubbed both a “Metric Ton of Love” and the “Fresh Prince of Claysburg,” to sing lead on the Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right (to Party).” As the set progressed, numerous ladies populated the stage, dancing alongside, around and against band members. After Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time” ended the set, and audience members demanded an encore, Victor acknowledged and thanked the band’s crew and all present and past members, before Hair Force One closed out the show with Guns N’Roses’ “Sweet Child Of Mine” and Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health.”
After six years of heavy gigging, Hair Force One is taking a break. It was fun while it lasted, and I enjoyed many a trip through the “Decade of Decadence” from this band’s debut show at Peter C’s to numerous City Limits/30 Something shows, to performances in Ebensburg, Johnstown and more. Victor said the break might not be a permanent one, so hopefully after these guys recharge their batteries, maybe we’ll see the “tour that never ends” resume at some point down the road.
Victor Synn of Hair Force One.
G of Hair Force One.
The kilted one, Jimi Hatt, returns for Hair Force One’s 30 Something finale.
Phillip DaPussee of Hair Force One.
Victor Synn sings to a party-hardy crowd.
Again, Philip DaPussee of Hair Force One.
Heywood Jablome and another guest, fighting for your right to party.
Again, Heywood and guest.
Phillip DaPussee gets in on the act.
Phillip is joined by another visitor.
…and another visitor.
Once again, Phillip DaPussee and partying people onstage.
Melissa and Victor Synn almost have matching outfits!
Again, G of Hair Force One.
It’s a mob scene on and off the stage with Hair Force One.
Hair Force One’s blowout party continues.
Wow, what a party!
Victor Synn, surrounded by women.
Jimi Hatt, surrounded by women.
More of Victor Synn and the Hair Force One party.
Jimi Hatt gets some help supporting that big guitar.
Again, Victor Synn and partying people.
Iva Biggin of Hair Force One.
Iva gets some company onstage.
One more time, Hair Force One and a mob of fans.
THE CAVALIERS @ ITALIAN FOOD FESTIVAL, DELGROSSO’S PARK, TIPTON 9/21/08
Food was the main order of this day for me, as I continued tradition and attended the annual Italian Food Festival at Delgrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton. And while I was there, I saw a band.
First was…the food. Hooking up with fellow Italian food connoisseurs Big Jim, Sparky and Guv’nor Jesse, I ordered up the pasta sampler platter from “The Kitchens of DelGrosso,” which included portions of lasagna, gnocci, shells, meatballs, plus salad, roll and butter, and for dessert, rum cake. Bottom line…Good eating! Later, I would top it off with a small tub of gelato (Italian ice cream).
In the distance, we heard accordionist and singer Guido Zambotti, an annual favorite at this event, singing Italian love songs as he played his instrument. After he finished his set, the featured band of the day, The Cavaliers from Pittsburgh, stepped onstage to perform a selection of Italian and American hits and standards. Performing as a band for 20 years, The Cavaliers feature Nick on accordion and keys, Dan on bass and vocals, Nick Jr. on drums and button box, Gino on lead vocals, Jaime on keys and vocals, and Bob on guitar and vocals. Their song list included a number of Italian song favorites, including “Arrivaderci Rome” and the Al Martino-popularized “Cuando Cuando Cuando;” and some American music standards, including Jaime singing lead on Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” The Cavaliers were very good at what they did, and the audience, including a number of elderly folks, enjoyed it.
Jaime and Gino of The Cavaliers.
Nick of The Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers, entertaining at DelGrosso’s Italian Food Festival.
Dan of The Cavaliers.
Again, Nick of The Cavaliers.
GREEN EGGS @ PELLEGRINE’S, ALTOONA 9/21/08
Pellegrine’s again closed the lid on my weekend, this time with Green Eggs in the house.
The smoking ban seemed to be having some impact on Pelly’s this night, as the crowd in attendance was notably lower than what this band usually brings in. But there was still enough crowd to make it a party, and Green Eggs kept them entertained during their second set with tunes from Lustra, Wheatus, Finger Eleven, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool and more, some hip hop too.
During the nightcap set, the Green Eggs contingent of singer/bassist Brad Nicarry, singer/keyboardist Brian Nicarry, guitarist/singer Matt Day and drummer Doug Black kept the dance floor fairly busy with numbers from Sublime, Green Day, Blur, Queen, Harvey Danger, Nine Inch Nails, more hip hop and more; eventually drawing the night to a close with Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” My attention was diverted during this set, as I found myself in the midst of some dance floor action myself; rare, but it happens!
Although a bigger crowd would have made it better, it was still a fun party, and Green Eggs successfully kept the folks who were there happy. Hopefully this crowd lull from the smoking ban will just be a temporary one!
Matt Day of Green Eggs.
Green Eggs, partying down Pellegrine’s.
Brian Nicarry of Green Eggs.
Doug Black of Green Eggs.
Brad Nicarry of Green Eggs.
JP’s HAIKU
Roar Barbecue, Bash
Legion Park filled with bikers
Buried Whine at Shrine
