If you used to listen to WFBG's "All Night Album Rock" program back in the late 70's and early 80's (back before Steve Kelsey became a frogman and Jay Randyll became a bluesman), you might remember a band called The Good Rats, and their song "Taking It To Detroit," which used to get played often on the show. The Good Rats came to be known as "the world's most famous unknown band," because despite opening for Kiss, Rush, Springsteen, and other famous names, and playing places like Madison Square Garden and Veteran's Stadium, they never could turn the corner to superstardom outside of their native New York City.
Well, a new version of the Good Rats, featuring founding member/singer Peppi Marchello and his son playing guitar, is playing a free concert at St. Clair Park in Greensburg on Friday night, August 27 starting at 7 PM. I'm planning to go to it. I'm going to take my old vinyl copy of the Good Rats' From Rats to Riches album (with "Taking it to Detroit" on it) and see if I can get Peppi to autograph it - and tell him that the Rats used to get airplay in Altoona, PA! It ought to be fun!
But a heads up to anyone who remembers the Good Rats, the current edition is playing a free show not too far away from us next Friday evening!
Attention "All Night Album Rock" fans!
As promised, I went and caught the 2004 edition of the Good Rats, and their free concert at St. Clair Park in downtown Greensburg on Friday night.
Definite good time! The current edition of the Good Rats - original singer Peppi Marchello, his sons Gene and Stefan on guitar and drums respectively, and bass player Dennis Perry - played songs from throughout the Good Rats catalog, including "Taking It To Detroit" and, by yours truly's request, "Local Zero." Peppi, who turns 60 next month, still has the voice, and his kids can play their instruments!
Although several hundred people were in attendance, most were older folks who were there because it was the weekly free concert and they were attending anyway. By night's end, all ten hardcore Rats fans in the audience - including yours truly - were all sitting in the front row and cheering the band on. After the show, I took my vinyl album copy of the Good Rats' From Rats to Riches up to a surprised Peppi, who autographed it, and was happy that the Rats got airplay on Altoona radio back in the day, and still do on Q94's "Closet Chronicles."
I wound up buying the group's latest CD, Play Dum (under the band name Dum, which is what the current edition with Peppi's kids goes by; there's several updates of Good Rats tunes on it), and a Good Rats T-shirt (both for $30, not bad!). So I have the distinction of likely being the only person in Altoona wearing a Good Rats T-shirt...very cool!
Definite good time! The current edition of the Good Rats - original singer Peppi Marchello, his sons Gene and Stefan on guitar and drums respectively, and bass player Dennis Perry - played songs from throughout the Good Rats catalog, including "Taking It To Detroit" and, by yours truly's request, "Local Zero." Peppi, who turns 60 next month, still has the voice, and his kids can play their instruments!
Although several hundred people were in attendance, most were older folks who were there because it was the weekly free concert and they were attending anyway. By night's end, all ten hardcore Rats fans in the audience - including yours truly - were all sitting in the front row and cheering the band on. After the show, I took my vinyl album copy of the Good Rats' From Rats to Riches up to a surprised Peppi, who autographed it, and was happy that the Rats got airplay on Altoona radio back in the day, and still do on Q94's "Closet Chronicles."
I wound up buying the group's latest CD, Play Dum (under the band name Dum, which is what the current edition with Peppi's kids goes by; there's several updates of Good Rats tunes on it), and a Good Rats T-shirt (both for $30, not bad!). So I have the distinction of likely being the only person in Altoona wearing a Good Rats T-shirt...very cool!