T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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2742.1 | | LEDS::ORSI | BeenFlushedFromTheBathroomOfYourHeart | Mon Jun 07 1993 13:48 | 24 |
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Re - Tom Principato
> Okay, I'm curious. Anyone out there got more on this guy?
/rick,
About '73-'74, I was at Brandy's I or II? on Comm Ave in Brighton
enjoying Big Screamin' McGrew (front guy-harp player) and his band,
when this teetering drunk guy wearing chinos, burlap shoes, and an
undersize Banlon shirt kept spilling his draft on the sleeve of my
jacket and I'm getting pi$$ed. At this very same moment, Big Screamin'
was introducing a guitar player from another local band called Powerhouse
who was gonna sit in and his name was Tom Principato. I was about to say
something to this loser, when he heads for the stage, grabs a guitar, the
tune starts, and he's wailing his ass off with the tastiest blues chops
I'd ever heard. I went from being pi$$ed off to being totally amazed and
I never washed that jacket again. 8^)
I did get to see Powerhouse a few times and they were great. I always
wondered what happened to him after they broke up.
Neal
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2742.2 | | TECRUS::ROST | I need air freshener under the drums | Mon Jun 07 1993 14:01 | 14 |
| As Neal sez, Principato was a Boston boy who played in Powerhouse
(vocalist was George Leh, who stills gigs around here, a dynamite
singer). They did one album for a small label (Alladin?), which is a
collectable in these parts...they were part of the early seventies N.E.
blue wave (Geils, Montgomery, Roomful).
Principato headed south and lives in the DC area these days. He
started a label called Powerhouse who also issue stuff by Tom's buddies
such as the Nighthawks. He's got about a half dozen elpees out now.
Keep your eyes peeled on the Phoenix, he hits Johnny D's about once a
year.
Brian
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2742.3 | oh, he's one of us old guyz | RICKS::CALCAGNI | submit to Fred | Mon Jun 07 1993 14:08 | 3 |
| re Neal
Whoa, great story! I had no idea he'd been around that long either.
|
2742.4 | | SAHQ::ROSENKRANZ | Rock with Gene & Eddy | Mon Jun 07 1993 14:40 | 6 |
| Yes! TP is great! I've seen him live here in Atlanta on one occaision.
The song referred to a couple notes back is "Congo Square". He does
some great instrumental work as well (Blue Lights). One of my favorite
tunes (don't recall if he wrote it) is "Never make your move too soon".
jim
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2742.5 | Smokin! | GOOEY::WWALKER | hoonamana me bwango | Mon Jun 07 1993 16:20 | 9 |
| If I remember correctly, I saw him once or twice at the South Main Cafe
in Blacksburg, Va, in the '83-'88 time frame. One of the guys I used
to see all the time, Bob Margolin (who was Muddy Waters right hand man
for a little while), invited Tom down from the DC area, and I think Tom
was promoting his new album, "Smokin'."
Way cool jammin' that night, as was any night at the South Main.
Will
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2742.6 | | LEDS::BURATI | you've got me floatin', float to groove | Mon Jun 07 1993 16:27 | 10 |
|
.2> (vocalist was George Leh, who stills gigs around here, a dynamite
.2> singer). They did one album for a small label (Alladin?), which is a
Brian,
Is that the (blind?) guy that used to sing in a blues band called
Sparrow?
--Ron
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2742.7 | | TECRUS::ROST | I need air freshener under the drums | Tue Jun 08 1993 07:00 | 6 |
| Re: .6
Yep, George Leh also sang for Sparrow. His band have been
called the Rockin' Shoes for the last few years.
Brian
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2742.8 | | SAHQ::ROSENKRANZ | Rock with Gene & Eddy | Tue Jun 08 1993 09:32 | 16 |
| BTW-
I was rummaging through my TP CDs last night and noticed that "Congo
Square" was written by Sonny Landreth. Anyone heard Sonny do this
tune?
I first stumbled onto TP when I picked up the Blazing Telecasters
Album, cause I'm a Danny Gatton fan. Gave me the impression that Tom
was a tele player. However, when I saw him live, he didn't even touch
a tele. He's a Strat man, and relies pretty heavily on the whammy bar.
He's got a recent release entitled "Tip of the iceberg" which I'd
recommend. Also, "Hot Stuff" is a kind of compilation of his older
stuff.
jim
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2742.9 | | LEDS::BURATI | you've got me floatin', float to groove | Tue Jun 08 1993 12:27 | 8 |
| > Yep, George Leh also sang for Sparrow. His band have been
> called the Rockin' Shoes for the last few years.
I sorry for going off on a tangent and I promise to cease real soon but
do you remember the guitar player's name in Sparrow? Tall skinny guy
with an ES335.
--Ron
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2742.10 | might be superstition | RICKS::CALCAGNI | submit to Fred | Wed Jun 09 1993 14:12 | 10 |
| re .8
Yeah, I thought "Congo Square" sounded familiar. It's on Sonny's first
solo record "Down in Lousiana", originally released back in 1985 (under a
different title I believe) and just rereleased on CD (see 2615.10).
The original version is no where near the guitar workout that Tom's is,
but it's a lot "greasier". Both versions would have a home on my stereo.
Great tune too; if this doesn't get your feet movin, you ain't breathin.
/rick
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