Friday, March 24 & Saturday, March 25...My birthday party!

This week was wonderful! Friday I played at a new place called the Furnace in Orchard Park, NY. The owner was awesome and it was great to be back home in Orchard Park (I grew up there). Saturday was amazing. I played at Griffin's Irish Pub in South Buffalo. It was my birthday celebration and so many people came from all over to be with me. The place was absolutely packed. We filled the front room and people spilled over into the bar. My friend told me he had a hard time getting into the place because there was so many people! What made it great was the family members and friends that showed up in droves. My girlfriend, Lisa arranged the whole party...The cake was wonderful and everyone had a ball. Danny Griffin, the owner of Griffin's got up and sang some Elvis tunes and "Cat's in the Cradle." He ruled! My music partner, Bob Luterek (the second half of Replay and Button-Eyed Eric) performed acoustic and then we closed with some hot Jazz! Seeing people like Freddy Zillner, the Sullivans, Maria Hejna, Ed and Diane Strawbrich and so many more filled my heart! Thanks to everyone for a great evening! This Friday I'm at Tony Rome's in West Seneca and Saturday at Hideaway Bay in Silver Creek. More to come...Peace.

St. Patty's Day Weekend

Wow! I was busy as all get go this week...4 shows and my voice held out! Thursday I played at Bennigan's on Maple Rd. I started with the traditional Irish music (jigs, reels and Irish folk). There was a a respectable little crowd there but I think they were gearing up for Friday and Saturday. When Friday rolled around I started playing at Bennigan's again! 3 to 6 and the place was packed with green beer drinkers! We went nuts! My buddy Ed came out and helped me pack up...I went and picked up my girlfriend Lisa and off we were to Olcott, New York at the Light House. I played all traditional Irish music (I'm the only Italian in WNY that does an authentic Irish show) and then some party bar music. For some reason it was pretty quiet in Olcott. The owners Dave and Carol loved the show but we were all disappointed in the turn out...People must've been drinking other places.

Saturday I did a private party at the Elma Conservatin Club and it was filled with people. I had them all doing the Unicorn dance dancing the Jig! All in all it was a great week of playing...

I'm really looking forward to this week coming up. I play at a new place called the Furnace at 3700 Southwestern Blvd. in Orchard Park Friday, March 24. Saturday, March 25 is my HUGE birthday party at Griffin's Irish Pub on Abbott Rd. in South Buffalo. If you are in the area stop down....It's going to be a blast!

March 9, 10, 11

It was a great week of perfomances! Thursday I played to a crowd of 350 people at the Buffalo Marriott. It was a special party for St. Gregory The Great Church. It was awesome. Friday I played at the Sonoma Grille and it was classy as usual with the people wanting more. Saturday was pretty special for me because my sister-in-law had a suprise 80th birthday party for her father and I was the entertainment. I played at Tony Rome's in West Seneca, NY and it was packed. I can't tell you what it feels like to move people with music. This wonderful old man was SO happy. I can't believe how much the entire family appreciated it. I closed the evening with some Sinatra and he and his wife danced and danced. It really was great.

Nothing much else. I'm preparing for all the St. Patrick's Day festivities here in Western New York. It's going to be a blast, even for an Italian like me! I love playing traditional Irish music. Feel free to comment on this post. I'd love to hear from you!

I'm Back!

Damn! It's great to be back. I haven't gone this long without performing in years! I hope everyone is doing fine. Lisa and I went to Montreal...There is far too much to say about that magnificant city! I'm going back during the summer...Gotta catch the Jazz festival. The streets are so alive...Great food and awesome sites. The best thing about Montreal is their love of music! There is so much to see and hear. The first night we went to a great Jazz Bar and heard a wonderful treo (piano, stand up bass and a female vocalist)...God, they were hot! I won't ramble on any more but if you get a chance...visit Montreal. It's the closest thing to Europe you're going to get in North America.

If you're not doing anything...here is what I'm doing this week:

Buffalo Marriott. Millersport Highway. Thursday, March 9 @ 6:00 p.m. (this is a huge fundraiser for St. Gregory's Church. If you can make it out it would certainly be worth it).

Sonoma Grille. 5010 Main St., Snyder. 204-0251. Friday, March 10 @ 8:30 p.m. (I love the Sonoma Grille. It's always alive with a wonderful crowd. It boasts a pretty sophisticated bar atmosphere too).

Tony Rome's. 1537 Union Road, West Seneca. 675-4351. www.tonyromes.com. Saturday, March 11 @ 9:30 p.m (come down to Tony Rome's! We have a huge party of about 60 people showing up as well as the regular crowd. I'm going to rock the place!).

More news to come...Check back here often!

Peace!