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Joe G
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The second annual Polkspalooza was the place to be yesterday. As far as I'm concerned, the band is playing better than ever. I can't even begin to describe my feelings as we were playing "The Biddle Mine." I know my Dad was looking down and smiling when Johnny ripped it up on "The Shape I'm In." How about that pasta salad!! World class.
Johnny Marsiglio and I grew up together and I love his Mom and Dad like my own. Playing with him was another chill inducing moment. By the end of the night I was walking on air. Hats off to Art, Joffo, Bernie, Joe P, and the newest Houserocker Danny G. with whom we are thrilled to have in the band.
The Knobs sounded better than ever. The great Phil Falcocchio, the best drummer ever to come out of Norwin HS, was on the drums. Phil was THE MAN back in the day playing with the Starfires and the Napolianic Warriors. It was an honor to share the stage with Phil and Johnny.
I loved seeing all my old friends and relatives. Thanks everyone for your support.
21 August 2006 - Home
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Mark
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Danny, nice job yesterday. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who didn't remember Shot of Salvation being played...I mean I had a few beers, but still. OK, I had a LOT of beer. LOTS! It's all coming back to me now...
21 August 2006 - Greensburg
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Danny G
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I don't remember playing Shot of Salvation. As far as I know, Joe hasn't asked me to learn that one yet.
Biddle was great. Thanks to everyone for coming out to make it a happening day. It was great meeting all the old time HR fans. I especially enjoyed my conversation with Mama Grushecky (as I called her all night...I hope she didn't mind)about pigs in the blanket recipes. All in all it was a great time. Hey, what about The Knobs!! They're a great band and a great bunch of guys (and gals). You guys rocked!!
21 August 2006
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Mark
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Great night in Biddle, good friends, and the band was red hot. Oh, and did I mention the beer was flowing freely?? For whatever reason, I can't remember "Shot of Salvation" being played,but hey, I'll take your word for it Zeke and everyone!
Highlights were a smokin' Dirty Water; Shape I'm In was GREAT as always; Joe and Johnny Mars channeling Mick and Keith on Oh Carol and Satisfaction; and Code of Silence was blistering. Got my copy of the new CD, and even got some comments from the man himself. Joe I like what I hear so far...Is She the One is my early favorite.
All in all a great night. I take back my comment about there being no good food at the Biddle Picnic.....Who made that pasta salad anyway????/
21 August 2006 - Greensburg
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Gena
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Thanks Keith for your eloquent review, I could not have said it better. The only thing I will disagree with you about is opening for the Stones...the last few tours have been a greatest hits tour imo and their Superbowl performance was embarrasing to me (sorry Mark and others just my opinion). Joe's CD is totally 10 steps above anything they are doing right now.
This CD is absolutely the best Joe G yet. I promise to write more thoughts when I can but right now I will say that it is everything that has been written about it. Top notch songwriting, passionate vocals and EXCELLENT guitar work (and I'm all about guitars for those who don't know me). Bob J. called it Joe's crowning acheivement, I call it fabulous! Joe dug down deep to give us the gift of his talents and as someone on the board said, it's music for the ages, all ages anytime. Thanks Joe, and thanks Ricky for your production and guitar work! Looking forward to hearing some of these tunes live.
20 August 2006 - Charleroi
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Susan/Zeke/Lisa
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Set list for Biddle, Aug.20, 2006
What a great time!
Dance With Me
Long Way to Go
Shot of Salvation
Lucky Man
Hide Away
Biddle Mine
Fingerprints
Mustang Sally
Labor of Love
Pumpin' Iron
Code of Silence
Have a Good Time
Everything's Gonna Work Out
No Strings Attached
Oh Carol
Can't Get No Satisfaction
Polka- Because Just Because-with John Narreto
You and Tonight
Jr.'s Bar
Never Be Enough Time
Shape I'm In
Down the Road
Labamba/Twist and Shout
Big crowd, great Biddle response! Mrs. G. out on the dance floor! Got my copy of the new CD!
20 August 2006
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Matthew B. Harrison
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Keith,
Very well said. I loved reading your post. I am very excited for the new CD also. The West Coast rumor is that there will be a "September Swing" tour just like the "October Assault" tour, which was 10 years ago(yikes). The tour starts with dates at the Hard Rock in Vegas. A man can dream can't he?
Later,
LV Matty B.
20 August 2006 - North Las Vegas, NV
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Maggie O.
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Keith: Well said! and AMEN!
20 August 2006 - the burg
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Katherine
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Good to hear Joe on 105.7 The Hawk today. Host Tom Cunningham said the station had been playing Code of Silence this week. Other news is the release date for A Good Life is Sept 5 and that video for A Good Life was being shot today at the same site along the Allegheny River as is pictured on the front of the CD.
20 August 2006 - NJ
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Keith G. Kondrich
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Over the weekend I had the unexpected opportunity to listen to a promotional copy of “A Good Life” in its entirety. Believe me. . .there is going to be a lot written and a lot said about this album but honestly, no matter how eloquent the speaker or how poignant the words, few if any descriptions are going to do justice to what I believe to be Joe’s finest work ever. . .his magnum opus.
Why? Because words are simply inadequate instruments for capturing the emotional levels, spiritual planes, and physical chills that this music elicits. So then, why am trying to describe this album with the written word? Well, because I am bursting. . .literally bursting. . . and if you’re not bursting after listening to this album, then Cyril Wecht could resurrect his career by performing your autopsy!
First of all, there are some classic rockers here that make you wanna crack open an Iron City or a Rolling Rock and hit the dance floor. After all, this is a Grushecky album. “Is She The One”, “A Good Life”, and “Party Tonight” are the kind of fun, house-rocking songs that wash away the weariness and stress of the work week and remind you that life is meant to be celebrated full force! Who among us doesn’t fantasize daily about chucking the cell phone, pitching the Blackberry, trashing the pager, standing up at the workplace and shouting “I’m tired of serious, let’s get delirious”? Joe could make a million bucks trademarking this verse from “Party Tonight” and selling it on t-shirts, posters, and bumper stickers! Ridiculous? Hey, “Shit Happens”!
Does anybody know if a song has ever won a Grammy more than once? We all know that Bruce chalked up one for “Code of Silence” but now it is definitely Joe’s turn. You’ve probably heard it on the radio by now, however there is nothing like controlling the volume on your own stereo and cranking the hell out of this piece. And while we’re on the topic of awards, if Creedence Clearwater Revival had recorded “Too Hot To Think” they would have reached the #1 hit single that eluded them their entire career. Finally, when Joe is invited to open for The Rolling Stones, he can teach Stones fans a thing or two by playing “Nothing Without You”. I guarantee that by the end of this song, the crowd will be chanting “Mick Who?” “Keith Who?”
As the father of four children under the age of 12, I always thought that “Innocence Is Beautiful” from “Coming Home” was the quintessential celebration of parenthood.. . .until I listened to “Father & Son”. From “You were waiting there, clutching that beat up old teddy bear” to “Someday our fathers all come to take us home”. . .I balled. . .I wept. . .I called my dad. . .I hugged my sons. This is the most beautiful song I have ever heard! Remember how you felt when you first heard (and really understood) Harry Chapin’s “Cats in the Cradle”? Well, it is sort of like that, but rather than the despair of “Cats’, “Father” leaves you with a bittersweet appreciation of what Mrs. G. has been referring to as the circle of life! My wife had a similar reaction to both “Beauty Fades” and “Don’t Forget Where You’re Coming From” which again, underscores my point that Joe is the poet of our age, touching people with images and themes that are at the core of our humanity.
Whether you’re a republican or a democrat; a conservative or a liberal; a person of faith or an atheist. . . “Searching For My Soul” can’t help but move you with subtle images like “The hawks in the sky are screaming, the sand is dripping blood” and not-so-subtle observations like “The Buddhist and the Muslim, the Christian and the Jew, we all must live as brothers, well there ain’t no chosen few”. Perhaps we could convince the Pope, the Dalai Lama, the Reverend Billy Graham, and a few other religious and political leaders to take this message to Darfur, or Baghdad, or Beirut!
The haunting (and I do mean haunting!) 9+ minutes (!) of “Safe at Home” with it’s three progressively blistering guitar solos is probably my favorite song on the album. Musically this is an incredible treat – how many of us have listened to any number of Joe’s songs, wishing they would never end – well okay, at least wishing the jam would go on at least a little while longer?! Lyrically, “Safe At Home” can be interpreted in many ways, depending on your own personal experience and situation. Are you waiting for a child to return home from military service; waiting for a daughter to come home from her first date? Waiting for a son to come home from a night out with the boys? When Joe pleads “Father can’t you hear me; Mary mother full of grace; Walk beside him and protect him; Won’t you please help keep him safe”, you know without hesitation that this is a prayer that everyone of us has said at some point in our lives. I can’t wait to see this performed live – especially with Rick Witkowski!
Okay, I told you at the beginning that I was “bursting” and I sincerely apologize for raving on like a sophomore with a crush on his history teacher! But, in a day and age where “Heroes Are Hard To Find”, Joe has once again given us something to talk about; something to sing about; something to shout about; something to remind us that it is indeed “A Good Life”.
20 August 2006 - Pittsburgh, PA
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