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| Tony O & Allen Kanovsky |
Submitted by Al Kanovsky 9/25/13
...mysteries. Some are wondrous,
some mundane. Examples:rainbows-time. Last night at Boston's I ran into one of
those mysteries. How do 4 guys, raised on the streets of New York, play the
BLUES like they grew up on the shores of the Mississippi. Little Mike and the
Tornadoes played straight ahead, traditional,
3 chord, 16 bar BLUES. It has
people clappin', tappin' and dancin'.
People you say? How about(no ego here)me, famous sound engineer/producer Frank Papitto, Jimmy Belize, Piano Bob with Mary, Charlie Boyer with Debbie Strickland(or vice-versa), Shea with Jean, Jennifer Villoria and lots of folks I see all the time but do not know by name.
TonyO Melio (lead
guitar/vocals), Brad Vickers (rhythm guitar), Jonathan Buck (drums) and Little
Mike (harp/vocals) are all native NYers but play with a southern drawl. I don't
know where Danny Hamilton (bass) was raised but have to assume it was south of the
Mason-Dixon line. The band opened with a traditional BLUES tune featuring
a Tony O solo. *note: the city boys started playing together 30 years ago. Little
Mike takes the stage, singing and playing "Baby, Please Don't Go."
He follows with "I Got Drunk
Last Night" and then "'Forgive Me Baby."
During Little Mike's solo he managed to
make that 'Mississipi Saxophone' sound like a soprano sax. The band does "Love
My Money Too" and the groove even has Charlie and the Boston staff clappin'
along. When they do "New Mule Kicking in My Stall" I notice the name on Tony O's
guitar. Linda When I asked him about it, he told me it's his sisters
name. She bought him his first guitar. Her beautiful soul now rests in the Lords
arms. They do "Rock Me" and Mike uses the 'mic' against his throat to create an
interesting effect. "Wait A Minute Baby" a slow shuffle, gets some folks up to
do some exotic and erotic dance moves. One of thes couples, namely, Shea and
Jean do a dance that my friends call the "Why dance!"
When I was 6 years old,
a pal by the name of Jo-jo Pugliese, told me that if you danced like that, you
would make the girl pregnant. I advised them of that fact. It didn't seem to
bother them. I would take that chance with her anytime. I danced with Debby.
She is a bit exotic. I am 82, neither exotic or erotic. Now the band started to
swing with an upbeat shuffle "BLUES Make You Feel So
Good". Tony drops to a knee
with Mike alongside-duets and solos-all good. One of Little Mike's major
influences is James Cotton and they do "Standing Close to My Baby". Now, Mike
makes that harmonica sound like a trumpet played with a 'wah-wah' mute. Another
BLUES musician I know, once referred to harp players as "32 holes & a
talented tongue". We should all be so gifted.
The 2d set started with TonyO
doing a rock 'n roll number titled "My Rocket 88" followed with Mike joining in
on "Everythings Gonna Be Alright" 'Famous Frank Ward' joins in on guitar when
they play "I Don't Want No Woman Tellin' Me What To Do". ---did I write that
lyric?---No. It was done by the great
Bobby BLUE(S) Bland. "These BLUES Are Killing Me" and Jonathan Buck (My homeboy
from The Bronx) does the shuffle solo.They play Jimmy Reed's "You Don't Have To
Go ", now a little funk, with "I Want Your Love All the Time" .
I don't believe it but they do "The
Huckle-buck" and Piano Bob gets up to do some Jitterbug moves. He prefers
the jitterbug over lindy. Something to do with beat count. Dan Lombardi takes
Frank's place on stage. He is no slouch either. The band plays "I Don't Want To
Go". Little Mike jumps off-stage and wanders around the audience playing softly
into some pretty ladies ears. He sits down next to me and doesn't play quite as
softly. #1. I'm not female. #2 I am definitely not pretty. I think Debby Stricland immortalized the moment with a pic. To end the night, Tony O takes
center stage, playing harmonica and vocalizing, "Mr. BLUES, He Don't Like
Nobody" and then everyone doing "Wondering Does That Woman Love Me." Tony O
claims he's from Corona in Queens. I lived for a long time in an adjacent
neighborhood. Nobody from there ever played BLUES guitar like him or 'harp' like
Little Mike. Conclusion: they didn't spend much time in school. 'nuff
said.
Publisher's Note
A truly fine evening it was!
Photos at: https://www.facebook.com/
Vids at: www.youtube.com/
Thanks Bostons Delray / Blue Tuesday / Little Mike and the Tornadoesand Frank Ward
Photos at: https://www.facebook.com/
Vids at: www.youtube.com/
Thanks Bostons Delray / Blue Tuesday / Little Mike and the Tornadoesand Frank Ward
Al's Disclaimer:
A short note: The reason I write this is because I love music and words. I do not book acts. I do not promote acts. I do not accept invitations to review artists. I go to venues of my own choice. When and where is not influenced by anything other than who I would like to hear that night or day. If I don't like what I hear, I won't write about it. When I like it I let you all know. I never mention a name without asking permission. "Pardon me, Miss. Would you like to dance?"
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