This ‘encore gig’ scheduled for Friday and Saturday August 1st and 2nd at the Plant-6, Niagara Street was booked by our new agent, Georgine Tramontana at Adventure Productions. Sadly, it was cancelled last minute while the band and entourage were literally loading the equipment truck whilst preparing to leave and set-up for the show! Here’s how it all went down:
CANCELLED – Plant 6 Niagara Street Aug 1st & 2nd 1980
It all started earlier in the month when the band invited Georgine to come down to meet us and see our show at the Plant-6, July 12, 1980.
Adventure had a few bands from around town on their roster. Most notably, JDM Hybrid, who I think were the only band to sign an ‘exclusive deal’ with Adventure Productions, meaning JDM couldn’t book their own shows, or accept gigs from other agents.
Georgine Tramontana Plant 6 July 12, 1980, Niagara Street, Buffalo NY
Justus was another band booked by Adventure, but like Parousia, Justus didn’t sign exclusively much to Georgine’s displeasure.
Parousia eventually struck a deal with Adventure, we didn’t have to sign ‘exclusive’ but as a result, Adventure would take a higher cut. Once we signed the partial deal with Adventure, she immediately contacted the Plant-6 and booked the band back into the club on July 25 & 26, 1980… a gig we were assured to have anyway but because we signed with Adventure, she took credit and took 20%. The band struck a deal we didn’t really like very much and were constantly feeling the pressure to sign exclusively.
Robert Lowden, Eric Scheda, Kim Watts, Patt Connolly. Parousia – Plant 6, Niagara Street, 1980
Putting this unpleasantness aside, and after much toiling in the band’s musical laboratory, Parousia premiered its infamous, “Good vs. Evil” show-set on July 20th at Melanie’s Pub on Main near Transit, and it was a big hit with the audience. A rep from a new music agency, Backstage Productions saw and heard us and liked the show.
Barry Cannizzaro, Garth Huels. Parousia – Plant 6, Niagara Street, 1980
Not long after the Melanie’s gig, the band was introduced to Rick Falkowski and Dave Buffamonti from Backstage Productions who were interested in managing and booking the band, promising as much work as we wanted to take on.
Rick Falcowski & Dave Buffamonti – Backstage Productions
Once Georgine heard that we were in negotiations with her competition, Dave and Rick at Backstage, she didn’t take the news so well… but what could she do? …we didn’t sign the exclusive deal.
We played that weekend at the Plant-6 as per our agreement and at the end of the night Adventure re-booked us to return to the Plant-6 the very next weekend, August 1st and 2nd.
Kim Watts & Patt Connolly. Parousia – Plant 6, Niagara Street, 1980
On the night of the gig, the band and entourage were at the Music Mall with the equipment truck half loaded (and paid for). Suddenly we got a call on the Music Mall pay phone; it was from Georgine at Adventure. She said the gig was cancelled that night!
Barry Cannizzaro, Garth Huels. Parousia – Plant 6, Niagara Street, 1980
We could never get a straight answer as to why the show was cancelled last-minute, but we suspected it may have had something to do with our interest in working with Backstage Productions. POLITICS… Good Grief!
Gerry Cannizzaro, Patt Connolly, Barry Cannizzaro. Parousia – Plant 6, Niagara Street, 1980
The band and crew drove the paid rental truck to Mc Donald’s to drown our sorrows in Big Mac’s, Cheeseburgers, Filet O’ Fish and fries. Afterward, we were ‘all dressed up with no place to go’ and decided to meet-up at Garth’s house for an all-night impromptu party. I remember we all got stinking drunk together that night! … Amen!
The band signed with Backstage Productions on August 20th, 1980 and soon after took-on a stronger presence in the local music scene.
Parousia 1980