Parousia 1980: Patrick Connolly, Kim Watts, Garth Huels, Gerry and Barry Cannizzaro, Bob Lowden and Eric Scheda
It was a Friday night and I remember that when we got to the club we were surprised to see people waiting outside to see us. We did so well at the door it put us in the green $198 after all expenses were paid. We would save that for one of our “rainy days” (aka: a replacement driver for our P.A. horns that frequently blew-out on us at the most in-opportune time).
Parousia band flyer: Frank’s Casa Nova – September 12, 1980
Our new Good vs. Evil ‘show-set’ caught the attention of the locals who frequent the live-band scene and suddenly people were interested in seeing what it was all about. It is best described as a medley of original and cover songs strung together to loosely conform to a single theme and story line.
We used fog, pyrotechnics and weird props on stage, like an eight foot crucifix with a giant bingo card across the arm that pulled down like a window shade; Barry dressed as an old-man in a hat, beard and cane, Patt in a straight-jacket spitting green-goo. Suddenly an explosion on stage and a brain is hurled into the audience! Sometimes we didn’t get it back. Fans would have us sign the brain for a souvenir.
Myron – a lovely song about a psychotic young boy who takes revenge on the peers who taunted and shunned him.
We covered some interesting and obscure music in our show-set like, Blondie’s “I Know, But I Don’t Know” and “Second Coming / the Ballad of Dwight Frye” by Alice Cooper and “Hymn 43” by Jethro Tull. We added to the mix our own weird musical creations like “Myron” by Bob Lowden (a mini rock-opera all on its own), “Revelation” by Patt Connolly and “Lucifer’s Lament” by Garth Huels.
Who the hell is “PEROUSIA” Friday Sept. 12, 1980? Two Hills, Saturday Sept. 13, 1980.
Following us on Saturday night at Frank’s was the band Two Hills. (Sorry about the mess guys). They performed original songs and covered music from artists such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Loggins & Messina, Seals & Crofts. Not exactly a ‘party-music’ band but Two Hills was the band to see if you were out on a date and trying to get laid.
Hello “Rock Pilgrims ! I hope you are doing well these days; in our new “Donald Trump – like world.” Every day is a new adventure; right ? What else can I say; maybe something like; “Let’s see what happens! Kind of sounds familiar. (LOL). Anyway; I want to tell you a quick story back in time when I was performing with my old band Parousia at Frank’s Cassanova night club. Now I don’t know what “gig” it was; probably our first or close to it. I was aware of the fact that “Buster” was the owner of the club; and Buster had a “family connection” with my mom’s side of the family; specifically my mother’s sister; my Aunt; whose name was Dolly; and who affectionally came to be known as “Aunt Doll”. Now being the young “attention hog” that I was back then; (and still am today as a matter of fact. What a surprise !) I decided to tell my mother that we would soon be playing there. My mother was well aware of that club; because it goes WAY BACK in history and has a legacy of very prominent recording and performing artists that performed there at one time; just like the old rock club McVans (who had Frank Sinatra; and Jimmy Hendrix; etc. play there at one time). Yeah; it had that kind of “a legacy-like big name” behind it. I told my mother that the owner’s name was Buster; and she nearly “jumped out of her skin.” “BUSTER”; she exclaimed; “I know Buster; he repeatedly kept trying to go out with your Aunt Doll; over and over and over again. ” I said “SAY WHAT !; why that dirty old man. How dare he.” ‘Naw; I made the dirty old man part up players. Did I suck ‘ya into this or what ? Anyway; after my mom told me of Buster’s dating objectives; being enamored and smitten with my Aunt Doll; I just had to go to his club and question; no; INTERROGATE him on this. I wanted the “inside scoop” on this; no fake news for me “dogs”. When I approached Buster on this; and mentioned my Aunt Doll; he became quite electrified; he was as “giddy as a school boy” (to quote a phrase from Ebenezer Scrooge in the story ” A Christmas Carol”); he just couldn’t stop talking about her. I asked him if had any luck going out with my aunt; and more importantly; if he ever “got horizontal with her.?” Hey; you can’t blame a Barry for trying. You know us guys. At least I didn’t ask him if he ever grabbed her by the pus.. Whoops! Let’s leave that for our president. That was close “Essays” ; too damn close. Long story short; the story didn’t end well for poor Buster; because he said very adamantly in a loud feakin’ voice; “NO; you nosey ass S.O.B.” I ended my CNN interview with him right there. Didn’t want poor Buster to think I was on a damn ass “witch hunt.” Believe it or not; he still had our band Parousia play at his place without getting “docked” or anything; although I did get “decked.” Tee Hee ! AHHH; the good old days! Memories to last a life time my friends. Well; that’s it for now. Goodbye from your FBI/private detective; dim witted guitar playing friend ! Lil’ ‘ole me; Barry! Peace out everyone !