Parousia performed twice at Shutters and Boards.  The first time was on June 02, 1981 and then again in the fall, October 15, 1981. 

Shutters & Boards – June 2^nd, 1981

The Shutters & Boards gig on June 2nd was our first show without the illustrious Ms. Kim Watts, who had just quit the band as a protest over our intention to play all good-paying gigs no matter where they were located… she had a big issue with our band performing for hicks, deep in the isolated South towns of Western NY and miles away from the cosmopolitan audiences found in the art-oriented parts of Buffalo.

There was a lot of pressure on us for this gig.  On May 29 & 30, we had just performed at one of one of the worst venues in our life, Lou’s Inn, Westfield, NY.  You can read why it was so horrific here: https://parousiabuff.com/shows/lous-inn-westfield-ny-friday-saturday-may-29-30-1981

Tonight, we had to make a psychological come-back for our own egos.  Kim said that Lou’s Inn would be a disaster, and it was… was she some sort of a psychic, prophet, seer, oracle, soothsayer?  Who can say, all we knew is that she was gone and this was our first time on-stage together as a six-member band.  We had to play well tonight if we were going to prove to ourselves that we (just the guys) could rock it even harder than when Kim was on stage with us.

Coming to our emotional rescue somewhat was a review of our band PAROUSIA published in the June edition of Buffalo Backstage Magazine which was widely distributed in WNY.  That gave us a boost in confidence even though the article mentioned Kim Watts as part of the group.

Another first for this evening was our new lighting technician, Dave Stock.  He was a solid professional and was in great demand amongst our peers.  Our former light-man Mike Carroll had highly recommended him.  His arsenal of lights was quite awesome and he knew how to use them.

Well, I don’t know if it was the article being published or being on stage together with that new incredible light show, but we played really well this evening.  We kicked it out hard with songs like “Hocus Pocus” by Focus, “Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull and “Hold your Head Up” by Argent.  At the end of the night we were paid $225.00 and walked away feeling pretty good about our future as a rock band.

 

Shutters & Boards Thursday October 15th, 1981

Our second gig at Shutters & Boards was on October 15^th, 1981, a Thursday night.  This club was rocking with a different band six out of the seven nights of the week and we had to play to 3 am at this club!

By this time, we had learned more songs that were suited to our new six-member arrangement.  Songs like, “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles, “Toronto Tonto’s” by Max Webster and “Lucifer’s Lament” an original song by Garth Huels that featured a blazing guitar and synthesizer duel.  Parousia was in it’s hey day.

The previous month on Sept 3^rd, we were broadcast live on 97 Rock from Uncle Sam’s and ever since then we were playing all the time.  On Sept. 04 & 05 we played at the Plant 6 in Kenmore.  On Sept. 10^th, an encore performance at Uncle Sam’s, on Sept. 11^th, a concert at Buffalo State College in the Social Hall for a “drink and drown”.  On Sept 17^th the Starting Gate Café, and on the 18^th at the Rusty Nail in Jamestown, NY. On the 19^th at the Wooden Nickel in Olean. On Sept. 25^th, the KinFolk Corral in Franklinville, NY.

On October first, Buffalo Backstage published a review of Parousia’s live broadcast at Uncle Sam’s.  That really gave us a boost through the month of October.  After we finished this gig at Shutters and Boards, we played The Starting Gate Café in Buffalo on the 17^th and then at the Shady Grove in Boston, NY on the 24^th and we ended the month playing a Halloween party at Arch Bishop Walsh High school in Olean, NY.  Where we really freaked the kids out with our original mini-rock opera “Myron”, written by Bob Lowden.  Sorry Kids, BWA HA HAH HAH HA HAH!