Ahhh, yes, the Wooden Nickel in beautiful downtown Olean, NY. Parousia played there 3 times towards the end of 1981.
Here’s a bit of memorabilia from our December 27th post-Christmas show.
It was a very long drive to play at a decent sized club full of wild game hunters and similarly disinterested college-aged locals. According to the calendar below, a few other WNY bands of moderate notoriety played there, like Fat Brat, the Keys (a Beatles cover band) and Tarkus (an ELP cover band), not such a bad place to play, although Sundays anywhere are a little tough on rock and roll. Look at me, looking like Bob Seger. What’s up with that?
Left to right: Eric Scheda (Keys), Garth Huels (guitar), Barry Cannizzaro (guitar), Patt Connolly (vocals, flute), Gerry North Cannizzaro (drums), Bob Lowden – behind Patt (bass)
Garth Huels, Barry Cannizzaro, Patt Connolly, Robert Lowden
Wooden Nickel Financial Statement 12.27.1981
Wooden Nickel band Calendar – Parousia at the Wooden Nickel, Dec. 27th 1981
Guitarist Ken Wilczak of Fat Brat
Parousia’s 2nd Appearance at the Wooden Nickel, 11.15.1981
A lot of hunters in the crowd this night. It was the start of the deer and bear hunting season. I remember them sitting at the bar looking very much uninterested in what we were doing. Perhaps if we were wearing antlers it would have been a different story?
Wooden Nickel Financial Statement 11.15.1981
Parousia 1981
Parousia’s 1st Performed at the Wooden Nickel on 9.19.1981
We had a great show at the Wooden Nickel and it was our second long road trip since Lou’s Inn. We decided to stay overnight in Jamestown because we played Friday (09.18.1981) at the Rusty Nail in Jamestown and then Saturday at the Wooden Nickel in Olean. We all packed ourselves into two rooms at the Woodlawn Hotel, played ball, went rowing and caught a cold… oh well, that’s rock n’ roll.
Wooden Nickel Flyer for Parousia
Wooden Nickel drink coaster circa 1981
Wooden Nickel Financial Statement 9-19-81
How we made it to the Wooden Nickel
Ah yes, now it’s a Car Wash
Used to go there all the time being from right down the road in Salamanca. Remember seeing Talas there a few times, Tarkus, even a few stripper shows. lol I still have one of the “Wooden Nickels” too
Tarkus did a great Pink Floyd show
Tarkus, another great Southtowns band!
wasn’t it called the brass rail after it was the wooden nickel then it burned if I recall
Brass Balloon.
I played in Thief every Thursday and all holidays. Thought I lived in olean that year.