Barry & Gerry Cannizzaro, Robert Lowden, Patt Connolly, Garth Huels, Eric Scheda
The Shady Grove was located in Boston NY, about 30 miles from Parousia headquarters at the Music Mall in Cheektowaga, NY. It was Saturday night and we were expecting a decent crowd because many students were already out of school on winter break. We looked forward to tonight. Our last two shows at the Shady Grove were a lot of fun for us, the band and coincidentally the audience felt the same way…which worked out nicely!
The Shady Grove, 29 miles from Cheektowaga, Old Route 219, Boston, NY
We got on well with the barkeep, Garth and Nikki kept him entertained at the bar and that gave me the time I needed to clean-up the performance area. Sometimes we had to clear the stage floor from large planks of wood. Another time he had stacks of cinder blocks piled up on the floor in front of the stage. I didn’t mind, we pretty much had full run of the place.
Parousia lights up the month of December, 1981
December was another busy month for the band. Starting Friday December 4th at the Fire Side Inne in Olean and then Saturday December 5th at Fast Annie’s in Hamburg, NY. On Thursday the 10th at Dad’s Café in Buffalo and then tonight, Saturday at a club that was quickly becoming one of our favorites, the Shady Grove.
Gregg Filippone came out to run the sound and work the mixing board, while Mike Carroll ran the light show. Dave, Tom and Keith were there to help out (and get paid of course).
Parousia Financial report Shady Grove 11.19.1981
With so many gigs out of town, transportation costs were eating the band alive. The truck rental alone was $71.00. The band had to rent a van to cart around the entourage and that was $50.00. Our booking agent, Backstage Productions was understanding of our situation and reduced their fee from 15% to 10%, ($30.00). All in all, our expenses for this night totaled $311.00 which left us $11.00 in the hole. Then we had to reimburse Barry $100.00 for equipment money he fronted for equipment. Ouch!
If only we could have started a “Go Fund Me Page” in 1981…
Parousia’s bank account shrank to $85.00! Leaving us with just enough money to finance one more show before we ran out. Our next gig was booked for next Sunday, December 27 in Holland NY. A long haul from Cheektowaga meaning the gig would surely be a drain on our remaining funds. What then?? Would Parousia go broke and fade out of existence? Would Garth and Bob and Eric join a punk-band called Wink Martindale’s ass? Would Gerry, Barry and Patt join a lounge group called Dean Martin’s Champagne? Stay tuned as we bring you all new developments…