McVan’s – Wednesday November 22nd 1978
This was Parousia’s first gig in a night club featuring the 7-piece ensemble format that launched the group into the flurry of writing, performing, recording and general notoriety that was to follow…
Gerry, Barry and Patt did play at McVan’s once previously, in what was supposed to be Parousia’s first gig there, but a last minute exodus of critical members turned it into a spontaneous musical experiment in which they billed themselves as Green Slime, performing an aggressive punk version of a Fleetwood Mac song, and an early rendition of the original I Like People (a “nice” song), among other things.
It was raw, unrehearsed chaos that fit right into the blooming punk rock scene that was growing in Buffalo at the time, and, I’m not saying they necessarily influenced anyone but, it’s not a big jump from Green Slime to Green Jello, the wacky punk influenced Buffalo band who had to “cease and desist” and change their name to Green Jelly. I’m not saying there’s any connection, just inferring and implying… Green Jello was great, by the way.
The Center Line up of Parousia
Patt Connolly Lead Vocals
Patt Connolly – Parousia’s Front Man 1978
Kim Watts – Lead Vocals, Harmonica & Percussion
Barry Cannizzaro – Guitar & Vocals
Barry Cannizzaro – Guitar & Lead Vocals
Barry C. and his classic Fender Telecaster
Dave Maltbie – Wurlitzer Organ, Moog ‘ Sonic Six’ Synthesiser & Fender Rhodes Piano
Patt Connolly, Barry Cannizzaro & one-half of Kim Watts
Wow everyone; talk about a blast from the past! Man was I one privileged guitar player to have played in such a uniquely creative original band called Parousia. This is the same place the great Jimmy Hendrix played, along with many other great artists. Plus, don’t forget about the fact that McVans was the only rock bar I can think of where the house cat was actually killed by a rat! Holy super sized rodent Batman! “Tanks for ‘da memories!
Barrymannia!
I remember this night when Alan Swan, one of our devoted fans screaming loudly in adoration after we performed the song ‘Suffragette City’ by David Bowie. I asked him afterwards why he got so excited over it and he said he never saw anyone’s hand move so fast when I was playing the E chord steadily with several beats before shouting the final word, Suffragette! Thank God he never caught me in the bathroom saying hello to “Rosie, and her five skinny sisters”; because that would have answered his question. TEE HEE! What can I say, us musicians all have our own technique building skills if you get my drift players!
Barry the ‘dim-witted’ strikes again.
Playing Jethro Tull?
We did do Tull, not too shabbily I might add.
just cant imagine her with Locomotive breath.
That was sung by our other guitarist, Barry, but we did do that one!
Wow…Look at my hubby Garth! You’re a string bean, lol!!!
Was it mere coincidence that Parousia’s performance with the new band was on the 15th anniversary of the JFK assassination, November 22, 1978?
What about those rumors of Bob Lowden being seen on the grassy knoll 15 years earlier?
Was that really Patrick Connolly marching in the band just ahead of the motorcade?
Was the assassination a subversive attack by Star Seed Enterprise employee Garth Huels to prevent John F. from running for another term?
Is it true that Barry and Gerry were the altar boys that accompanied the Catholic Priest who administered the last rites to Mr. Kennedy and what about Kim Watts who was seen leaving the Texas book depository just before Lee Harvey Oswald??
To this day the rumor mills churn with these uncorroborated facts while conspiracy theorists spin their web of intricate plots… and who knows the true story?
Perhaps the secret is hidden within the songs recorded by Parousia seven years later on the 22nd anniversary of the JFK assassination, at the Mark Studio sessions dated November 22, 1985. Listen for yourself and learn the truth:
https://parousiabuff.com/songs/turnaround-ep
I need to take my medication.