Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

On Valentine’s Day, I headed north to New York; just above the Bronx, above Yonkers, south of White Plains, just 15 miles from Connecticut … 230 miles in all. It was a nice 3 ½ hour trip with my lady, Beverly. She is a trooper, no doubt; this wan’t no disco; no r & b show. This was hard – albeit blues infused – rock n’ roll. We were going to see The Richie Scarlet Band.

As readers of this blog know, Scarlet was one of the twin lead guitars of the greatest club band of the 340 Club era (IMHO of any era) – the Bonnie Parker Band. Together with Rudy Valentino they provided the guitar front to a tight, four piece, rock band that featured Billy “from Philly” Lomax on drums and rock’s Queen - Bonnie Parker - herself, on bass guitar. While Billy resides in parts unknown (at least to my knowledge); Bonnie still rocks with an all-female band called “Tang” and occasionally with a band called “White Fire”, Rudy is now a reggae artist with a great band known as “FNB or Fear Nuttin Band”, that calls Hamburg Germany home. Richie works with several rock icons – Leslie West & Corky Laing with Mountain, Ace Frehly and others. Last night, – February 20th – at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, New Jersey where the Boss used to roam, Richie’s band was called Blue Scarlet Coupe! Think about. Wait for it … as in drummer Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, bassist Dennis Dunaway of the original Alice Cooper Band and of course the Emperor himself, Richie Scarlet. Surly the band sampled all three root bands music.

But, I digress. Back to Valentine’s Day. Beverly & I hit town in the afternoon after a nice drive. Baldwin Place is a tiny crossroads of a hamlet. I managed to find a church and went to mass; while my lady friend took a nap in preparation for a nite of rock. We had dinner reservations at PJ’s at 8:30 and we were on time. A two hour dinner, drinks and then two sets of hard rock is what was expected. The dinner didn’t disappoint a pair of New York strips, salad, coupla veggies, a white zin and some beers. It was Valentine’s so just before the arrival of the red meat, we exchanged cards. I opened hers (to me) first; it was a very thoughtful singing card featuring “As Time Goes By” from the movie Casablanca. I then gave her mine. Mine was contained in a nice red envelope that obviously was much larger than the card it contained which it turned out wasn’t a Valentine’s Day card at all but a leftover Christmas Card. It turned out I had somehow lost the Valentine’s Day card. Needless to say Beverly wasn’t happy with it but, alas, it was Valentine’s Day and sentiment trumped protocol.

As for the show, Joe DiMaggio once explained why he busted his tail on every play in every game: “You never know, there might be someone sitting in those stands that never saw me play before.” Well, I wish Richie would have followed that same philosophy regarding hitting the stage on time that night (or even almost on time). For my lady friend had never seen him play before and when, after the band and stage were set by the scheduled showtime of 10:30, Richie finally hit the stage guitar blazing at 11:27 I’m afraid all Beverly wanted to do was take her cotton stuffed ears to the motel. Thankfully, like I said earlier, she is tough and we stayed for a set.

… and what a set it was! Again, a fully packed bar, well over the fire code limits, I’d say close to 300 in a room built for half that with a stage set on 12” risers where a pool table had sat earlier. Richie entered from a side door adjacent to the stage already riffin’ with a wireless guitar. He hit the stage white hot and clearly was in his element. He opened up with an instrumental from one of his albums that allowed him to show his range. Gratefully, although aren’t all rock classics?, it was rooted in blues; a glance at Beverly quickly told me, sadly, that the mood was gone and Richie had lost the one new fan that I brought. But not me … having not seen the Emperor of Rock in over 25 years I was gleefully bopping to the chords which Richie punctuating by reaching skyward and turning off & on the beer advertisement lighting over where the billiards table once was. The group – drummer, bass, and keyboards and Richie’s guitars – then went into “Eastbound Train”, a RSB original and I edged closer to the “pit” in front of the stage. I had let Richie know I would be in attendance but wasn’t sure if he would even remember me or who I felt I was representing (i.e. you guys and the mighty 340 Club). The band eased into a Mountain (whom Richie often plays with) classic: “Theme from an Imaginary Western” allowing the other players to shine although culminating in Richie’s screaming sound. In case you are wondering folks he is 3.14159265 times better than in 1982. Now, clearly in the throes of the finale of the initial set I made my way down in front holding a 340 Club tee shirt, a couple of pins, a 340 Club card and a program from last year’s reunion. I stood in amazement watching Richie work the guitar, listening to the rock inferno. I caught Richie’s eyes on occasion but no recognition. I suppose I stood out, a 58 year old, balding, suited man with sneakers on and a 340 Club tee shirt. Finally, I unfurled the shirt I had for Richie and displayed it for him to see. A big grin, unmistakably recognizing the shirt & the memories of clubbing in Lancaster, PA, 25-30 years earlier in the Emperor’s life must have ran through his head. He gave me an acknowledging nod and sprang off the stage at me. For a fleeting second I was flattered beyond belief – here in mid song Richie was getting off the stage to say hello to me?! Uh, well no … not exactly but he did permit me to help boost him off the pit floor onto the bar we here simply continued the song while traipsing along the bar as the crowd went completely crazy. Off the bar back onto the stage to complete the number and then, despite my paws on him and my pleadings: “Richie, Richie.” He was off like a dirty shirt. I gave my package of 340 goodies to a roadie and Beverly & I were also off by a different door. The set was spectacular; I regret not staying. I further regret not making last night’s show in Asbury Park but I do know … I shall see Richie again. After all, we’re putting the band back together.

ANYBODY WANNA GO SEE BONNIE?
March 1, 2009 3-7PM @ Mulcahy's Wantagh, East Meadow, Long Island. Benefit for "Natalie Ciappa, Not My Child", 6 bands including White Fire w/ Bonnie Parker, Vixen, Randy Jackson & more ... food, raffles, all for a great cause!! Get all kids off drugs!!!