Post by The Favorite on Mar 7, 2006 18:06:45 GMT
The Itals have been touring the western US -- this time as a harmony trio including one of my favorite all-time singers, Ronnie Davis.
they didn't pass too near me at first, but after something up north cancelled they came back my way and were booked at a venue about 90 minutes from me this last weekend. my wife knew what i was up to so passed on the trip, and i was off on a solo mission.
i will say that The Itals sounded great as a near-original trio, featuring the great talent of Keith Porter, Ronnie, and imo another great vocalist, David Isaacs.
i'd never met Ronnie, but had spoken to him a couple times by phone.. was contacted by a friend of his (and someone who had produced him going back to the 70s) about assisting in a compilation.. they knew i collect RD tunes. so i did some things (and so did Mike Turner, thanks again) and in the course of that asked Ronnie about a couple blanks.
i'd gone out to my truck for a Heineken and a call to my wife, and on my way back in a large van entered the parking area and parked. sure enough Ronnie walked right by, so i stopped him and introduced myself, and reminded him of our prior contact. he remembered, and even remembered that i was from a different town, and thanked me when i said yes i'd driven a little ways to come catch the show. so he said to check him after the set.
the set was nice, and i was surprised to see them do a few of Ronnie's solo tunes like "Peace and Love", "Nations" and one more, plus "Won't You Come Home" as part of the "Ina Dis Ya Time" encore medley.
so we linked after the set and we were chatting out in the parking lot for awhile, until that same van from before pulled up on the way out.. they invited me back to the hotel and i ended up getting a room for myself, but went down to Ronnie and David's room where i brought them a heap of wax i'd brought along just in case i had the chance to go through it with them.. it was a lot of jokes and stories and some good laughing in there, until about 3:00AM, when i left to get some sleep.
he came and checked me in the morning, before they all started to load up again. it was a little more chat, and then some thanks and best wishes. he also said something cool -- that he appreciated my coming and bringing the records because it reminded him that there could be people around checking Ronnie Davis.
in the end i had a great experience with a nice guy who's recorded a lot of tunes i really, really like... so it was pretty cool for me.
a couple pics:
first, late night (or early AM) in the room -- note the smoke on my ear which means i'm in or past the 4-6 beer range --
and in the AM before loading up and moving on --
--
they didn't pass too near me at first, but after something up north cancelled they came back my way and were booked at a venue about 90 minutes from me this last weekend. my wife knew what i was up to so passed on the trip, and i was off on a solo mission.
i will say that The Itals sounded great as a near-original trio, featuring the great talent of Keith Porter, Ronnie, and imo another great vocalist, David Isaacs.
i'd never met Ronnie, but had spoken to him a couple times by phone.. was contacted by a friend of his (and someone who had produced him going back to the 70s) about assisting in a compilation.. they knew i collect RD tunes. so i did some things (and so did Mike Turner, thanks again) and in the course of that asked Ronnie about a couple blanks.
i'd gone out to my truck for a Heineken and a call to my wife, and on my way back in a large van entered the parking area and parked. sure enough Ronnie walked right by, so i stopped him and introduced myself, and reminded him of our prior contact. he remembered, and even remembered that i was from a different town, and thanked me when i said yes i'd driven a little ways to come catch the show. so he said to check him after the set.
the set was nice, and i was surprised to see them do a few of Ronnie's solo tunes like "Peace and Love", "Nations" and one more, plus "Won't You Come Home" as part of the "Ina Dis Ya Time" encore medley.
so we linked after the set and we were chatting out in the parking lot for awhile, until that same van from before pulled up on the way out.. they invited me back to the hotel and i ended up getting a room for myself, but went down to Ronnie and David's room where i brought them a heap of wax i'd brought along just in case i had the chance to go through it with them.. it was a lot of jokes and stories and some good laughing in there, until about 3:00AM, when i left to get some sleep.
he came and checked me in the morning, before they all started to load up again. it was a little more chat, and then some thanks and best wishes. he also said something cool -- that he appreciated my coming and bringing the records because it reminded him that there could be people around checking Ronnie Davis.
in the end i had a great experience with a nice guy who's recorded a lot of tunes i really, really like... so it was pretty cool for me.
a couple pics:
first, late night (or early AM) in the room -- note the smoke on my ear which means i'm in or past the 4-6 beer range --
and in the AM before loading up and moving on --
--
Or how about 'Same Folks', any mentions of that song? 
