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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2742.0. "Tom Principato" by RICKS::CALCAGNI (submit to Fred) Mon Jun 07 1993 15:49

    Ever hear a cut on the radio, and you just have to find out who the
    guitarist is?  When this happens and it's the same guy more than once,
    you're probably onto something.  Such has been the case for me with
    Tom Principato.  I first heard of Tom a few years ago when I picked up a
    live CD called "Blazing Telecasters" with he and Danny Gatton.  It's
    typical Danny rockabilly overdrive stuff with both players cranking away
    on Teles and enough treble to kill small animals.  So I figured I had
    Tom pegged and that was that.  Then a few months ago I heard this spacey
    acid-drenched blues rock thang on some late night channel that really
    grabbed me; I was quite surprised to hear this was Tom too, showing
    something quite different.  The latest was yesterday morning on WBCN's
    Sunday morning blues show.  The tune was "Congo <something>" off an
    album called "Hot Stuff".  Fast paced shuffle with an SRV style rhythm
    groove and some really searing guitar work.  Tom again.
    
    Okay, I'm curious.  Anyone out there got more on this guy?  
    
    /rick
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2742.1LEDS::ORSIBeenFlushedFromTheBathroomOfYourHeartMon Jun 07 1993 16:4824
     Re - Tom Principato

>    Okay, I'm curious.  Anyone out there got more on this guy?  

     /rick,

     About '73-'74, I was at Brandy's I or II? on Comm Ave in Brighton
     enjoying Big Screamin' McGrew (front guy-harp player) and his band, 
     when this teetering drunk guy wearing chinos, burlap shoes, and an
     undersize Banlon shirt kept spilling his draft on the sleeve of my
     jacket and I'm getting pi$$ed. At this very same moment, Big Screamin'
     was introducing a guitar player from another local band called Powerhouse
     who was gonna sit in and his name was Tom Principato. I was about to say
     something to this loser, when he heads for the stage, grabs a guitar, the
     tune starts, and he's wailing his ass off with the tastiest blues chops
     I'd ever heard. I went from being pi$$ed off to being totally amazed and
     I never washed that jacket again. 8^)

     I did get to see Powerhouse a few times and they were great. I always
     wondered what happened to him after they broke up.

     Neal

2742.2TECRUS::ROSTI need air freshener under the drumsMon Jun 07 1993 17:0114
    As Neal sez, Principato was a Boston boy who played in Powerhouse
    (vocalist was George Leh, who stills gigs around here, a dynamite
    singer).  They did one album for a small label (Alladin?), which is a
    collectable in these parts...they were part of the early seventies N.E.
    blue wave (Geils, Montgomery, Roomful).  
    
    Principato headed south and lives in the DC area these days.  He
    started a label called Powerhouse who also issue stuff by Tom's buddies
    such as the Nighthawks.  He's got about a half dozen elpees out now.
    
    Keep your eyes peeled on the Phoenix, he hits Johnny D's about once a
    year.
    
    							Brian
2742.3oh, he's one of us old guyzRICKS::CALCAGNIsubmit to FredMon Jun 07 1993 17:083
    re Neal
    
    Whoa, great story!  I had no idea he'd been around that long either.
2742.4SAHQ::ROSENKRANZRock with Gene &amp; EddyMon Jun 07 1993 17:406
    Yes! TP is great! I've seen him live here in Atlanta on one occaision.
    The song referred to a couple notes back is "Congo Square". He does
    some great instrumental work as well (Blue Lights). One of my favorite
    tunes (don't recall if he wrote it) is "Never make your move too soon".
    
    jim
2742.5Smokin!GOOEY::WWALKERhoonamana me bwangoMon Jun 07 1993 19:209
    If I remember correctly, I saw him once or twice at the South Main Cafe
    in Blacksburg, Va, in the '83-'88 time frame.  One of the guys I used
    to see all the time, Bob Margolin (who was Muddy Waters right hand man 
    for a little while), invited Tom down from the DC area, and I think Tom
    was promoting his new album, "Smokin'."
    
    Way cool jammin' that night, as was any night at the South Main.
    
    Will
2742.6LEDS::BURATIyou've got me floatin', float to grooveMon Jun 07 1993 19:2710
.2> (vocalist was George Leh, who stills gigs around here, a dynamite
.2> singer).  They did one album for a small label (Alladin?), which is a

    Brian,

    Is that the (blind?) guy that used to sing in a blues band called
    Sparrow? 

    --Ron
2742.7TECRUS::ROSTI need air freshener under the drumsTue Jun 08 1993 10:006
    Re: .6
    
    Yep, George Leh also sang for Sparrow.  His band have been
    called the Rockin' Shoes for the last few years.  
    
    							Brian 
2742.8SAHQ::ROSENKRANZRock with Gene &amp; EddyTue Jun 08 1993 12:3216
    BTW-
    
    I was rummaging through my TP CDs last night and noticed that "Congo
    Square" was written by Sonny Landreth.  Anyone heard Sonny do this
    tune?
    
    I first stumbled onto TP when I picked up the Blazing Telecasters 
    Album, cause I'm a Danny Gatton fan. Gave me the impression that Tom
    was a tele player. However, when I saw him live, he didn't even touch
    a tele. He's a Strat man, and relies pretty heavily on the whammy bar.
    
    He's got a recent release entitled "Tip of the iceberg" which I'd
    recommend. Also, "Hot Stuff" is a kind of compilation of his older
    stuff.
    
    jim
2742.9LEDS::BURATIyou've got me floatin', float to grooveTue Jun 08 1993 15:278
>    Yep, George Leh also sang for Sparrow.  His band have been
>    called the Rockin' Shoes for the last few years.  

    I sorry for going off on a tangent and I promise to cease real soon but
    do you remember the guitar player's name in Sparrow? Tall skinny guy
    with an ES335.

    --Ron
2742.10might be superstitionRICKS::CALCAGNIsubmit to FredWed Jun 09 1993 17:1210
    re .8
    
    Yeah, I thought "Congo Square" sounded familiar.  It's on Sonny's first
    solo record "Down in Lousiana", originally released back in 1985 (under a
    different title I believe) and just rereleased on CD (see 2615.10).
    The original version is no where near the guitar workout that Tom's is,
    but it's a lot "greasier".  Both versions would have a home on my stereo.
    Great tune too; if this doesn't get your feet movin, you ain't breathin.
    
    /rick