Mon 2/13 @ 8PM
Once upon a time, Norman Nardini, who calls himself “Pittsburgh’s uncrowned king of rock ‘n’ roll,” had almost as big a following here in Cleveland as he did back home in Pittsburgh, seeming to play here every other month in the late 70s and early 80s with his band the Tigers. His high-energy, almost frantic shows are well remembered by fans here, as is his blue-collar rock that had a slightly punkier edge that most similar groups. And he never played his Pittsburgh Steelers fight song here in Cleveland, nosiree!
Though the Tigers are long gone, Nardini has continued to play around Pittsburgh, opening to blues and classic rock acts and performing at festivals. Now he’s coming back to this town where he was once welcomed with open arms. He’s co-headlining at the Beachland Tavern with guitarist/vocalist King Solomon Hicks, the type of bluesy R&B act with a classic rock vibe that he’s most comfortable sharing a stage with these days, despite being 71 to King’s 27 years. Some music crosses generations.
Beachland Ballroom/Nardini, King