October 26: First Official Full Alive '75 Rehearsal!

Me, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra!

With contracts signed, etc. we have our first full band rehearsal at my place - and it goes well! (We did earlier get together at the house, but without Joe, on October 20 - just want to be official). Things sound right, and things pretty much sound right; my home studio (okay, basement, with equipment and various '70's memorabilia) suffices as a sonic spot, and the guys certainly know their stuff, and thankfully, I seem to be good enough right now (not that I want to settle) for all of us to reasonably pull off KISS' Alive! album. 

Thanks to some cramming, at this point on guitar I know a solid 85% of the material, and vocally, I'm about the same. But, it has to all go together, with the physicality, and that's where some trickiness comes in.

From drumming, and my POLKA DOT! thing I have a strong level of hand/mouth coordination (read as: singing and playing) but here in Alive! land, I'm still coming on line. At one point, the likes of "C'mon and Love Me" actually threw me somewhat. "100,000 Years" (what a unique, cool KISS song!) proves to be challenging, too - and then there's the whole drum solo, rap, and audience participation middle section that has to be conquered. I should have joined a Pablo Cruise tribute. 

Ron Paul (no, not HIM), and Anthony Gene!

Alive '75 ... ALIVE '75! (A blurry) Ron Albanese • Anthony De Lucia, Jr. • Joe Gillies • Anthony Russo

October 13: Digging in My Heels

Okay, so I ordered a pair of Paul boots ... before I get the super-real deal, I opt for the Rock The Nation (ugh, they are called "Starchild"!) ones that are all over the 'net ... and they are pretty cool. It is upon putting them on for the first time (never-ending laces!) that I first think: hey, I gotta get used to this.

I get them on, and hit the bricks. I walk around my driveway, and in front of the house, and wouldn't you know it? Just then, my wife and father-in-law pull up! It was a funny scene.

In the coming weeks, I fortify the boots with better socks, ankle braces, and some foot pads (!). I start to get more confident in them - at least to the point that my first show won't be in an emergency room!

There is a definite learning curve to performing in platform boots, and being that these are essentially off-the-rack, even more so. It's eventually fun walking around in them, though - the wife AND my son both take a turn doing so!

You really have to give KISS credit for what they do - from their feet up.

Nick!

Kick!

October 5-12, 2015

10/5:

I earlier had received an email from Anthony Gene containing a link for an ad he was running ... looking for a "Paul" for Alive '75. "You should give me a call, about an opportunity," he also said. I did - and in that convo, I officially revealed my interest in joining forces with Alive '75. We agree to meet/meat up - that is, eat, and go over some stuff. 

We do so at a Bahama Breeze ("it's like a vacation!") Throughout my Jamaican jerk shrimp, mango and pineapple grilled chicken salad, two whole coconuts (I just made that up, actually), and coffee, we talk - and ooh, can we talk. 

We cover everything - expectations, availability, the space program ... you name it. I offer up my house as a rehearsal spot. Anthony and I are similar in views - not only about the project, but in general. We depart equally optimistic about the future, and set up a date to get the whole group together and play.

One our way to our cars, I say something like, "it could be that the Paul and Gene of Alive '75 first officially met at the Bahama Breeze in Wayne, New Jersey!" We laugh, and we get ready to rock.

10/6 & 7:

I go on an opinion gathering mission - "should I do this?" is the question, and I ask it to people who I trust implicitly on the topic.

In short:

Toni (the wife) says to go for it (after laughing). I told her I couldn't do it without her - besides impacting life in general (and wanting to gauge her about that actual impact), she's good with KISS makeup, costumes, and more. She would be totally (Toni-ly) invaluable to the mission.

My buddies Helio and Byron both say to do it* - Helio has been a "Paul" in a Brazilian KISS act for over ten years (he recently switched to being Ace - talk about versatility!) and Byron (along with Helio) played with me in a KISS tribute (I played bass).

"You'd be a perfect 1975 Paul," Helio says, and now for that "*" part - Byron saw the first Alive '75 show, and back then immediately told me afterward that I should be their Paul! I told him he was nuts at the time (who is nuts now?), but he was just ahead of his time. Like KISS' tank stage.

Well, that settles it! I'm going to really give it a shot. I order a pair of KISS boots.


10/12:

We convene at Fennix Studios in Staten Island (nice place!), and run through the Alive! record, as I study the guys - as they study me. It is a casual atmosphere, though - but it is audition. I feel comfortable, and the guys are total pros about the whole thing. They want to know what I can do, but they keep things fun. They also make it clear that if I am accepted, I have to swallow a whole live goldfish.

We run through the whole album, and a few minutes before our time is up, I notice the guys are breaking down their equipment and packing up. Before they go to far, I ask a question.

"Is there anything you'd like to do again?" They guys sort of look at each other, as if saying "we're good." Then, Anthony Gene pipes up.

"Everything sounded pretty good," he begins, but 'C'mon and Love Me" was a little flat … " I hadn't unplugged my guitar or anything yet, so on the microphone I sing and play a verse. 

"You got it - that's good." Phew.

Outside afterwards, we gulp down Gatorades (Anthony Ace has a nice supply in his truck) and talk. Collectively, the guys are like, "so you want to do this or what?" I reply in the the affirmative. We shake hands, and are a band … but more than a band. We have a mission! I'm psyched. 

Now, the work begins.

First Official Studio Get Together!

That's Anthony and Joe back there.

September 19, 2015

Took this like one second before doing my thing.
My hair color is 100% real.

I'm at the Newton Theatre for the Alive '75 show - and I have to say, what a crowd! I put some extra time into my 1975 stand up material, and most of it worked well - and to some degree, in ways I didn't imagine! I brought my acoustic guitar and as part of my act played the Bay City Rollers' "Saturday Night" (because it's from '75!) and even a Wicked Lester tune - "Keep Me Waiting." Let's put it this way: the crowd ended up being way warmed up for some KISS music (ha ha!). Kelly and Bob Mychak are super Alive '75 fans and friends, and they film my act (as well as the band's concert - remember that).

After my thing, it's a full house, primed for Alive '75, and they do a solid show. I watch the entire thing from stage right (if you're looking at it), and do some studying. I do things like this anyway as a habit, but tonight feel an urge to really check things out - I check out the band (playing and presentation), audience reactions, the crew … the whole deal. I even hang out (and help with) the meet and greet afterward (I signed a couple of programs!), and remain to assist (just a little!) with packing up the show. It's a big production.

Cool Kelly and Bob get in touch a couple of days later - "we want to send you a DVD of the show!" (Remember I said to remember?). It is THAT disc that makes things click in my head, and gets me seriously thinking about joining forces with Alive '75. I feel I can add to what they are doing, and really want to do. Without that video though, it may not have happened. 

One final note: if this were to be the last appearance of "That '70's Guy!", I feel I went out on top (ha ha)! I'm still available for high school reunions, though.

My 1975 comedy notes, taped to the stage! The "groovy chick" bit seemed
to take some of the guys in audience right back in time.

The calm before the KISS storm: in full studying mode!

August 2015

I meet up with the guys and some pals down at the Jersey Shore. There is another A'75 show coming up, and I'm gonna be "That '70's Guy!" again - and I'm excited. We make plans for me to do my comedy act, and eventually I come up with the idea to play some guitar during it as well.

During a phone call after the hang, Anthony and I discuss doing the KISS tribute thing in general - the work that goes into it, and the like.

After he outlined some minutiae, I say "I hear you, and ya know, there is a part of me that wouldn't mind giving it a shot at some point." It was sort of a stream of con-KISS-hness.

"Ha ha … really?"

"Yeah - dust off the abs, get a wig … I just always kinda wanted to try it." I was mostly conversing, not really hinting, but Anthony Gene sounds really interested. What's going on over there in Alive '75 land? I wonder.

KINGS OF THE BEACH - Anthony, the imitable Eddie Holland, Joe Gillies, and Me

March 28, 2015

Vintage Super 8 camera alert!

The Alive '75 juggernaut is rolling into Stroudsburg, PA with me (as "That's '70s Guy") and even legendary "Original KISS Krew" member, JR Smalling in tow. It's all part of the group's mission to create a time warp back to 1975. And also, to open a worm hole from POLKAVILLE! to Stroudsburg, apparently - in the coming months I will end up returning to the area many, many times. That cool record store is definitely one of the reasons. 

Anyhoo, I roll into town with my Burger King shirt, and my son Nick. We check in, say hi to the guys, and I meet JR … where's my Wawa iced coffee? Ugh - it's in the car. I dash up from the downstairs backstage, up through the theatre, and into to the lobby, en route to the POLKAMOBILE to recover my beloved drink. 

"Hey, can you interview JR a little bit on camera?" That request came from Pasquale Vari. The amiable Canadian (and school teacher!) occasionally comes down from the Great White North to see Alive '75, and is a cool guy. Right there in the aforementioned lobby, he is getting ready to roll some tape. I basically stumbled into his filming area on my caffeine quest.

"Uh, sure!" I grabbed his microphone, he activated his camera, and off the top of my head, immediately started chatting with JR. The whole thing off-the-cuff. It went well - I have read the guy's book, and am well aware of his place in Kisstory. I also love improv, edge-of-the-moment stuff. After doing this, we would actually do a second interview that night, on stage. During that, as memory joggers I shouted out an obscure band that KISS played with during his tenure - "Redbone!" That Mr. Smalling is a total pro.

It ends up being another good show (that is, my thing and Alive '75's rock explosion), in a nice venue, with a great crowd. After seeing a full second concert, I continue developing an appreciation for the entire operation. More than anything though, what strikes me is the general vibe of the guys and crew - everyone's nice, normal-but-interesting, and it's clear that somehow it's resonating with their audience - at concerts, and online. I actually pitch in a bit as an ad hoc roadie while they're playing. When the stage curtain opened up and knocked down a microphone, I helped to stand it back up. When drummin' cat Joe drops a stick (from a claw), I scurry behind the backline and hook him up with another. 

Afterward, we all hang out some more, and then the kid and I leave to get cheesesteaks. 

Over the coming months, Anthony Gene and I stay in touch here and there, as they do more shows, and one of my busiest POLKA DOT! seasons kicks in.

Me and the boys, post show!

Around Noon on November 8, 2014

I happen to have a day off from doing POLKA DOT! gig stuff, and I end up working … on POLKA DOT! stuff. Today, I'm thinking about video footage - I have a new tune I have begun recording, and in addition to performance footage, want to get some fun clips to cobble together a promo video (yeah, I'm old). I come across the Alive '75 business card, and recall that they are doing the second of two shows up at Sussex County college on this very day. Hey, maybe I could film these guys for the video? I decide to call Anthony. I leave him a voicemail, and figure that it's too late to pull anything off. He calls me back, we talk, and he loves the idea. And, as fate would have it, he needs an emcee! I tell him no problem, as I have a pretty good '70's comedy act. We strike up a deal, hang up, and I … start to write a '70's comedy act. I rummage through my basement and find some period-appropriate apparel to wear - luckily I have a vintage Burger King shirt handy. I also pull out some props to carry around, including a Tab cola can, and an 1975 issue of Consumer Reports. "That '70's Guy!" is born!

When I get up to SCCC, I say high everyone as they're getting ready - going into drummer Joe's dressing room, I hear "100,000 Years" from Alive! playing, and see him explaining to Mike the Paul guy the parts of the drum solo. I'm impressed with the level of commitment. I then borrow Anthony-The-Ace Guy's wig hair spray and do my hair. I then tour the stage, and film something for the super-cool Pasquale Vari, who came down down from Canada to see the show, and cover the show for his KISS Nation TV channel on YouTube. By then, the band is made up, and convene on stage so I can lense a clip or two for my POLKA DOT! video. It goes well. These guys are pretty cool.

"So, you're ready to go?" Anthony Gene asks me.

"Uh, yeah." That afternoon, I whipped up some 1975-specific jokes, which was a lot harder than I thought it would. I love the '70s, but my area of concentration is more '77-'78. I had to be exact! None of my material could be based on anything past the group's chosen year of tribute! I then read the stuff a little bit in the car, and here I was.

"Let's do it!" At around 8:15, that's exactly what happened. I took the stage, and somehow, sort of nailed it. Luckily the guys thought so, too.

"You're our emcee!" Cool.

The next day, I receive a text from Byron, who went to the show. His message about the band? "You should be their Paul!" What?!