This Thursday evening, April 8 at 8:00pm the telecaster master Tom Principato rocks the house at Nelson's Tavern with a free show.

As one reviewer mused: "Be careful, or Tom Principato could easily topple one of your current guitar heroes from their lofty pedestal...", after 38+ years and a career that boasts over 15 albums, 23 "Wammie" awards in numerous categories from the Washington, DC Music Assoc. and over 5,000 gigs which includes over 50 tours of Europe, Tom Principato has been taking his Indie infused eclectic roots mixture of Rock, Funk, Blues and Latin Sounds all over the World----all along the way leaving audiences wowed and slack jawed with his talent. One look at Tom's road worn Fender guitars and it's easy to see: Tom Principato plays the hell out of the guitar.

Tom has also done brief stints with various acts including Billy Price And The Keystone Rhythm Band, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Adams, Sunnyland Slim, James Montgomery, and a group called the Assassins with Jimmy Thackery, former guitarist with the Nighthawks. Tom appears on two albums with the Assassins, "No Previous Record" (1986) and "Partners In Crime" (1987) which won a "Wammy Award". In 1984 Tom began a solo career, notably recording a live album with the late Washington guitar legend Danny Gatton titled "Blazing Telecasters". This album was considered by The National Academy Of Recorded Arts And Sciences (NARAS) for a Grammy Nomination.

Since the 1990's Tom has signed endorsement agreements with Fender Electric Guitar Co., Curt Mangan String Co., Seymour Duncan pickups, Fulltone and Roger Mayer effects pedals. (Roger Mayer personally made effects pedals and experimental electronic gadgets for Jimi Hendrix), and Soundseat "The most comfortable music seat ever built".

In 2000 Tom's book "Open-String Guitar Chords" was published world-wide by Hal Leonard Corporation, Powerhouse Records published the Expanded Edition in 2007.

In addition to being a Master craftsman on the Guitar, Tom is a prolific composer, having composed over 60 songs which have been published in USA through BMI by French Lady Music and in Europe through Me'tisse Music.

Tom Principato's websites are www.TomPrincipato.com and www.PowerhouseRecords.com

April 8 at 8:00pm Nelson's Tavern 1033 11th & State St. Erie PA.

Vegas History Comes To The Warner
By Rob Taylor

Back in the day Las Vegas wasn’t the big glitzy place it is today but they did have the biggest shows in the world. That was the place and time Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop got together and created one of the most well-known groups ever. That group was The Rat Pack.

This Wednesday, April 14th at 7:30 PM, Vegas comes to Erie’s Warner Theatre when the legendary Rat Pack reunites in a show called The Rat Pack Is Back, produced by Dick Sweeney.

The Rat Pack Is Back features uncanny vocal recreations, unbridled humor, and a hot, live 12-piece orchestra that sends audiences straight back to the coolest time in history. You’ll hear hits like “That’s Amore,” “My Way,” “Mr. Bojangles,” and many more.

Even for those of us born after the swinging Las Vegas lounge era ruled by Frankie, Sammy, Joey and Dean, the touring tribute act coming to historic Warner Theatre is a satisfying trip back in time. Whenever and wherever you were at your most romantic, most silly, most relaxed and optimistic, this ersatz Rat Pack -- four gifted actor/singer/comedians who are also credible impersonators of their respective legends -- will take you there, in 90 entertaining minutes.

An opening montage of video clips from the glittering Vegas strip, circa 1960, suggests where those of a certain age are about to return: to the iconic Copa Room of the Sands hotel, "A Place in the Sun" now consigned, like so many of its entertainers, to the shadows of memory.

“This is as close as anyone has come to capturing the feeling of the real thing,” and the Chicago Tribune raves, “Classic comic material. Excellent!”

Tickets are $51.75, $41.75, $31.75.
Charge (814) 452-4857 or (800) 745-3000.
Purchase at the Tullio Arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets or www.ticketmaster.com

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

by Rob Taylor

It’s been since October since we heard the call for 9 men to “PLAY BALL!” The major leagues started on April 4th and the season has already produced some of the most competitive games of the short year.

On Thursday April 15th at 6:35 PM baseball will once again come to Erie when the Erie Seawolves, the Detroit Tigers AA team will take on the Altoona Curve, the Pirate’s AA Team, at Jerry Uht Park.

These are players who are either working their way up to the majors or are major league players who are recovering from injuries. Either way they love their fans and the fans love them. It is not uncommon to see players hanging around before or after the games to talk with their fans and sign autographs. That is something you may never see at a major league park.

Seawolves management has revived last year's very successful ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Wolf Pack Plan

Here’s what you get:

All-You-Can-Eat - We hope you are Hungry like the Wolf, because you get all the delicious, fresh-grilled Smith's Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, and Sausages (new for the 2010 season) you want. Plus, cool down with unlimited amounts of Pepsi products and water. Items are available when the gates open until the beginning of the 7th inning.

Prime Seats - We're talking prime real estate for seven of the most thrilling, hard-hitting minor league baseball games on the 2010 schedule - close to the action, with a superb view of the field - all in one awesome package. You will also get to enjoy the same seat for every game.

Free SeaWolves Cap - You will also receive a free limited edition SeaWolves Souvenir cap with each plan (a $19 value).

Fireworks - Treat yourself to some spectacular eye candy with dazzling postgame fireworks displays for six of the seven games.

And the best part? The cost is just $44 per Wolf Pack Plan. That works out to just $6.29 per game for an all-you-can-eat Erie SeaWolves baseball game. It doesn't get any better than that, but it does. If you cannot make it to one of the games in your plan, simply exchange your unused ticket for any 2010 regular season home game (all ticket exchanges subject to availability).

PLAN A
Saturday, May 22 vs. Altoona - Postgame Fireworks
Friday, June 11 vs. New Hampshire - Postgame Fireworks
Saturday, June 26 vs. Richmond - Postgame Fireworks
Friday, July 9 vs. Akron
Saturday, July 31 vs. Binghamton - Postgame Fireworks
Saturday, August 14 vs. Bowie - Postgame Fireworks
Friday, August 20 vs. Reading - Postgame Fireworks

PLAN B
Saturday, May 29 vs. Harrisburg - Postgame Fireworks
Saturday, June 12 vs. New Hampshire - Postgame Fireworks
Friday, June 25 vs. Richmond - Postgame Fireworks
Saturday, July 10 vs. Akron
Friday, July 30 vs. Binghamton - Postgame Fireworks
Friday, August 13 vs. Bowie - Postgame Fireworks
Saturday, August 21 vs. Reading - Postgame Fireworks

For more information about the team or the ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Wolf Pack Plan or to order tickets call (814) 456-1300 check out www.seawolves.com or go to the Seawolves box office at Jerry Uht Park.

Arts And Drafts Fest This Weekend

The Annual Arts and Drafts Fest is a 3 day celebration of local art, local beer and local music in Erie, Pa from April 8th to 10th at the Brewerie in the historic Union Station downtown.

The Arts and Drafts Fest gives the Erie community a chance to experience a unique peak through the window of just a relatively small number of the regions very talented artists.

They are now on to their 5th event and of course it is still open to all artists who would like to have their work seen but may not have the opportunity to showcase in a gallery. The show also allows for a wider audience to view a great collection of pieces throughout a weekend. Local bands will again be on hand to entertain all and showcase how much diversity and truly world class musicianship we have right here in our own backyard.

Here's a list of the band schedule for Arts And Draft:

Thursday 8th

5:00-6:00 ANNA ZOE
6:15-7:45 ROGER MONTGOMERY
8:15-10:00 RON YARSOZ’S P.O.T.
10:15-12:00 HANDS OF THIEVES

Friday 9th

5:00-6:00 TONY KELLOGG
6:15-7:00 BREAKING THE CIRCLE ACOUSTIC
6:45-7:45 COLONEL MUSTARD
8:00-9:00 THE BLUE GORILLAS
9:15-10:45 EAST AVE
11:00-1:00 ERIC BREWER AND ...FRIENDS

Saturday 10th

5:00-6:00 TOM HITT
6:00-7:00 BUS 17
7:15-8:15 DEADHORSE
8:30-9:30 SPOONER
9:45-11:45 THE BOODLIES
12:00-2:00 MATTY B AND THE DIRTY PICKLES

In addition to the music Arts And Drafts will feature:

30 local artists and Brewerie Drafts!
Exhibits open Noon until close
Live music 7pm-close
Must be 21 years of age after 9pm
Free until 9pm, $1 donation after

$0.01 Motel Room Sale IS Real
By Rob Taylor

Last week I put a story in ERI Jams about a one cent sale at Red Roof Inn motels. Basically you get on their website at 9:00 AM, start to make a reservation and if you are the first one at THAT hotel, you can get a room the next night for one penny.

Sounds too good to be true…doesn’t it? Or maybe it was a bad April Fools Day joke??? Well, it wasn’t an April Fools joke and it isn’t too god to be true…it works!

I got on their site at 9:10 on Friday, April 2 and tried it. The Erie Red Roof Inn was already taken and so was the one in my hometown so I just picked a neighboring city, Ashtabula, and put its name it. Well, Ashtabula doesn’t have a Red Roof Inn but it did give me the chance t check out a motel in Willoughby, Ohio…just outside of Cleveland.

By then it was 9:15 but I figured I’d try anyway…what would it cost…a couple keystrokes? So, I hit the button and the info came up and there it was…a room for Saturday night, April 4th for just one cent. It’s only 70 miles away so I figured why not. I hit the button to reserve the room and got it. A room on Saturday night on Easter weekend and I only had to pay a penny for it.

Okay, the thought when through my mind that I may have a room but it is probably the crappiest room the have in the hotel. Nope...it was clean with two big beds, a desk, free internet and satellite TV with two HBOs and pay per view ability to see movies that are currently showing in theatres.

Even the customer service was exceptional. They joked with me about being, “the one who got the penny room,” and asking for the penny. But, they made sure I was happy…even calling later in the evening to make sure that I had everything I needed.

You still have a few days to take advantage of this sale (It ends on April 15th). Just be a little flexible if you just want a night away from home and you would get a good, clean room for a lot less that the normal $44.95 the motels usually charges.

Go to www.redroof.com for more info or to take your chances.