The second night at Ortleibs, was rocking HOT DOG FILLED TIME!
The band was reunited with longtime friends EXCELERATE and LAZER SHARK. Each band brought their own UNIQUE STYLE and SOMETHING TO PROVE TO THE TABLE.
LAZER SHARK, consisting of GUITARIST PAT MCCABE, a dead ringer for actor SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT. Bass player KEVIN LONGHITANO, son of PIZZA BARONS who own the LONGHITANO’S restaurant. Drummer PHIL DiRENZO, who is the only MUSICIAN THAT WENT TO SCHOOL FOR MUSIC SO HE CAN KICK ARSE IN TWO ROCK BANDS IN ONE NIGHT. The band is rounded out by the man who makes these SHARKS SWIM, JOE SIRIANNI( no relation to the Eagles legend). He held the fort on guitar and vocal duties.
The band were hot on their HEALS, literally, even doing SHARK DANCE mid song at one point, on their DEBUT ALBUM “ Worth the While”. The band played through several hits such as “40 Days and Nites”, “Carousel on Fire” and my personal favorite “ Hangziety”. The band closed the set with album BARN BURNER “ My Bad Love” that proved one thing, sharks can’t stop swimming or they’ll drown. After 10 years and one album out, they’re not drowning anytime soon, it’s only fins up from here!
The bands continued to ACCELERATE their live craft when ANDY, BRENDAN O’NEILL and LAZER SHARKS KEVIN LONGHITANO AND PHIL DIRENZO took the stage. Pushing early 90’s and THE CURE VIBES, ANDY stepped into the role of EXCELERATE the way Vincent Furneir slips into that of ALICE COOPER. Through flawless ease, with the only comparison for the two being that they bother know how to shock their audience. During a solo, EXCELERATE and Brendan jump into the crowd and rocked out with the the audience.
EXCELERATE and his band powered through hits such as “Delores”, named for the first car he totaled and “Australia”among others. Excelerate even played some of his influences, including a cover of “ In Between Days” by THE CURE. The Cure’s influence echoed throughout his sound. It can be felt most prominently in the radio ready hit song “ Push Nirvana”. The song got everyone including Uncle Gary dancing. More on his return later.
The two amazing openers are always great to be around and we HOPE TO PLAY MORE, as real MUSICAL MAGIC HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DO!
Now is the moment you have all been waiting for, the triumphant return of FREELANCE SWEATPANTS to ORTLEIBS! The band kicked things off hot with “HOLD ON” the ACDC inspired rocker got the crowd on their feet and they NEVER SAT BSCK
DOWN DURING THE 40+ MINUTE SET. The band played with PASSION. Guitar acrobatics from AJ and DOM SHINED THROUGH on “Couch”, “New Material” with FACE MELTING LICKS traded between the two. SEAN was in full command of the ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS before him. One that drew even RANDOM people from the street to their show. He noticed when people sang on his PATENTED “Gotta Get Out” chant, the Random’s PICKED UP ON IT QUICKLY!
The band had another trick ho their short sleeves, BRAND NEW SHORT SLEEVE T SHRIST THAT IS! The band pulled in a HEFTY PROFIT from the show. New Freelance T-SHIRTS made their debut and sold as quickly as an ORTLEIBS HOT DOG. The band was feeding off THE ENERGY of the PREVIOUS TWO ACTS. Absorbing it like HEAT is absorbed in SWEATPANTS. the band played arguably their best show that night. FROM JUSTIN pounding his drums to SEAN POUNDING A BEER MID SET, it was put the O in “OH MY GOD, THEY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING FOR THEM”. The setlist ended with the traditional “HIGH ON A PLANE” . What wasn’t traditional was the love secondary BAND MASCOT UNCLE GARY would GET FROM THE CROWD.
Absent during THE LAST SHOW, UNCLE GARY the man behind the BURP HEARD ROUND THE WORLD WON OVER HEARTS AND MINDS OF FANS EVERYWHERE. WHO is this mysterious burper? Why does he only get referred to as UNCLE GARY? Does he have a job or just materialize when the band plays? These questions were not answered. KEEPING THE MYSTERY ALIVE. During a riotous “Whatever”, SEAN shouted out the man called UNCLE GARY. UNCLE GARY even got prompted by fans to take his shirt off in the name of ROCK AND ROLL!
The band played so well that they were OFFERED A FEW SPOTS BACK AT ORTLEIBS! The band and UNCLE GARY are soon on the fast track to become Philadelphia ROCK ICONS! When will their next show be? Will UNCLE GARY let the fame go to his head? I KNOW, YOU DON’T, the answer to all of life’s important questions!
Special shoutout: LAZER SHARK, EXCELERATE, ORTLEIBS, Tshirts, HOT DOGS, UNCLE GARY?