Category Archives: Frank Funaro

Little Kings at Mama Kin

little-kings-flier

Today in 1996 found the Little Kings playing their only Boston gig ever. The Little Kings were a combination supergroup/superstar comeback. Living legend Dion DiMucci teamed up with Scott Kempner and Frank Funaro from the Del-Lords, and Mike Mesaros from the Smithereens.  

Dion, was, is, and always will be one of the coolest and most important artists in rock. He was an originator and an emancipator. But instead of working the oldies circuit and resting on his laurels, a right he most certainly had earned, Dion’s vision with the Little Kings was to do it again, from square one, as a new band.
 
While the concept was noble, the downfall of being a new band is that you sometimes get the shoddy treatment a new band suffers. This show, sadly, found the band treated quite poorly by Mama Kin. The set time got moved twice, the sound guy was rude and dismissive, and they were told not to bother with the second night of the booking before they’d even played the first night! I remember Frank exclaiming, “Why did they invite us if they didn’t want us?”

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Filed under Frank Funaro, Live, The Cincotta Archives, Top Ten

YouTube Tuesday: “These Guys Are the Sh*t”

That’s the Joey Ramone introduction to the boys’ performance of “Who Will Save Rock and Roll?” in the 1999 movie Final Rinse — “Part This Is Spinal Tap, part Dirty Harry, and all tongue in cheek.” Read more at FinalRinse.com. In the meantime, enjoy the high-quality video, multiple camera angles and Joey R. acting.

— DFFD123

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Filed under Adny, Dictators Assembled, Frank Funaro, HDM, Ross the Boss, Top Ten, Video, YouTube Tuesday

YouTube Tuesday: “A Little Cosmic Surf Jam, Perhaps?”

A “California Sun” filmed onstage — and we mean onstage — in Oviedo, Spain, in 1996.

Some more unobstructed Oviedo treats from YouTube user pacovigil for your YouTube Tuesday viewing pleasure:

“Channel Surfing”
“New York New York” and “Science Gone Too Far!”
“Who Will Save Rock and Roll?” and “I Am Right!”

Muchas gracias, pacovigil!

— DFFD123

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Filed under Adny, Dictators Assembled, Frank Funaro, HDM, Live, Ross the Boss, Top Ten, Video, YouTube Tuesday