Rock Classics Hit the Hollywood Theater Stage for 'Now and Then' Concert

Sitting down and talking with Lou Pietosi is like going back in time for this Pittsburgh native. 

From playing music at Dormont Pool with the Nardozi Brothers Duo to his latest venture at the Hollywood Theater, Lou Pietosi is all about Dormont, Pittsburgh and its music.

“I’ve always wanted to get the band back in Dormont in front of family and friends.” Pietosi said over an espresso at on Potomac Avenue. “I’ve always dreamed about playing in a sold-out place and now that the Civic Arena is down, this is where I am.”

Peitosi read about the Hollywood Theater on Dormont-Brookline Patch and how it needed funding to carry on which reminded him of how the South Hills Theater was torn down.

It was like the perfect storm, the Hollywood was a venue in need and he needed a venue to make his dream of a packed house come true.

Pietosi emailed Hollywood Theater manager John Maggio, pitched his concert with him raising all the funds and all proceeds going back to the Hollywood with no strings attached.

The two of them quickly came to an agreement and Pietosi hit the phones, calling associates, and friends and within 48 hours he had over a thousand dollars to cover the cost.

Following that success, Pietosi posted an event announcement on the Patch site seeking additional sponsors and within three days had $500 more in sponsorship money. Many of who came forward because they too had a personal connection with the theater.

When a friend asked him why do it, what’s in it for you Pietosi replied, “Two things, I want to help the theater because I don’t want to see that torn down or turned into another store and, I’m not going to lie, I want publicity for the band.”

Pietosi’s been playing music since 1977 and his current band, “Silent Partners,” covers classic rock bands like Bon Jovi, doing songs they were doing in the 80s and songs they’ve just released. The two sets of brothers, Lou Pietosi on drums with brother Al on bass, and Jake Zucco on guitar with brother Mark on keyboard, along with their theoretically adopted brother Randy Van Ulten on guitar make up the band.

Getting together in 1986, the band played up into the 90s then their lives took them in different directions as families grew and “serious” work came along. For about eight or so years they didn’t play together except for the occasional party or reunion.

Then in 2008, Pietosi talked his way into playing for his 30th high school reunion for Keystone Oaks, and they had so much fun they haven’t stopped playing since.

“More fun than we ever had back then when we were arguing and egos were in the way and everybody knew everything,” Pietosi continued with a satisfied grin. “Now we’re just having such a blast, doing some of our own music, some of the stuff we wrote back then”

Once a month, “Silent Partner” gets together at the Royal Place in Castle Shannon to rock back to the 70s and 80s. At first the crowds were boomers but now Pietosi is seeing a younger group coming in to appreciate the rock classics. He’s hoping the Hollywood concert with “songs that are so old they’re new again” will cross generations in the same way.

“We actually talked about doing “Free Bird” … for that one guy in the audience that always shouts, “play Free bird.””

Starting the “Then and Now” concert off will be the Nardozi Brothers Duo or is that Nardozzi? A staple of the Pittsburgh rock scene from the late 70s through the 90s, brother Billy is now a poet with two Zs in his name. But on Sept. 24, there will be only be one z and two brothers back on stage at the Hollywood.

Pietosi grew up with the brothers, joining their band in 1976 as a 16-year-old kid on “cloud nine.”

“I think I made $40 a gig and I would have paid them $50 just to play,” said Pietosi. Over the years they have stayed in touch, best friends.

They played at the New Villa in Dormont every Wednesday night for about two and a half years. For those who grew up in Dormont, the Villa was a West Liberty landmark now home to .

“Billy Nardozzi is now the Pittsburgh Poet and in fact told me the guy with one Z in his name left town a long time ago and I have to spell his name with two Z’s now.” Peitosi went on, “His brother Nick’s not too thrilled about that … .”

“My whole little dream was to get the people I played with then, the people I play with now … this then and now just keeps coming back, you know. And if you think about it that’s how everybody’s life is. You think about what happened then and you’re living your life now.”

So the various sets of brothers, three sets in all, started rehearsing and the first two rehearsals together were “a blast.”

“Billy, who didn’t want to do this because he’s a poet now, was jumping all over the room he was so into it,” said Pietosi.

Then a little history came out about Pietosi’s time with the Nardozi brothers … like they never let him sing.

“Billy never let me sing, I sang but with no microphone, nothing could stop me.”

Maybe the night of the show Petrosi will finally get his chance.

Editor's note: The show is a sellout. A very limited number of tickets might become available on Wednesday, Sept. 21 and at the door the night of the show. About 10 free tickets donated by No. 1 Cochran Auto are available for those who show up at the Hollywood Theater ticket box, which opens at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. for updates.

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