Grumpy Al | The Beachside Resident

Tobin Bennison

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Grumpy Al
Just Another Day In Paradise
Self-Released; 2009

To most locals, Al “Grumpy Al” Urezzio is simply the colorful character behind Melbourne landmark the Burger Inn, a place beloved by old-fashioned hamburger fans throughout the County. They’ve come to know and love him for his miraculous cooking skills and for his famously testy demeanor, but die-hard Grumpy Al devotees also know that he’s also one of the area’s best musicians, a highly talented one-man band whose hoard of original material hearkens back to the golden era of insightful, groove-driven tunes.

After getting his start in the early ‘60s performing in high school bands in his native New York, Al moved to San Francisco to catch the end of the “Summer of Love” and to hone his musical chops. The next 25 years saw him drumming up and down the West Coast, supporting the likes of John York of The Byrds, Bruce Day of Pablo Cruise, and Mitch Holman of It’s A Beautiful Day. He also found time to front several original bands — Life On Earth and Billy Blastoff among them — which were opening acts for famous nationally touring bands.

1992 saw Al relocate to Florida to take over the Burger Inn. While developing the business into the iconic eatery it is today demanded most of his free time, Al still managed to work on creating and recording both new material and polishing old tunes he wrote during his youth. He reckons he’s got over 100 self-penned tunes under his belt, some of which graced 50 Years and Counting, a live album he released in 2007. Others have found their way onto his latest, the jaunty, uplifting Just Another Day In Paradise.

If the fact that Al sings soulfully and plays all the parts himself (through some state-of-the-art keyboards) on weren’t incredible enough, Paradise is also packed with some of his strongest material. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Al’s sound recalls early Billy Joel or Springsteen with its urgent, infectious rhythms and street’s-eye view of life and love. Tracks like “Every Time Those Boys Come Around” and “Back To The Good Old Days” will have you nodding in joyful commiseration with their celebratory themes. Paradise pleases on several levels, but the truth is that Al’s ebullient spirit is what makes it so worthy of attention. Just Another Day In Paradise captures Al’s decidedly ungrumpy essence well, but should surely inspire you to catch him live.

Grumpy Al performs every third Saturday of the month — this month on the 16th — from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at East Coast Coffee & Tea, located at 285 E. Eau Gallie Blvd. (in the Publix Plaza at the corner of Eau Gallie and South Patrick Boulevards). Al also plays during “First Friday” events at the Art & Antique Studio, 1419 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Copies of Just Another Day in Paradise are available for purchase at his shows and at the Burger Inn (1819 N. Harbour City Blvd. — U.S. 1 — in Melbourne). Visit Al online at www.myspace.com/ grumpyal2 to hear song samples and to read news about upcoming gigs.