Tribute band has 1,100 fans livin’ on a prayer

By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer

By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer


VERONICA YANKOWSKI Elvio Nardi, lead singer of Bon Jovi tribute band Runaway, emulates the Sayreville-bred rocker as he and the band perform at Geick Park in Old Bridge on July 30.VERONICA YANKOWSKI Elvio Nardi, lead singer of Bon Jovi tribute band Runaway, emulates the Sayreville-bred rocker as he and the band perform at Geick Park in Old Bridge on July 30.

OLD BRIDGE — You might have seen Sayreville native Jon Bon Jovi in the Peter Pank Diner or some other local eatery back when he was just getting his start.

You might even find Bon Jovi, who now lives in Middletown, Monmouth County, at a charity event or even in another area restaurant or store.

And while you could see him this week at Giants Stadium, you could have found him … or at least someone who looks and sounds like him … on stage in Old Bridge’s Geick Park July 30.

Actually, it was Elvio Nardi, the lead singer of Bon Jovi tribute band Runaway, who smiled, strutted and occasionally winked at his young fans at the edge of the stage. Even if he was not the real deal, Nardi, 36, of Stony Point, N.Y., did his best to channel the Jersey-born rocker’s charisma to the delight of about 1,100 spectators in this, the third of several tribute concerts in Geick Park this summer.

For those who don’t have tickets to the real Bon Jovi’s Giants Stadium gigs tonight and tomorrow night, Runaway — brought to Old Bridge as part of the Cultural Arts Committee’s summer concert series — was perhaps the closest thing to that show.

The audience also had an opportunity to hear Old Bridge resident Jamie Mazur, 30, play keyboards on Bon Jovi’s songs, including "(You Give Love) A Bad Name," "Living on a Prayer" and "It’s My Life."

Plus, if How ‘Bout Tomorrow, the teen rock band crowned "Old Bridge Idol" on June 21, should successfully follow Bon Jovi’s footsteps, those who got to see the local band perform during Runaway’s break can say they saw them "when."

How ‘Bout Tomorrow, consisting of township residents Jay Loftus, Glen Rosenthal and Greg Woodward, all 15, and Matt Westerholm, 16, won the "Idol" competition during a juried contest at the St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church’s carnival. One of the prizes was to share the bill with Runaway during the concert series. The band did an encore performance of "Best of Me," the tune that helped them win the contest.

The aspiring stars also performed an original composition, "Up for Grabs," before approximately 50 members of an impromptu teenage fan club that gathered at the foot of the platform stage.

When Nardi and Runaway returned after a 20-minute break, they launched into "Lay Your Hands On Me." Nardi amused the crowd by twirling a microphone stand in rhythm to the song. "Undivided," a patriotic song featuring the lyrics, "We were once divided, now we stand united," appeared to move many in the crowd made up mostly of young children and their parents.

It was not all Bon Jovi, however, as the band covered Led Zeppelin’s "Rock and Roll," as well as the Romantics’ "What I Like About You." The latter had many in the crowd on their feet.

"Runaway," the Bon Jovi hit that inspired the tribute band’s moniker, was followed by a cover of "Twist and Shout," a 1960s dance song associated with the Beatles and the Isley Brothers.

Besides Mazur, Nardi is backed by Joe Garriello, 34, of the Bronx, N.Y., on rhythm guitar; Joe McMahon, 38, of the Iselin section of Woodbridge Township, on drums; Bobby Henesy of New York on bass guitar and vocals; and Dave Flora, 36, of Orange on lead guitar.

The band’s next gig was scheduled for this Thursday at the temporary boardwalk/amusement park set up this summer in the Giants Stadium parking lot, Nardi announced.

The Asbury Park-style boardwalk is designed to recreate the scene where both Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen first honed their talents.

Springsteen and his E Street Band played seven sold-out shows at Giants Stadium last month and are set to play three more shows later this month.

Nardi and his band obviously enjoyed their time at Geick Park.

"Thank you, Old Bridge!" he shouted at the concert’s conclusion. "You people are great!"

Hot Legs, featuring a Rod Stewart impersonator, was scheduled to play Geick Park last night.

Unforgettable Fire, a tribute to U2, is scheduled to perform Aug. 13.

Beatlemania, the look-alike, sound-alike, act-alike doppelgangers for the Fab Four, will wrap up the six-week series on Aug. 20. Concert organizers are asking those attending the concerts to bring a canned good for donation to the township’s food bank.

The concert hotline is (732) 721-5600, ext. 2190.