Concert under the stars

Cranbury hosts candlelight concert with all kinds of music

By: Lacey Korevec
   Flickering candlelight and cover songs from artists like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin and Bryan Adams will help set the mood for community members who attend the Candlelight Picnic Concert, sponsored by the Cranbury Arts Council on Sept. 30.
   The Robert Murdock Band is headlining the event. The group played the concert last year for the first time and was warmly received, said Edison resident Robert Murdock, who bass guitar and vocals.
   "It’s actually more exiting than last year because this year we know exactly what to expect," he said. "We know how to prepare our show accordingly. Now that we know exactly what to expect, we’re very excited to put together a group of songs that we know these people will like."
   Mr. Murdock said he and the other band members, Old Bridge resident Lee Howard, guitar and vocals, and drummer and vocalist Jeff Alai of Metuchen, have some surprises in store for viewers. Though he didn’t give anything specific away, he said people should anticipate hearing some songs they may not expect. Some examples he gave included one hit wonders from the ’80s and a few songs from Side B of the Beatles album Abbey Road.
   "Audiences respond to songs that maybe they don’t hear that often from bands that are playing locally unless you go to a concert at PNC Arts Center, where the original group is performing it," he said. "We like to play songs that are not heard that often by cover groups in the area."
   The band goes on 6 p.m. and will play three, jour long shows, with two short breaks in between. Mr. Murdock said the group is looking forward to the event’s ambiance, which they found to be unique last year.
   "This year we’ll kind of be used to it," he said. "But, if you’re a first timer, its really neat looking. It’s like being at a concert when everybody lights their BIC lighters and they all wave them in the air when it gets dark out. You’ll see all these candles being lit. It just creates a nice atmosphere."
   Those who are interested in learning more about the band can check out its Web site at www.robertmurdockband.com.
   The band Stump, followed by Jack and Chad Pinto will open for Robert Murdock Band.
   Stump is made up of Princeton High School juniors and Cranbury residents Kyle Walsh, guitar and vocals, Luke Brunskill vocals and bass, and Andrew Yedlin, drums. This will be the group’s first time performing the event, but the members have attended the concert in past years, Kyle said.
   "In the past, there have been a lot of people there and, especially when I was younger and I didn’t really play guitar as much and was just starting, it was cool to see the big band playing there," he said. "So I think it will be cool to be able to play at something like that, even if we’re not the main feature."
   Stump, which Kyle described as a grunge-alternative rock band, will play all original songs, some of which are brand new.
   "I don’t really know whose going to be there, so that will probably affect what we play," he said. "We’re just going to get up there and we’re going to have a really good time. So, they should just expect us to be having fun and hopefully that will make them enjoy it more."
   Luke said the group members will be happy if the performance makes viewers smile.
   "If they like our style of music, hopefully they will like us and want to hear more of us," he said. "We just want people to have a good time."
   The members of Stump are excited to be opening for Robert Murdock Band and are looking forward to kicking back after they play and enjoying the show.
   "They’re just a really solid band," Kyle said. "I liked them. I enjoyed the songs they played last year too. I think that’s kind of cool because they’re really good at their instruments and everything, so it will just be kind of exciting because we’re opening for a pretty good band."
   Jack and Chad Pinto, a father-son duo, of Washington Drive, will go on after Stump and will cover songs from artists like Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, as well as music from newer artists like Jack Johnson.
   "We’re just going to play some songs that people can recognize and enjoy listening to for a half hour as they get settled in," Mr. Pinto said.
   It will run from 5 p.m. to about 10 p.m. and is on Matt and Patty Long’s property on Cranbury Neck Road.
   Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the Cranbury Arts Council voicemail at (609) 655-1705. Princeton High School students can buy tickets from Judith Buckley or Martie Hayden, who are Arts Council members and teachers at the high school. Tickets are $6. Children 6 and younger can attend are free.