By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
The British Invasion Tribute band invaded the high school Friday evening to raise money for scholarships, according to organizers.
Tickets to the event were $15, and about 50 tickets were sold, according to organizers.
”Whoever didn’t come (to the show) missed one heck of night,” Dave Stanislawczyk, one of the Parent Teacher Organization’s joint vice presidents, said.
Money raised at the event is planned to go toward the high school PTO scholarship essay program that provides $500 awards to students, Mr. Stanislawczyk said. Last year, 35 scholarships were awarded through the program, he said.
The band, featuring music from the British invasion of the 1960s, playing in the first PTO concert in several years, had “perfect timing” because of the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton that had taken place that morning, he said.
The other PTO vice president, Paula Safran, said the event was planned in conjunction with the royal wedding, and that she thought more students would come.
Band member and Old Bridge resident Lee Scott Howard, 51, said that while most tribute bands cover one band, there is so much great music from that era they decided to play songs from that era by different bands.
”Why not cover it all?” he said.
The band has played together as the British Invasion for about five years, performing songs like Hard Day’s Night, Satisfaction, and Born to be Wild, he said. Mr. Howard said he and Edison resident Robert Murdock, 52, met while playing in a different band that had a recording contract.
That band eventually broke up, but they still play together, according to Mr. Howard.
Mr. Howard and Mr. Murdock both said the other band members are drummer Jeff Alai, 42, and keyboard and guitarist Mick Seeley, 56.
All four sing at some point during the show, Mr. Howard plays guitar and Mr. Murdock plays bass guitar.
”We get as much enjoyment as the audience,” Mr. Murdock said.
Mr. Howard said the band played three different shows: the British side, the American response, and then some later Beatles songs. Between the first two sets the band changed costumes from early Beatles style suits to a more hippie style they wore the rest of the show.
”We have a great time doing what we do,” Mr. Howard said.
Monmouth Junction resident Noah Mascarenhao, 7, attended the concert with his parents, and while at the event showed off the 79 Beatles songs on his iPod. He said he liked the show, and that his favorite part was the keyboards.
His mother, Ann Margaret, said his father introduced him to the Beatles.
”His dad is the fifth Beatle,” she said.
Ms. Mascarenhao said Noah goes to the South Brunswick School of Music, based in Kendall Park, where he studies piano.
Hamilton resident Maria Dipierro, 51, said her favorite part of the show was the last part of the show featuring the later Beatles songs.
”All the good stuff wrapped up in one,” she said.
During the show, some audience members danced and clapped along to the songs performed, while volunteers sold refreshments such as drinks, candy and chips.
Monmouth Junction resident Tyler Crozier, 15, said he helped out at the event by setting up tables, hanging posters and collecting tickets.
”I just help out any way I could,” he said.

