As they near their 20th anniversary of shows and on-stage performances, members of a Sayreville-based band will return to their hometown before celebrating their two decades of music.
Mikell’s Plot, a seven-piece mix of punk rock, blues, hard rock and heavy metal, will perform at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville on Sept. 21. They will open for The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute band.
Following the performance in their hometown, band members will celebrate their 20th anniversary at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch on Nov. 3.
Doors open for the Starland Ballroom show at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online (https://www.axs.com/events/356822/the-machine-performs-pink-floyd-tickets?skin=starland&src=AEGLIVE_WSTAREWR030115VEN001) for $17 or at the door for $20. There is also a $7 parking fee.
Doors open for the 20th anniversary show at the Brighton Bar at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online for $10 (https://www.ticketweb.com/event/mikells-plot-20th-anniversary-bash-the-brighton-bar-tickets/8558855) or at the door for $12.
Mikell’s Plot is comprised of lead vocalist Michael O’Connor of Sayreville, bassist Andrew Edick of Old Bridge, drummer Eddie Piotrowski of Edison, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Pete Mongiello of Springfield, guitarist and backing vocalist George Rivera of Jersey City, saxophonist Doug DeRienzo of South Orange, and keyboardist and backing vocalist John Mulrenan of Howell.
“What makes our sound unique is the distinctive sound of the hard-driving rock guitars with a blues saxophone,” O’Connor said.
The band formed in Sayreville in 1998 while O’Connor was working for Rivera at logistics services company Nippon Express. After listening to a demo tape that O’Connor made, Rivera suggested that he put a band together. Mikell’s Plot has since performed for nearly the past 20 years, while also facing struggles, notably Rivera’s battle with bone cancer.
“It’s been a rough road,” O’Connor said. “George started the band with me and he was like a big brother to me.”
Nevertheless, Mikell’s Plot continues to play together and hold live performances for audiences as members reach their milestone of two decades of music.
“I love the band,” Mongiello said. “We’re a like-minded unit and we all get along. Music is a lot of fun.”
“There’s no drama, no problems,” Edick said. “There’s chemistry in the band and a lot of energy. We feed off the audience and the audience feeds off of us.”