Bands Reunite For A Good Cause In Westhampton Beach

In 1994, Bryan Tymann and a few of his fellow students approached their Westampton Beach High School principal about hosting a battle of the bands. The students were told that they needed a cause and a teacher to sponsor it. They asked science teacher Jok Kommer to sponsor the event and came up with the idea of raising money for recycling containers through his CURE group (Classmates United in Restoring the Environment). It was a big success.

Over the years, Mr. Kommer has continued the “Battle of the Bands” tradition at the school, raising a significant amount of money for many environmental initiatives such as solar power and now wind power. Mr. Tymann has continued to participate as well as a judge and a mentor to CURE students.

But this year, there was only one student band at the school, so the event has been taken off-campus and will instead be a concert featuring alumni from former “Battle of the Bands.” Called “REBand,” the reunion concert will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, which has generously offered up the venue for the cause. This year’s 25th annual event is also special in that it is the final one for Mr. Kommer before he retires next month.

Current and alumni bands performing at “REBand” include The Water Boys, Haunted Hacienda, San Salvador Dali Parton, and Local Motion. All proceeds raised will go toward’s CURE’s Wind Turbine Initiative and the effort to install three wind turbines at the elementary school to provide an alternative energy resource.

WHBPAC is located at 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach. Tickets are $15 to $20 at eventbrite.com (search RE-band).