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Looking for something different to do this Halloween? Then garb up as your favorite monster, ghoul or temptress and get ready for a full night of live music and horror movies. It all happens when the Musicians Masquerade takes over the entire Vail-Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead on Halloween.
The doors open at 7 p.m. and close when the last ghoul goes home. There will be continuous live music from Long Island bands in the upstairs theater. Monster movies and cult favorites like Rocky Horror Picture Show will be screened starting at 8 p.m. in the first floor cabaret room.
There will be a cash bar and prizes for best costumes. The event is for 21 and over since there will be a cash bar. All in all, event organizer John Brzoza believes there will be enough zaniness and music to make for a great night worth remembering.
“There will be stories to tell, when it’s all over,” Mr. Brzoza said. “With all the bands playing and all the characters who are bound to show up, it’s guaranteed to be a fun time.”
The musical lineup is a cross section of the Long Island music scene. There will be hard rock, country rock, rock, alternative, music with a gothic penchant, punk, and Latin jazz fusion with a lot of jamming. Taking the stage (in no particular order) will be Blue Wild Angel from Hampton Bays, Europa from Sag Harbor, Jessie Haynes and the Aqua Girls from East Quogue and Tom Hood & The Trailmen of Eastport.
Hailing from farther afield are Folk Fiction, Jordan Hope, Steve Meaders, Seanamole, Frank Dimino, Stevenmark and Lisa Rose. Each band will play for 15 minutes before the next band immediately takes the stage.
Mr. Brzoza, who hails from East Quogue, will play with several bands. He will appear with The John Brzoza Band, which has multiple recordings, and the group Noisy Boy. Mr. Brzoza is also a member of Plan B, who will perform at 75 Main in Southampton on Saturday, November 1.
When Mr. Brzoza’s not gigging with one the bands, he hosts open mic nights on Thursdays at Molly’s Irish Pub in Brookhaven and at the Brickhouse Brewery in Patchogue on Tuesday nights. Many of the bands in the Halloween lineup have played at his open mic nights. Mr. Brzoza said the Musicians Masquerade wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for many of the musicians pitching in to make the night possible.
In the end, the evening is a great opportunity for Long Island bands to perform on a historic stage in front of a large crowd of people who are interested in original music and being part of the live music scene.
“We are out there doing our music,” Mr. Brzoza said. “We’re trying to make an impact, trying to make a scene. This is one of those opportunities.”
Mr. Brzoza has staged similar musical gatherings in the past. Two years ago, he organized Jambalaya at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall. He’s also one of the co-hosts with Ms. Haynes of Original Voices at the Vail, which is held the third Thursday of every month. The Vail-Leavitt is a historic theater for rent run by a non-profit organization.
Musicians Masquerade will be held on Halloween at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall, Peconic Avenue, Riverhead. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at East Enders Coffee House and the East End Arts Council in Riverhead, as well as at Vail-Leavitt. A 50/50 raffle will be held to raise money for the event and for the Best Costume prize. For information, visit www.vail-leavitt.org or www.myspace.com/johnbrzoza.
on Oct 21, 2008