On Jan. 12, Asbury Park was rocking all night long and Blue Hawk Records, Monmouth’s student-run record label, had everything to do with it. Every year Asbury Park hosts the Light of Day Festival which, as Professor Joe Rapolla, Chair of the Music and Theatre Department, explains, “Is an important event for Monmouth students to participate in not only because it is a high-profile music event that local and international acts, including Bruce Springsteen, perform at, but because of the purpose of the light of day organization.”
The Light of Day organization raises awareness and funds in hopes of finding a cure for diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS. The festival draws crowds from all over the world to rock together and bring an end to these terrible diseases. Aja Armstrong, a sophomore Music Industry student and active member of Blue Hawk Records states, “It was a very successful night for Blue Hawk Records. It brought us together as a club and showed that we are passionate and devoted to making music and using that gift of music to raise awareness for a great cause.”
The event kicked off at 8 p.m. in Langosta Lounge on Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park. The kitchen and bar were open for people to relax and order a cocktail or some sushi while they listened to all the acts. Eva Michaylin, a junior Music Industry student, said, “The Light of Day show was a perfectly constructed event for a great cause that had a wonderful turn out! All of Monmouth University’s artists put on a show that had the picturesque restaurant entertained for the entire night.”
Professor Rapolla commented, “Overall, it was just an amazing, fun, well produced, and transformative evening for Monmouth students and the local Asbury community.”
The acts for the night included acoustic and full band sets from Monmouth artists. Acoustics sets were Francesca Lonigro, freshman Communications student; Nicole Govel, junior Music Industry student; Subway Babes which consists of seniors Nicole Seitz and Dave DePaola; and Zach Sandler, freshman Music Industry student, with Asbury local Bobby Mahoney. The Monmouth bands included The Emily Youth Project, The Carousers, and Sentimental Gentlemen. The night closed out with an All Star Jam that certainly surprised the people at Langosta Lounge.
The All Star Jam consisted of various Monmouth students jamming out some old favorites. Music Industry students Taylor Coigne, Eva Michaylin, Govel, Cassidy Crosby, and Crosby’s sister Becky performed “Just A Girl” by NoDoubt. Michaylin said, “Being able to perform in the all-girl group was one of the highlights of this school year for me and I feel really great being able to expose that girl musicians, an often overlooked subset, can rock just as hard as the guys!”
The All Star Jam also had some surprise appearances from high-profile guys in the Music Industry today. Rapolla said, “To have our winter commencement speaker there, chairman of Warner Music Group Nashville, John Esposito was an amazing opportunity for our students. By my request Vinnie ‘mad dog’ Lopez the original drummer of the East Street band came by to say hello to students as well. And how much fun was it to play Glory Days with Maddog, Espo and our own Monmouth students.”
Some students that “Maddog” and “Espo” jammed with included Jon Bass, a junior Music Industry student. Bass said, “I thought it was a great night and I’m always thankful for all the opportunities I get to jam, especially with my best pals and some legends in the music business.”
Caitie Bitteto, a senior Communications student commented, “I thought it was a great showcase of the musical talent at Monmouth and I especially enjoyed when Monmouth musicians shared the stage with professionals as peers.”
Overall, the night was very successful and a lot of fun for everyone who went. Andrew Jackle, a recent graduate of the Music Industry program here a Monmouth and main coordinator of the event, said, “The performance last Thursday was a huge success. It took a lot of preparation, but everyone involved in the planning and promotion of this show worked together and supported one another. This was probably the best turnout a Blue Hawk concert at Langosta has ever had. And the surprise guests weren’t too bad either.”
Blue Hawk Records would personally like to thank all the students and families and community members who came to support this event and the artists in it. It’s always a great pleasure to rock for an amazing cause.
