July 2, 2008 From "The Sandpaper"
from 'Diamond City' Times-Shamrock News Wilkes-Barre, PA
April 12, 2008
http://www.pennlive.com/expresstimes/
Meet the band
Toga Party
Hometown: Western New Jersey / Lehigh Valley
Members: Larry "Vinny Vidivici" Cecio (vocals), Paul "Little
Caesar" Rivera (lead guitar, vocals), John “Bacchus” Staley (bass,
vocals), Eric “Caligula” Lear (rhythm guitar, keyboard), David
“Testiclese” Becker (drums)
Web site: togapartyband.com, myspace.com/togapartyband
Influences: "Myself, I'm rooted in classic rock going back to Beatles,
the Stones and the Who.
I was right there through the
'70s with Rush and Deep Purple," Staley says.
"The genres have been pretty broad."
Sounds like: Staley describes his band's sound as "upbeat, dance party
music."
Set list: The band covers a variety of genres and styles -- from crowd
favorites and sing-a-longs like "Shout!" and "Sweet
Caroline" to Metallica's "Enter Sandman."
"The whole premise is to play the right covers. We don't want to put
(the crowd) to sleep and keep the atmosphere upbeat and make the audience feel
like they're part of the show," Staley says.
"We mix it up. It's a wide spectrum."
Know their roots: Staley was in the middle of putting together a musical
project with other musicians when he got together with Cecio.
Staley says he and Cecio, along with Staley's wife Kathy, began building on
the idea of a themed rock / party band dressed in togas.
"It's definitely a novelty," Staley says.
The initial incarnation of Toga Party formed in April 2006. The current
lineup was solidified just over a year ago.
Catch them if you can: Toga Party will perform at 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at Brewhaha Restaurant and Pub in Harmony Township.
August 15, 2007 From "The Sandpaper"
June 30, 2007
from the Courier News website www.c-n.com
By Bob Makin
Toga party is tonight at Triumph in New Hope, Pa.
Toga Party Band, 10 p.m., The Triumph, 400 Union Sq.
at Bridge Street, New Hope, Pa. $5.
(215) 862-8300, www.triumphbrewing.com
If you think the Toga Party Band plays just frat-rock, like "Louie
Louie," "Mony Mony" and "Good Lovin," they For the younger crowd, they cover circuit veterans even throw in a few modern
classics by Sublime, Jet and The The good-timing five-piece, formerly known as Undercover without the toga
schtick, will perform tonight (and Aug.
do, but they
also play a mix of hard rock and classic rock, including AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bon
Jovi, Def Lepard,
Judas Priest, Poison and Van Halen, as well as U2, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, The Doors and Led Zeppelin.
Strokes.
24) at Triumph Brewery in New Hope.
Other upcoming shows include July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8, Rhythms,
Manville;
July 21, The Ketch, Beach Haven; Aug. 10, The Main Gate, Allentown, Pa.; Aug.
18, Grover Cleveland
Democratic Club, Bethlehem, Pa.; Sept. 1, Colorado Cafe,
Watchung, and Sept. 9, Union Township Community
Day at Hunterdon Hills Playhouse.
April 3, 2007
from the Courier News website www.c-n.com
By CELANIE POLANICK
Staff Writer
MANVILLE -- Benefits are planned this month for the Eduardo/Marchie family,
which lost three members
Heather Marchie, 28, and her two older children,
Angelina Eduardo, 4, and Tubal Eduardo Jr., 5
in a borough house fire March
13.
Heather Marchie was an attentive, busy mother with an irrepressible spirit,
said organizer Dawn DeCandia,
who shared a cousin with Marchie and whose
children played with Marchie's children just days before the accident.
"She did everything with them, for them," DeCandia said. "When
I think of Heather, what I think of right off the bat is,
she was the best
mother. She loved her children and would have done anything for them. It seemed
like she always
had a smile on her face, and even in bad situations, she tried
to make light of everything. She would look at her kids
and just be happy."
"We have been posting fliers and going around to businesses collecting donations," said Tammy Simon, one of the event's organizers. "We are even buying stuff ourselves to be raffled off. We want this event to big a huge success. (Fellow organizer Laurie Parlin) and I are honored to be a part of such an event and are proud to be organizing this event for such wonderful people."
After the first few musical sets, event organizers will hold an awards ceremony to honor the neighbors -- Gerard Lardieri, Nora Sarceno, George Kochis and Kevin Dodds -- who helped to rescue people at the fire. Awards also will be given to Manville police officers, firefighters and rescue workers as well as other emergency responders who assisted at the scene, including those from Bridgewater, Somerville, Hillsborough and Millstone.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. and continue until closing time at 2 a.m. A $10 donation will be collected at the door. The donation money and the money collected from the raffles will go to the three families affected by the fire. Other cash donations are welcome.
Rhythms of the Night and JP's Steakhouse are located at 729 S. Main St. For more information, call the establishment at (908) 707-8757, Parlin at (908) 331-0841 or Simon after 7 p.m. at (908) 339-3652.
Celanie Polanick can be reached at (908)707-3137, or at cpolanick@c-n.com.
From the Lehigh Valley Music Scene
March 6, 2007
featured band/artist . . .
Toga Party
Fronted by Larry "Vinny" Cecio, TOGA PARTY, plays rockin' classic and current dance music. Larry is one of the most energetic, fun loving entertainers on the music scene today. He captivates the crowd and gives your guests a night to remember. Check out the pix on our website to see folks having nothing but a great time! Better yet, check our schedule page and come party with us to see for yourself!
Larry's vocals are the kind that you just don't get tired of. From AC/DC, Skynrd, Tom Petty to ZZ Top, Larry conquers all.
On lead guitar & backing vocals is Victor "Les Paul Vic"
Zukowski.
Playing that ax note for note, Vic sounds just like a jukebox!
Rocking out on rhythm guitar and vocals is Eric Lear. Eric's superb harmonies create a musical dimension of its own.
On bass guitar is "Bacchus". One of the smoothest bassists around, Bacchus plays right in the pocket. He grooves dead-on with lots of punch. Bacchus is the backbone - you know, the guy who keeps it all together!
On drums is Mark "The Maff" Maffei. He's right where he needs to be; "The Maff" can plow! Not too shabby for a guy who bangs on wood and metal things with sticks.
As the co-host of your party, TOGA PARTY guarantees a memorable night. Complete with party laurels, etc, etc, We're Ready to Rock!
The party starts here….
www.togapartyband.com
Booking: 908.507.6108
Toga Party Band is a Limited Liability Corporation