Login | October 21, 2024
Akron Bar’s ‘Jammin’ for Justice’ sporting a different feel
Published: September 21, 2015
It was once a “Battle of the Bands,” but this year the Akron Bar Association’s annual “Jammin’ for Justice” event will be rocking to a different set of rules when it kicks off on Thursday.
While some familiar bands like “Jersey” and “Roxxymoron” will take to the stage once again, the format and venue will be different.
“Jammin’ for Justice is no longer a competition,” said “Jammin’ for Justice” Committee Chair John A. Casalinuovo. “In the past it has been held at a local bar and various acts would go up on stage and compete against one another.
“There was no way to control the primary function of the event, which is to raise money for a charitable cause since there was no way to sell or collect tickets.”
Casalinuovo, who has helped to organize and performed in prior “Jammin’ for Justice” events said he wanted to raise the stakes a bit.
“I discussed my ideas with the former Akron bar president, Ann Marie O’Brien, and she asked me if I would be willing to share my ideas and head the committee,” said Casalinuovo, a former Summit County Probate Court magistrate, who is currently District 4 business and human resources administrator for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“I was looking for more of a concert-type venue where we could sell tickets and have a better handle on the money that was coming in.”
After contacting several places, the committee settled on the Cabaret Room at The Tangier located at 532 W. Market St. in Akron. It’s estimated that the room can accommodate 450 people, including standing room.
Four bands are slated to play. Casalinuovo’s band, “The Ringers” is scheduled to play third. Casalinuovo said he put “The Ringers” together exclusively for this event.
“It is made up of people in my present bands, ‘45 rpm’ and ‘The Rollin’ Heat’ band,” he said.
Casalinuovo is the only attorney in the band. He will play bass guitar and keyboards. Other members include psychologist Joe Bendo (keyboards), retired school teacher Bob Mosher (guitar) and Casalinuovo’s two sons, Michael (drums) and Christopher (bass guitar and guitar). Members will take turns on vocals.
“We play classic rock but not the typical acts you would expect,” said Casalinuovo. “For example, we will play songs by The Moody Blues and Procol Harum.”
“Jammin’ for Justice” committee member and attorney Carmen Roberto said the change in format would allow groups to focus on the songs they truly enjoy playing.
“When it was a contest, the groups were more likely to argue amongst themselves about what songs would be more popular with judges,” said Roberto, an attorney at Niekamp, Weisensell, Mutersbaugh & Mastrantonio. “Now the groups will be able to play music that reflects their true flavor.
“I have played for years at various Ohio State and Akron Bar association events wherein I usually threw a band together composed of lawyers I know, many of whom will be in the various bands playing at this event,” said Roberto.
This year Roberto will be a guest artist for Roxxymoron, the band that will open the show.
Roberto will be playing guitar and singing backup vocals for the group, which includes attorneys Christopher Niekamp and Robert Incorvati and Summit County Probate Court Chief Magistrate George Wertz.
“It will be like the British invasion all over again,” said Wertz. “We will be playing two songs from The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones.”
“We are an eight-piece band and we normally play eclectic covers, primarily rock music,” said Incorvati, an attorney at Ciccolini & Associates Co. and a member of the “Jammin’ for Justice” Committee. “Five of us sing so we produce some unusual harmonies.”
Magistrate Wertz said Roberto would be filling in for one of the two band members who can’t make the performance.
“We’re trying to drum up support for the bar association and get more people involved and hopefully ‘Jammin for Justice’ will help us do that,” said Magistrate Wertz.
“Fillmore East” is also a new participant in the show. Ron Speck, the former lead singer for The Doors tribute band, Morrison Hotel, created the band, which will go on second, less than a year ago.
“Fillmore East was a New York City venue, where a lot of famous classic rock bands once played, with the exception of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones,” said sole practitioner Dean Konstand, who plays guitar. “I am the only one of the five band members who is an attorney.
“When John Casalinuovo approached me about joining the ‘Jammin’ for Justice’ Committee I was transitioning from my former band to Fillmore East. Fillmore East then agreed to play for the event.
“It’s a charitable event and hopefully it will be good exposure for the band,” said Konstand.
The Bruce Springsteen tribute band “Jersey” is scheduled to close out the show.
“The band participated in the event three different years when it was a competition,” said sole practitioner Rik Williger, who plays keyboard, guitar, mandolin and harmonica and sings backup vocals for the seven-member band. “We enjoyed it and did well each time we performed.”
Other members of the band include Andy Henkle (saxophone), Dave Shoop (“The Boss,” lead vocals and guitar), Joe Hill (lead guitar, backup vocals), Dave Finkenthal (keyboard and backup vocals), Robert Myers (bass) and cardiologist Dr. Joe Pietrolungo on drums.
Williger, who is also on the “Jammin’ for Justice” Committee, said the band members had not decided which songs they would play yet, but he said the audience could look forward to some Springsteen favorites.
“When the committee discussed which bands should play, I suggested ‘Jersey,’ as I think it’s a great event. I am very proud of ‘Jersey’ and I love playing,” said Williger.
The Akron Bar Foundation will distribute the money raised to a local charity.
The Sept. 24 event starts at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 a person and the event is open to the general public. There will also be time between sets to order appetizers and partake in the cash bar.
Many local firms are sponsoring the event. To purchase tickets or for sponsorship opportunities, log on to https://akronbar.intouchondemand.com/aaeventinfo.aspx?eventid=22260 or call 330-436-0106.
Tickets will also be sold at the door on the day of the event, if it does not sell out beforehand.