---

When Bernie Costello, a retired investment banker from Allenhurst, took up the guitar a few years back he had no inclination to perform on stage before a live audience. But perform he did – opening the three-day Lakehouse Music Academy Big Gig at the House of Independents, the downtown’s  newest entertainment venue known to draw national headliners to its stage.

“I had a few stories I wanted to tell,” he said. “I took a few lessons but it didn’t go so well.”

But after working with Lakehouse instructor Vic Della Pello, Costello not only performed before a live audience at the popular downtown venue, he debut three original songs alongside Della Pello [at right] on Friday night.

“I call him the song doctor,” Costello said of Della Pello. “I bring my material in there and he says  – well you might want to do this, you might want to do that; maybe we need a bridge here; that sounds a little bit too much like the one from two songs ago, let’s change the melody; and so forth. And, without having a music theory knowledge myself, that’s very helpful.”

The Big Gig is held at the end of every Lakehouse Music Academy semester.  After months of rehearsal, students get the opportunity to jam like the pros [red carpet style] at one of the city’s popular entertainment venues.

“You can’t travel a quarter mile in Asbury Park without running into a musician,” said West Long Branch resident Terry Farkas, who attended the Big Gig to support fiance Mike Lyons as he debut with rock band Salty Mary and the Pitz [shown below].

Farkas said she’ll return on Sunday to catch the lineup that includes her son Jimmy’s students.

The younger Farkas is an instructor at the Lake Avenue music academy, which helps nurture the talent in over 300 students, ages 3 to 73, and beyond.  Owner Jon Leidersdorff said even if one has never sang a note or strum a chord, the academy’s instructor will help bring out one’s inner rocker, singer-songwriter.

After only two semesters with Lakehouse, Releasing Mimi’s [below] front woman Mimi Smoyak was belting out tunes that would make Pat Benatar proud.

“They taught me how to use my voice,” the Brick resident said. “I’m really have a good group, so I’m really fortunate.”

Her seven-member band [which includes Asbury Park’s very own Fire Chief] hail from Brick, Jackson, Manasquan, Ocean Township, and Old Bridge. Smoyak said she not only learned how to project her voice but also no to be afraid from band instructor Ray Suhy.

“They really show you how to use your tools,” she said.

Among the opening night performers was Mamadrama [below], a unique group of women who formed after dropping of their children for music lessons.

“We really look forward to this every week,” said Kimberly Grigoli of Oakhurst.

Their five member group, with kids 3 to 11-year-old, travel also from Red Bank, Atlantic Highlands and Howell for instruction by Dan Haase.

“Lakehouse provides us with a babysitter,” Renee Dorski of Atlantic Highlands. “It would be so hard to do something like this if they didn’t.”

When asked what they thought of their moms’ performance the mini-mes shouted “Great,” and “Awesome.”

The Big Gig continues through midnight Saturday and 12:30 to 11:15 p.m. Sunday, with performances by their Cadets Plus, Get Started, Core, and Adult Night Sessions students.

Attendance is free and the House of Independents is located at 572 Cookman Ave.

For more information about the Lakehouse Music Academy offerings, visit their website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

[Feature Photo is country group Cheatin Hearts]

—————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---