All Over The Place: If You Like Local Music, Saturday Is Your Day

Two local organizations are putting on “Rock, Shop & Relief: A Sandy Charity Event,” this Saturday starting at 2 p.m. at the Long Hill Senior Center in Gillette.

The event is being organized by The Monthly Pit and my Remedy.

The Monthly Pit was founded by four friends from Berkeley Heights. “We started to have monthly shows that gave young bands an opportunity to play and to build our own music scene,” said Monthly Pit member Chelsea Bené.

Monthly Pit events are usually held at the Long Hill Senior Center, Meyersville Grange or The Farmhouse at Free Acres. The group is looking to expand into nightclubs in the near future.

“It’s about meeting new people and creating new connections,” added Bené.

Jill Pfund, also from Berkeley Heights, founded my Remedy in 2010. She has a background in fashion.

”I have my own small business, a little lifestyle brand I started to promote positive messages to young adults. It’s very personally fulfilling,” said Pfund.

For the benefit show, Pfund stated that about 10 local craftspeople will be selling their goods at the show. “Everything from apparel to home decor and accessories,” said Pfund.

Vendors at the show will include Naptime Creations, Waiting For This, DollyMoo, Positive Times, Tightly Knit, & Heights Delight Homemade Cookies.

Three local bands will be appearing at this benefit: Rewind The Crisis, Hammond and The Karma Killers.

The Karma Killers are headlining the show. “We know them because their bass player, Steve Kopf, is from Berkeley Heights. They play really good rock and roll with a pop edge. This is the first time we’ve hosted them and we’re very excited,” said Bené.

Rewind The Crisis was a last-minute addition to the bill. “Their manager reached out to us. They were exactly what we were looking for,” said Bené.

All proceeds from the show are being donated to the Red Cross. “We’re all from New Jersey and it’s hit us close to home. We’ve spent enormous amounts of time down at the shore, so the fact that the shore was destroyed was pretty upsetting to all of us. We wanted to put something together that could give back,” said Pfund.

In other music news, the Saturday Afternoon Song Swap returns to Rockn' Joe in Millburn at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Hosted by Deena Shoshkes and Rebecca Turner, the Swap brings songwriters together to perform original material three times a year. This time out, the Swap will feature performances by Adam Bernstein, Jim Marlowe and Steve Runyon, Christian Davis, Steve Espinola, The Janes and Rob Friedman. Admission is free, so get a coffee, pull up a chair and enjoy the show!

“Rock, Shop & Relief: A Sandy Charity Event” happens at the Long Hill Senior Center, 769 Valley Road in Gillette. The event runs from 2 to 7 p.m. with music starting at 3 p.m. Admission is $5. You can also donate to the cause through Occupy Sandy NJ's Amazon page.

The Saturday Afternoon Song Swap starts at 4:30 p.m. at Rock’n Joe, 63 Main Street in Millburn. Admission is free.