Trip the Light set for afternoon show at Moose Lodge this weekend
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Area music fans that like to go out dancing know that few local acts can keep them up on their feet as much as horn-based party band Trip the Light. Performing an eclectic set of hits that spans six decades, the eight-piece group has been bringing their upbeat show to stages across Central PA for many years.
But with the group typically playing its shows in the evening, some fans with an earlier bedtime may find it difficult to make it out and see them. Luckily for these folks, the band will offer something a little bit outside of its wheelhouse this weekend, when it performs a show at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Moose Lodge No. 145, 1219 West Southern Ave., South Williamsport. The "Sunday Funday" event, which will be open to club members and non-members (for a cover fee) alike, will see the group perform its same high-energy show at a time that allows fans to make it home at a more reasonable hour.
"We don't generally do the 'Sunday Fundays,' but we noticed that there is a certain demographic in town -- that being people in their 50s and 60s -- that don't really go out," said Trip the Light drummer Keith Bashnick. "The culture is changing; people don't really stay out until 2 a.m. anymore, especially that demographic.
"They want something that they can go to earlier in the day, so we thought, 'Okay, let's put something together.'"
Along with Bashnick, Trip the Light is composed of Mark Campolongo (trumpet), Len Cagle (saxophone), Dee Jacobs (saxophone), Tony Melfi (bass), Tyler Crossley (guitar), Bert Smeal (keyboard, vocals) and Diane Freynik (vocals). Founded by Bashnick, Jacobs and Freynik in 2016, the group has seen several different configurations during its run but has been playing with its current lineup for about two years.
"What we really tried to do is pull from our community to put a great group together of not just musicians, but people that are just amazing and give back to the community as well," said Bashnick. "We have everything from weight loss counselors, to Lycoming College professors, to people who work at the Central PA Food Bank, to biomedical engineers at UPMC, to phlebotomists, to contractors.
"Every part of our community is represented in this party band," he added. "It's kind of cool."
Along with its roots in the community, another thing that makes Trip the Light special is the phenomenal chemistry the group enjoys on and off the stage. Keeping things light and fun is of paramount importance to the band and permeates all aspects of what it does.
"We know that if we are getting together for rehearsal, we all look forward to it. Not just because we're going to learn new material, but because we get to hang out with each other," Bashnick said. "Often times, we refer to ourselves as being family, because that is really what it is. We see each other so often on stage, but when we see each other off stage that energy is still there."
Bashnick said when the band is having a great time on stage then the chances are good the crowd is also having a lot of fun. When selecting songs for their act, the group is always looking to play whatever will get people up on their feet and moving. Typically, they'll play songs across a wide array of genres -- including funk, pop, country and rock -- from the '70s to now.
"If we aren't moving, then they aren't going to move," said Bashnick. "In that mindset, we are always having a good time. It's really hard to not have a good time, especially with this lineup.
"One of the things that we like to keep in mind when we are doing anything, and that includes doing a show or learning material, is that if you aren't having a good time then we aren't doing it right," he added.
Along with great music and a fun light show, another thing Trip the Light likes to include in its performance is the crowd itself. Several times throughout a show, the group's horn section will get out in the audience to dance. Lead singer Freynik also makes it a point to interact with those in attendance, talking with spectators as much as possible.
"We like to make them feel like they are part of the show, rather than just observing the show," Bashnick said.
Bashnick mentioned that Trip the Light has put on successful shows at the Moose Lodge in South Williamsport many times in the past, and that he expects another great performance when the band plays on Sunday. With so many horns in the group, one might expect things to get overwhelmingly loud in the club, but thanks to the group's great sound technicians that won't be an issue.
"We have played there probably twice per year since our inception, and every time we have had a good reception," said Bashnick. "They dance and have a good time; and the food and drinks are amazing. The staff there really treats the community great as well.
"This is going to be new, but I think it's going to be a hit. I have seen it done in other communities and at other venues, and it always works out well," he added. "We wanted to put something out there that anybody, of any age, can come to and have a good time and dance in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday."
For more information on the band and its events, visit tripthelightpartyband.net or find them on social media.