Lunch Hour Six Pack has been together for about two and a half years. However, this project was in the works many years before. Bassist Jon Zayle and rhythm guitarist Brian Comiskey grew up in Middlesex Borough, listening to their fair share of hard rock and heavy metal acts like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Van Halen, Rush, Queensryche & Anthrax. Over time, The Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, Tool, The Beatles, Dream Theater, 80s and 90s alternative, funk and everything else seeped in as well.
After playing in a number of bands in and after college (including two original recording projects), Jon took a few years off playing in bands. In the fall of 2005, he jammed with Brian and some of Brian's cousins in East Stroudsburg, PA. There, Jon met guitarist Mike Comiskey of Metuchen, whose technical proficiency and interest in progressive rock was not only refreshing, but made for some fantastic improvisational jams. Mike, the band's elder, had many side projects over the years playing guitar, but kept his focus on raising a family and pursuing his business career. (Mike was the winner of the “Boogie With Satch” guitar competition, where he dueled it out with another finalist on 105.5 WDHA morning show in October 2008).
For a few years, the five played loosely as The Onion 5, playing family gatherings and jams with other musicians a few times a year in New Jersey and Wyalusing, PA.
Wanting to play more than just a few shows a year, Jon approached Mike in October 2007 with the idea to start a local cover band. On a piece of paper, Jon had the name "lunch hour sixpack," a diverse list of 24 songs and the goal to play out by March 2008. With Brian on rhythm guitar, Lunch Hour Six Pack was formed.
On November 3, 2007, Rob Ussia, an experienced drummer/vocalist from Dunellen, who was an acquaintance of Brian's, sat in for a rehearsal with the guys. After running through Nutshell, Little Wing, Soulshine and Plush, it was as if the four played together for years. The last piece of the puzzle was in place, and the band was complete.
Keeping to the mission of playing songs "from the back wall," Lunch Hour Six Pack played its first show on March 22, 2008 -- a 12 song set following two other local bands. They followed up with their first full show on April 12, 2008. Two of those songs, Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child and The Allman Brother's In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, showcased the band's improvisational skills that surface from time to time.
In lieu of a full time lead vocalist, the band split lead vocal duties, which allowed them to tackle a number of different genres. However, the band invites other musicians and singers to join them during the night when possible.
On January 16, 2010, in response to the band's invite for any musicians to join them, vocalist Dominick Musolino sang I Alone, and was asked to join the band for 6 more songs that evening. After the show, the band stayed in contact, and he performed 16 songs over two sets on February 6, 2010. Later that night, he joined the band. Dominick played his first full show on February 13, 2010, which happened to be the band's 50th show in less than two years.
Lunch Hour Six Pack continues to play classic rock and alternative covers all over New Jersey, and has traveled to Pennsylvania as well.
The phrase "Lunch Hour Six Pack" dates back to the summer of 1995. |
