All your favorite bands since the '70s will be playing the harborfront in Dunkirk tonight, rock and rolled into a
single cover band with a wealth of experience and an expansive musical catalogue.
Becoming a hit throughout Chautauqua County, Western New York, and Northwestern Pennsylvania playing
greatest hits from the past four decades, Allergic Reaction will be returning to the city of Dunkirk this evening
at 6:30 for their second appearance at the Concerts on the Pier summer series. A unique cover band with two
female vocalists, more than 99 years of combined musical experience and a penchant for classic and
southern rock, they're guaranteed to please any crowd, anywhere, anytime.
Formed nine years ago when founder Dave Lukacz placed an ad in the local paper looking for band mates,
the band has played with a diverse lineup of musicians throughout the years. However, Lukacz said this group
has a special chemistry.
"The name's been around since the year 2000," he explained. "... I've probably gone through 34 band
members in those nine years. I've had a lot of people come and go, and the people I have now are the
greatest. They're the best I've had."
Current band members, playing with the band for varying amounts of time, are Bill Piazza (guitar), Michelle
Merwin (keyboard and vocals), Don Volpe (bass and vocals), Teresa Wright (vocals), Erik Kane (drums) and
Lukacz (keyboard, guitar and vocals).
Each was drawn to the band for different reasons - money, Piazza joked - but all found a shared connection in
the music they play. For a group of people who barely knew each other before the band, they have a natural
chemistry and camaraderie which shows through in their practices and, more importantly, their performances.
It was a lack of chemistry which led to the regular coming and going of members in the past, Piazza explained.
"It's just a matter of the right people at the right time as far as chemistry," he said. "Some people work out and
some people don't."
Ultimately, however, Piazza attributed the longevity of the band to Lukacz, who refused to let it die. That, and
the broad appeal of the music they play.
Practicing out of a garage in the village of Sinclairville, Allergic Reaction's music reaches far into the past and
is heard far across the region.
For the most part, they play classic rock, southern rock, and a wide array of hits from the '70s, '80s, '90s and
today, including ZZ-Top, Aerosmith, Heart, Pat Benatar and Journey.
"Anything that's been popular over the last 30 years," Piazza added.
Throughout the band's history, they've played every type of venue there is to play, from Western New York to
Northwestern Pennsylvania, attracting both the college crowd and senior citizens to their shows along the way.
This is primarily due to the wide variety of music they play, Piazza said.
In addition, the two female singers give Allergic Reaction a unique edge over other cover bands, allowing
them to open up their catalogue and cover a broader sampling of bands.
"I don't know of a lot of other bands that have two females in it that sing as awesome as these two; they're
incredible together," Lukacz said.
single cover band with a wealth of experience and an expansive musical catalogue.
Becoming a hit throughout Chautauqua County, Western New York, and Northwestern Pennsylvania playing
greatest hits from the past four decades, Allergic Reaction will be returning to the city of Dunkirk this evening
at 6:30 for their second appearance at the Concerts on the Pier summer series. A unique cover band with two
female vocalists, more than 99 years of combined musical experience and a penchant for classic and
southern rock, they're guaranteed to please any crowd, anywhere, anytime.
Formed nine years ago when founder Dave Lukacz placed an ad in the local paper looking for band mates,
the band has played with a diverse lineup of musicians throughout the years. However, Lukacz said this group
has a special chemistry.
"The name's been around since the year 2000," he explained. "... I've probably gone through 34 band
members in those nine years. I've had a lot of people come and go, and the people I have now are the
greatest. They're the best I've had."
Current band members, playing with the band for varying amounts of time, are Bill Piazza (guitar), Michelle
Merwin (keyboard and vocals), Don Volpe (bass and vocals), Teresa Wright (vocals), Erik Kane (drums) and
Lukacz (keyboard, guitar and vocals).
Each was drawn to the band for different reasons - money, Piazza joked - but all found a shared connection in
the music they play. For a group of people who barely knew each other before the band, they have a natural
chemistry and camaraderie which shows through in their practices and, more importantly, their performances.
It was a lack of chemistry which led to the regular coming and going of members in the past, Piazza explained.
"It's just a matter of the right people at the right time as far as chemistry," he said. "Some people work out and
some people don't."
Ultimately, however, Piazza attributed the longevity of the band to Lukacz, who refused to let it die. That, and
the broad appeal of the music they play.
Practicing out of a garage in the village of Sinclairville, Allergic Reaction's music reaches far into the past and
is heard far across the region.
For the most part, they play classic rock, southern rock, and a wide array of hits from the '70s, '80s, '90s and
today, including ZZ-Top, Aerosmith, Heart, Pat Benatar and Journey.
"Anything that's been popular over the last 30 years," Piazza added.
Throughout the band's history, they've played every type of venue there is to play, from Western New York to
Northwestern Pennsylvania, attracting both the college crowd and senior citizens to their shows along the way.
This is primarily due to the wide variety of music they play, Piazza said.
In addition, the two female singers give Allergic Reaction a unique edge over other cover bands, allowing
them to open up their catalogue and cover a broader sampling of bands.
"I don't know of a lot of other bands that have two females in it that sing as awesome as these two; they're
incredible together," Lukacz said.
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS POSTED IN THE
DUNKIRK OBSERVER ON AUGUST 6th, 2009.
DUNKIRK OBSERVER ON AUGUST 6th, 2009.
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