High school band ready for first big gig in Morristown Onstage

This is the fourth in a series of profiles highlighting the finalists of Morristown Onstage, to be held Feb. 24 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.  

Four Morristown High School juniors are set to rock the Mayo Performing Arts Center stage with a their jazz/blues/funk band, Anastasia and the Pit, one of the first major performances of the band’s career.

The foursome - Anastasia Bergeron, Tyler Amelio, Spencer Butts, and Nathan Morla - will perform “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman.

“We performed ‘Give Me One Reason’ at the first coffeehouse of the school year in October; while we normally perform original material, we thought the song was a great option for a diverse audience,” Bergeron said. “We also enjoyed that though it is not an original composition, our bluesy style is still incorporated.”

The bandmates got their start through the school’s spring 2015 musical, “Grease,” where Amelio, Butts, and Morla all played in the pit orchestra while Anastasia was part of the cast. They’ve been playing together ever since under the title of Anastasia and the Pit.

Bergeron and Morla said they’ve had a passion for music their entire lives. Amelio first tried the drums in middle school, around the same time Butts picked up guitar. Each band member draws inspiration from different artists – from Fiona Apple for Bergeron to the Allman Broothers for Butts.

The band said they like playing the blues because of its diverse appeal, and the fact that its songs lend itself to a full band as opposed to a solo artist.

While Anastasia in the Pit is a relatively new band, they have regularly performed in front of their peers at the high school coffee house and a ready to tackle a much larger audience with Morristown Onstage.

Anastasia and the Pit plans to continue to practice the “Give Me One Reason” at their weekly jam session, and if they win, they’re considering putting the money toward recording an album.

They’ll also continue to play coffee houses and have booked a gig playing Roberts Garden Summer Concert for Teens later this year.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-713-5194; mizzo@GannettNJ.com

Morristown Onstage

What: A show featuring the best amateur talent from Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains, presented by and benefiting the Morris Educational Foundation.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 24

Where: Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St. in Morristown.