Band set for return to Amsterdam – Amsterdam Recorder – 11.30.09

Visit to include distribution of toys

Jessica Maher
Reporter

In what may seem like an answered prayer to a slew of local teenagers, it was announced Sunday that Anthony, Thomas, Ryan and Dave will return to Amsterdam this week.

For anyone who doesn’t know, that’s Vinny Prezioso, Thomas Iannello, Ryan Passariello and Dave Rossi – members of the Boston-based band 13 Yards to Victory, who played Amsterdam High School’s Bert DeRose Theater in October.

“We were so shocked at the way everything went,” said Prezioso. “It was a really positive experience and to be able to come back now, we’ll actually be helping people we know.”

This time, the band will do more than just perform its rock songs for a group of now-devout fans. The main purpose of the visit will be to accumulate toys that will be distributed to needy children in Amsterdam.

The band calls it Toy Jam II, and it will kick off this year on Saturday in the Riverfront Center. It’s a continuation of a successful event that was held in the group’s Massachusetts hometown last year, in which every person in attendance was required to bring a new, unwrapped toy of a $5 minimum value to be donated to local families.

“It generated tons of gifts,” said Prezioso. “We wanted to expand it, we didn’t want to keep it in our hometown.”

Third Ward Alderman-elect and current Greater Amsterdam School District Board of Education President Gina DeRossi, who also does public relations work for the band, suggested that Amsterdam be the first stop for Toy Jam II. Other stops include Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“They’re really excited to come back and to do this for the city,” said DeRossi.

Fred Balboni, manager of 13 YTV, said that this is the band’s way to give back to the community where they received such positive feedback in October.

“Amsterdam is a great, small-knit community and we love that,” he said.

After their performance at AHS, 13 YTV gained over 600 new fans on the band’s Facebook page. Many of the comments left by AHS students on the page included pleas for the band to return to the city.

Additionally, Prezioso said that on the day of the performance, the band’s Web site, (www.13ytv.com), received its highest amount of hits.

“This year it’s going to be cool because I feel like we’ve really built a fan base in Amsterdam,” he said.

The Sanford Stud Farm, which has its own toy drive every year, will partner with the event to identify needy families in the area and distribute the toys accordingly. DeRossi is in the process of trying to obtain a sound system for the event, without which 13 YTV will perform an acoustic set.

“One way or the other they’ll be performing,” she said.

Sponsors WCSS 1490 also plan to broadcast the performance live on-air.

Prezioso said he and his band mates will also be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures for anyone who pays the low admission price of one new toy of a $5 or more value.

“Everyone wins,” said Prezioso.

The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Riverfront Center.

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Contact Jessica Maher at jessica.maher@recordernews.com.

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