Hopwood woman back on stage with rock band Payl
By Jean Lohr Tiffany Cellurale, 30, of Hopwood can barely remember her life before she appeared on stage. She’s been involved in theater since she played the title role in “Annie” at the State Theatre when she was 8 years old. She was a Civic Light Opera Ministar a year later. She even studied dance.
As she got older, however, she lost interest.
But now she’s back.
These days, her life’s focus is two-fold: her four children – Libby, 8, Brady, 7, Maggie, who is nearing 3, and Kacy who will soon turn a year old and her band, Payl.
Though only two years old, Cellurale has high hopes for the five-member Payl.
“We’ve gone through some growing pains,” with musicians leaving and new ones coming on board, but that’s all a part of the process, Cellurale said.
“We finally got a good group together,” she said. “We are original. We classify our music as groove metal.”
Musical influences include Korn, Sevendust and Pink Floyd.
Sean Lackner, who writes all Payl’s songs, originally hails from Rehobeth Beach, Del. Though he can perform on many instruments – he’s been playing since the age of 5, he’s chosen lead guitar.
By day he is an electrician, who also makes his home in Hopwood.
“Sean has played with bands all up and down the East Coast since he was 14,” she said.
But, Cellurale, a stay-at-home mother for now and former shop owner, knows that what brought this band together was not just the music.
“We all believe in the natural, drug-free lifestyle,” she said.
Then there’s the work ethic.
“When you practice 15 hours a week. … When you make a commitment like that and put in that amount of time, you’re going to be good at what you do,” she said. “It pays off.”
Tyler Haines of Ohiopyle, a carpenter by trade, who enjoys extreme sports, plays drums and percussion.
His younger brother and the youngest member of the band, Alex Haines, also of Ohiopyle, plays bass guitar. He works at Ohiopyle Prints.
“Tyler is very talented,” Cellurale said. “He has a natural ability.”
Terry Kimmel Jr. of Ohiopyle rounds out the group on rhythm guitar.
Kimmel, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, lives with his grandparents.
“Both Sean and Terry play seven-string guitars,” Cellurale said. “That’s really quite rare in the business.”
Cellurale does vocals with Lackner and Kimmel as backup. Cellurale has high hopes for the local group.
“We just finished our demo,” she said. “You need a demo. … It is required before you can start playing in the larger venues.”
They are in the process of cutting their first full-length CD.
In addition, Cellurale and Lackner will soon be opening their own studio.
“We can then bring in other musicians as well,” she said.
As for the music and the band, Cellurale can see the future.
“In five years we will hopefully be a signed band,” she said, “or on a smaller, independent record label.”
But for now, Payl will be holding a demo-release party on Saturday at Shady Grove Park in Lemont Furnace. The gates open at 2 p.m.
There is a small admission charge to the all-ages show.
Every paid admission will receive a free demo from Payl.
Food and beverages will be for sale as will Payl T-shirts and stickers.
Also appearing on stage with Payl will be The Puppets and Minicus, two Uniontown-based rock bands.
For more information about Payl, visit the band’s Web site at www.myspace.com/payl.