Rural rockers take on New Jersey
Band's side project helps keep young adults drug free through music
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer
Out of western Monmouth County comes a new kind of rock force to be reckoned with.

ANDREW MILLER staff Cream Ridge residents David Corniola, 13, on guitar, Kyle Oberhauser, 15, on drums, and Johnny Costa, 14, on bass and vocals, form the rock group Havana Harbor.

Mixing the winding woods, farmlands and big open skies of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold with the music of bands such as Green Day, Slightly Stoopid, Sum 41 and Plain White T's has spawned a group of rural rockers who call themselves Havana Harbor.

With Johnny Costa, 14, on bass and vocals, David Corniola, 13, on lead guitar and Kyle Oberhauser, 15, on the drums, the rock trio has already played gigs at Finnegan's in Hightstown, Freedom Fest in Upper Freehold, the Internet Cafe in Red Bank, and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park.

Beyond being born out of the boredom created by the great wilderness its members call home, what makes this group unique is that unlike many musical acts trying to tackle the music charts in this day and age, it has sworn off drugs and alcohol to get to the top.

ANDREW MILLER staff Havana Harbor band members David Corniola, 13, (l-r) Johnny Costa, 14, and Kyle Oberhauser, 15, also play in a side project to keep kids off drugs and alcohol, called Police and Community Kids Music Against Narcotics (PACKMAN).

The members of Havana Harbor do a little moonlighting for Police and Community Kids Music Against Narcotics (PACKMAN), which is a band in flux based out of Sea Girt that aims to give kids the experience of natural highs through music.

Oberhauser, who has family in the Sea Girt area and had already been a member of PACKMAN, encouraged childhood friends Costa and Corniola to join last year.

Comparable to the band made famous by Jack Black in "School of Rock," PACKMAN currently has 15 members but continues to grow, providing for a different onstage spectacle at any given show.

"Sometimes you have four guitars on one song," Corniola said.

PACKMAN, which plays concerts at various events throughout New Jersey, practices every Friday night under the direction of Sea Girt police officers who volunteer their spare time to the program. The group raises awareness and funds for programming that aims to keep young adults off alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

"We do covers and Top 40 songs like 'Crazy Train,' 'Dani California' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine,' so everyone knows them," Corniola said of PACKMAN. "We play community events and festivals. We played Trump Marina in Atlantic City."

Corniola's mother, Betsy, said she sees PACKMAN as a great way for kids to get involved in the community.

"At their age, they need to develop a sense of community," she said. "I like the idea that PACKMAN keeps them involved in something and that they are not just sitting in front of the television or playing video games."

Costa's mother, Rosalia, reiterated what Corniola's mother said of PACKMAN.

"It keeps them busy and out of trouble," she said.

The band's parents also appreciate that PACKMAN gave their children one of their first musical venues, as all of the Havana Harbor members have been playing music since a young age.

Corniola started taking piano lessons at the age of 3 and later picked up the guitar. Costa began playing the guitar at the age of 5 and has participated in Upper Freehold Regional School District choruses and bands. Oberhauser is also multitalented, playing guitar and keyboards as well as the drums. They credit PACKMAN with giving them stages to try out all of their musical talents.

The musical journey the trio has had exploring music with PACKMAN steamrolled earlier this year into the trio branching off to form Havana Harbor.

"We're always proud of them because they're always good," Betsy Corniola said. "But there was just something about the Stone Pony performance and playing in a place where Bruce Springsteen has played that has gotten everyone really excited."

The newly formed group primarily plays covers, but each of the band members has already started crafting original material.

The group collectively describes Havana Harbor music as rock 'n' roll, but each member has his own take on what audience members should expect when they see a concert.

"We're fun-loving and we're small, so people can relate," Corniola said.

Costa said, "We're pure. Raw."

Oberhauser recommends that people just come out to a show to see for themselves what Havana Harbor is all about.

"Come because we rock out and we love it," he said.

Regardless of whether Havana Harbor ever becomes as popular as the Red Hot Chili Peppers or My Chemical Romance - both bands that the group fashions its sound after - its members foresee careers for themselves in the music industry. They all expect to attend colleges where they can further their music education. Whereas Costa has his sights set on being a performer, his friends wouldn't mind settling for careers offstage in graphic design, creating album covers and other music-related materials.

For more information about Havana Harbor and its upcoming gigs - or to book a show - e-mail corndoggie@optonline.net or visit www.myspace.com/havanaharbor.