Who would have throught that a small group of businessmen out to entertain at the annual holiday party would grow into a band of business and community people performing at public events? Kim and Frank Modica of West Windsor are members of Pi Fight, a band that plays an eclectic blend of classic rock, R&B, and alternative pop hits from the 1950s to the 1990s. The band, formed in January, is a collection of members of the Einstein Alley Entrepreneurs Collaborative. Pi Fight performs at Communiversity on Saturday, April 30.
Kim began singing in elementary school, and throughout her school years was chosen to be in various all-county, all-district, and all-state choirs. She was also greatly involved in musical theater where she played Ilona in the musical “She Loves Me” and Rizzo in “Grease.” In 1986, she was chosen to be in the Liberty Choir, which performed at the televised re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty. Kim sings lead and backing vocals, and plays a variety of percussion instruments in Pi Fight.
Frank’s first gig, as a percussionist in the elementary school concert band, distracted him from serious academic pursuits. His guitar and bass guitar explorations in college almost deprived him of an engineering degree. It all caught up to him when the allure of bass and lead vocal duties in a bar band thwarted graduate degree studies. He did graduate with a bachelor of science degree with a major in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He now plays bass guitar and sings lead vocals in Pi Fight.
Frank, an engineer, has worked in several biotech firms, notably Orchid BioSciences and MicroDose Therapeutx. He still dreams of rock stardom. Kim has worked in the medical and dental field as an office administrator, as well as being a freelance licensed esthetician and body modifier.
“We met in 1980 at William Paca Junior High School in Mastic Beach, New York, and have been married since 1993,” says Frank. The family moved from Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1999.
Their older daughter, Kayleigh, 20, is a graduate of High School North, Class of 2009. She studied at Mercer College and is pursuing certification as an ultrasound technologist. Their son, Steven, 17, is a student at North who will be attending Mercer County Technical School’s Graphic Arts Technology program. A gamer and guitar player, he is planning on continuing his education at the Art Institute of Philadelphia to pursue a degree in Video Game Design & Computer Animation.
Josephine, 14, is in her final year at Community Middle School. Actively involved in musical theater, cheerleading, and acting, she hopes to attend NYU to pursue a degree in performing arts. She usually does some impromptu singing at the band’s rehearsals.
Pi Fight began to form when Steve Georges, the founder of the Einstein Alley Entrepreneurs Collaborative, placed a blurb on LinkedIn seeking to form a band to perform at the collaborative’s holiday party. “The party was twice delayed, which gave us time,” Frank says. “After an initial brainstorming rehearsal, I found myself as the only singer. A call for reinforcements brought Kim, the best singer I know.”
Other band members include Eric Heller on drums, Stu Malakoff on guitar, Charlie Kreitzberg on keyboards, Ed Hermann on guitar, and Min Joo Lee on vocals.
“The Einstein Alley Band of Hope was well received at the holiday party, which finally happened in mid-February,” says Frank. “There was concern over the over-use of the term Einstein Alley by different groups that led to the search for a new name. We wanted to maintain some connection to Einstein. Kim’s suggestion of Pi Fight slowly gained traction, and was chosen.”
— Lynn Miller
Communiversity, Arts Council of Princeton, Nassau Street, Palmer Square, and Witherspoon Streets. Saturday, April 30, noon to 5 p.m. Town and gown unite for their annual spring street arts fair and celebration of the arts with live entertainment, exhibits, artists, crafters, music, dance performances, and food. Rain or shine. Free. Visit website for complete schedule of events. 609-924-8777. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.
