'Dogs of War,' a GOP band, to play benefit at Brokerage Comedy Club

A band of mostly Hempstead Town and Nassau County government officials who call themselves "The Dogs of War" will perform Wednesday night at the Brokerage Comedy Club to benefit the American Legion chapter in Elmont.

The $15-per-person cover charge to see the all-Republican rock and R&B group's show, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will go to the veterans group.

"We make law but we also make music," Town Councilman Edward Ambrosino of North Valley Stream said in a telephone interview.

He plays keyboard and guitar.

Nassau County Legis. Vincent Muscarella of West Hempstead also plays guitar.

Former county legislator and current attorney for the Nassau University Medical Center, John Ciotti of North Valley Stream, plays drums; Hempstead Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, Jon Crist of Rockville Centre, is the lead vocalist and a guitarist. Also of Rockville Centre is Patrick Owens, an aide to the town board. He is the bass guitarist. Steve Orlando of West Hempstead, a local photographer, is the lead guitarist.

The group has been together since 2011 but all of them have many more years of experience playing, Ambrosino said. He added that the group plays for benefits only.

Some of their favorites are songs from the Marshall Tucker Band and the Beatles.

"But we're all Republicans, and we don't do 'Taxman,' " Ambrosino said.