Adath Emanu-El Synagogue in Mount Laurel Township had a special reason to go for glitter and sparkle earlier this month. The congregation hosted the debut show for a new local band, Taylor Too, on Sept. 1, when Swifties alike got together to sing some of their favorite ‘eras’ inspired songs.
“I love watching people be able to let loose and dance along and sing along,” said Avery Hirsch, the voice of Taylor Too. Hirsch, a singer-songwriter from Ambler, PA, recently graduated from the University of Delaware. Growing up she performed in theater and sang chorus, but she just always wanted to sing. In college she was in a band and also sang in an a cappella group.
After drummer Doug Moore and guitarist John Mendoza went back and forth trying to find the right person, they discovered Hirsch. Moore reached out to Hirsch via email to see if she would be interested in taking the lead spot, so she took a shot in the dark and went for it. Hirsch typically performs solo gigs in bars and restaurants, but with the band, she’s looking forward to seeing people sing along at every show.
Taylor Too is described as the premier Taylor Swift experience. Hailing from Southern New Jersey, the band isn’t just a tribute act; they are a full band, high-octane experience that brings the stadium-sized sound of Swift’s world tours to the local stage. Because of his wife Nicole’s love for the powerhouse artist, Moore was inspired to start a Taylor Swift tribute band that will now be shining bright all over.
“It brings a lot of joy to the house, playing her (Swift’s) songs,” Moore said. “I like learning it, I like playing it and I like listening to it.”
“That’s the cool thing about Taylor; her chord progressions are all easy. It’s just a matter of the arrangements being slightly tricky, but her producers are amazing,” Mendoza said.
Before Moore could find the lead, he had to get the rest of the band together. He did his research and put out a call, and it wasn’t long before members Ellyott Cruz, Mark Petti and Mendoza joined the journey. They all couldn’t do it without each other, Moore emphasized, and it’s a good team. Both Mendoza and Petti are the band’s guitar players with Petti on bass. Cruz is on the keys.
“We’re going to have fun, and people are going to sing and dance,” Moore said. “We’re going to have a good time and send everybody out with a smile. We did a huge search trying to find the right quote-unquote ‘Taylor.’ I never knew we would strike gold. She’s the complete package.”
Highly praised in the South Jersey and Pennsylvania music scene as a drummer with high energy and metronome-like feel, Moore’s musical portfolio extends beyond Taylor Too. He’s also the drummer for Philadelphia based band Split Decision, and he’s on the management team for Anderson Entertainment Management, Inc., an entertainment agency that serves clients throughout the tri-state area and beyond.
Mendoza, a guitarist/songwriter from Southern New Jersey, prides himself in being a musician that loves different genres of music including folk, pop, rock and musical theater. Cruz is a self-taught keyboardist and vocalist that has performed on numerous festival stages, at private and public events, weddings, and clubs with various cover and event bands, gaining experience in performing virtually every genre of music. He also has extensive experience in recording, composition, production and songwriting.
Leading up to their first show, the band had been getting together once a week with Moore going through and rearranging the setlist, getting the flow down. All the songs that the band performed were just a few of Swift’s biggest chart-topping hits, with “Shake it Off,” “Lover” and “Bad Blood” getting the little ones – as well as the adults – out of their seats. Moore has been good friends with Voorhees resident Jessica Chasen and her husband David for 20 years. Chasen is a member of the synagogue’s board of trustees and she’s in charge of fundraising. Moore reached out to Chasen to see if Adath Emanu-El would be interested in collaborating with the band on the event, and that’s how it came to be.
“These professional musicians have been in rehearsals for months perfecting their show, and the fun and energy they have performing together is infectious,” Chasen said. “Their love of Taylor Swift’s music and desire to bring that to people of all ages in this way is a strong and palpable driving force.”
Taylor Too will hit the stage next at The Queen in Wilmington, DE, on Sunday, Sept. 20, followed by a performance at the Haddonfield Plays & Players venue on Sunday, Oct. 25. For more information or tickets, visit www.taylortootribute.com.
Taylor Too is an unofficial tribute to Swift. The band is unaffiliated with Swift or TAS Rights Management.
Taylor Too isn’t your average Taylor Swift tribute act; they are a full band, high-octane experience that brings the stadium-sized sound of Swift’s world tours to the local stage.
