Party Like It’s The '80s This New Year’s Eve

Lead singer Jenna O’Gara, will perform ‘80s hits with Jessie’s Girl this New Year’s Eve.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

This New Year’s Eve, ’80s cover band Jessie’s Girl will send off 2017 and welcome in 2018 with a show at The Paramount in Huntington.

The band has become almost a monthly regular at the village venue, allowing it to try out new music and take the stage before familiar faces, said keyboardist and musical director Paul “Sky” Armento.

Lead singer Jenna O’Gara, 28, who has lived in both Cold Spring Harbor and Dix Hills, said she recognizes a lot of people in the audience when performing at The Paramount.

“That’s why I love it,” O’Gara said. “It’s my dad’s coworkers, my mom’s coworkers, my extended family and my friends; everyone just loves to come.”

O’Gara started performing with Jessie’s Girl about five years ago. One of her music teachers suggested to Armento that O’Gara would be a good fit for the band.

Now, as a member performing over 100 shows a year, including every Saturday night at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, O’Gara said she enjoys connecting with the fans during live shows.

“I live my life in the ’80s now. That’s fun, and it’s really crazy that it’s work,” O’Gara said. “With social media today you can really start to feel connected with the fans.”

Armento added, “It’s definitely a great way to make a living, and the popularity is what makes it fun.”

He and the band members are excited to play next week’s show at The Paramount, especially since it falls on a fun-filled holiday.

“It’s going to be a great New Year’s Eve,” Armento said. “This show is actually going to bridge the New Year. We are going to do half of the show before New Year’s, stop the show for the ball drop, and then finish the show afterwards.”

Both Armento and O’Gara said Jessie’s Girl always creates a unique atmosphere that engages fans through costumes, lighting and staging techniques. They want to transport the audience back to the ’80s.

“It’s a super interactive show, and it’s nice because you can build a really good fan base,” O’Gara said.

The New Year’s Eve show is a 21 and older event. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 10 p.m. show. Tickets range from $25-$55 and can be purchased at the box office or online at Paramountny.com.