Doctor Band Side FX Rocks for Charity Tuesday in East Quogue

Southampton Hospital’s doctors are rocking out in their free time.

This Tuesday, Side FX—a band composed mostly of doctors from the hospital—will be playing at the Green in East Quogue.

The band, which covers every genre of music from Motown and classic rock to current chart-topping hits, has been together for about two years. On Tuesday, Side FX will be playing for an hour and a half from a set list that includes songs like “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones, “Already Gone” by The Eagles, and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.

The group originally formed as a type of medicine away from medicine: guitarist Dr. Ray Mantovani’s wife, Sue, was dying of ovarian cancer when the band first started rehearsing together. The couple’s daughter, Alexis, was friends with Dee Myers, a respiratory therapist at the hospital, and suggested Mantovani and Myers get together to jam.

Before passing away, Sue asked Myers to keep the band going for her husband. And they have: Myers asked a few other musicians working at the hospital to join the group and Side FX was born.

According to Myers, “The band keeps rocking in [Sue’s] memory.”

Although the band plays gigs mainly outside their workplace, Myers says the group has an amazing following from the hospital. “We started with what we thought was going to be a small show at 230 Elm Street in Southampton,” Myers said. Over 175 hospital employees showed up to the band’s first concert in Southampton, with hundreds more converging for a show at the East Quogue Village Green last summer.

Since then, Side FX has played at Amagansett’s Stephen Talkhouse and Riverhead’s Indian Island Golf Course, among many other local venues.

“The mixing of the staff members if what it’s all about,” Myers added. “There are surgeons dancing with kitchen staff, engineers getting to know folks from medical records. Something magical happens—we become a family.”

The band will be selling merchandise and raising money for the Southampton Hospital Ellen Hermanson Breast Center during the concert. Bob Chaloner, the president and CEO of Southampton Hospital, will introduce the group.

Despite the band’s popularity, rehearsing has been difficult since most of the band’s members work over 80 hours a week at the hospital. Myers, however, maintains that the hospital is supportive of the band: in reference to finding time to rehearse, Myers said, “The residents’ bosses are either in the band or are very fond of it, so they will allow for a little flexibility.”

Tuesday night’s show is part of the East Quogue Chamber of Commerce Concert Series. Future concerts include performances by Songs in the Attic, The Filthy Crickets, and The Fast Lane Tribute.

Members of Side FX include respiratory therapist Dee Myers on vocals and guitar, Dr. Scott Hilton on vocals, Dr. Ray Mantovani on vocals and guitar, Dr. John Amado on vocals and guitar, Dr. Francis Yoo on bass guitar, Dr. Jason Argiro on saxophone, Dr. Rachel Hughes on keyboard, and Director of Security Steve Ormond on drums.

Side FX will perform Tuesday, July 8, at 7 p.m. on the East Quogue Village Green. The Village Green is located at the corner of Montauk Highway and Lewis Road.