Sunchunck may have gotten its roots on the sand of Plum Island, but this weekend, the local pop rock trio will play at a park - Fenway Park, to be exact.
The group formed in 2002 after brothers-in-law Mike Bertolami and John Catino met Amesbury High School teacher Brett Manoloff during a game of beach volleyball.
Over the years, they've played at various venues — The Grog in downtown Newburyport is a staple — and created more than 30 original songs, including their popular arrangement of "God Bless America," and released several CDs.
Like any band, Sunchunck sends copies of those CDs out for review. One such package carrying their rendition of "God Bless America" was sent to Red Sox front office personnel last fall.
Not much thought was given to it until Bertolami received a call one day last winter.
Much to their initial shock, it was a representative from the Red Sox asking if they wanted to come to Fenway. "God Bless America" is sung at every game during the seventh inning stretch.
With the invitation came a small "bombshell," said Bertolami, who by day works in the mortgage business.
"We have to sing it a cappella," he said.
Of course, "we weren't going to say no," he added, with a laugh.
A date was set — Sunday afternoon as the Sox face the Baltimore Orioles.
For the three baseball fans, the thrill of stepping onto the field before a sold-out crowd of 37,000 to perform their version of the national ballad will be unforgettable.
"I'm getting nervous right now just thinking about it," Manoloff said. "It's becoming more real."
For years, the trio has joked about such a performance. "We'd talk about Fenway or the Super Bowl halftime show," Bertolami said. "This will be a nice dream come true."
"It's going to be awfully exciting to step out there," Catino said.
Growing up in Burlington, Bertolami said he was like countless other little boys and dreamt of growing up to play professional baseball.
To finally reach Fenway as a musician is amazing, he said.
The song is the "one constant" for the group, Bertolami added. Shortly after Sunchunck began playing, the three of them created the arrangement.
It was a year after Sept. 11, 2001, and the country was experiencing "post 9-11 fervor," Catino said.
Patriotism was strong and the three would talk about the state of the country often. During one jam session, somehow, the song emerged.
And it has stayed.
In 2003, the local radio station The River 92.5 played an early version of the arrangement throughout the Fourth of July weekend.
Over time, they shortened it and quickened the tempo, creating "a rockified version," said Catino, a high school teacher.
Today, the band plays the song at every show and often has copies of the song on hand for whenever it may be needed. Such as when Bertolami heard his neighbor's grandson had been killed in the war.
He gave him a copy of Sunchunck's arrangement.
"It was something tangible that I could give to him," Bertolami said.
And when Manoloff's former student Joshua Potts, served a tour in Afghanistan, the band videotaped its show one night and sent his unit a copy of the DVD highlighting their rock rendition of "God Bless America."
They want their song to help the troops, as well.
For every 99-cent download of Sunchunck's "God Bless America," the group is donating 60 percent of net proceeds to support organizations that aid members of the military and their families.
"It's a way to say thank-you for their sacrifice," Manoloff said. "For all three of us, we mean it. Every time we play it, it's real. We mean it, we feel it."
"Our hearts and heads are in the right place with it," Bertolami said. "All we're saying is we love our country and we support our troops."
On Sunday, the band — along with many friends and family — will head to Fenway. In the morning, they will do a sound check and quick rehearsal.
They also have tickets to the game, but admit they won't be watching too closely until the eighth inning.
Just before the seventh inning, a Fenway ambassador will meet them and bring them down close to the field before their performance.
A month ago, the group started practicing. They usually practice on Plum Island — the same spot where they first met. This week, they can also be spotted practicing in downtown Newburyport and Amesbury.
"The hardest part is getting the note," Bertolami said. "You can't hide behind an instrument."
"You just need to do it," Manoloff said. "There's only so many times you can practice it."
HEAR THEM PLAY
To hear Sunchunck's rendition of "God Bless America" or to learn more about the Donations through Downloads program, visit www.sunchunck.com/HelpOurTroops
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