The following story appeared in THE JOURNAL NEWS on Friday, October 21, 2005

By HANNAN ADELY
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: October 21, 2005)

If you go On the Web The Lebowski Fest, a two-day festival in devotion to the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski," hits New York tonight. Eight bands, including the local group Tied for Last, will play tonight at the opening ceremonies at the Knitting Factory, following by a midnight screening of the movie and an appearance by Jeff "The Dude" Dowd. The main event, tomorrow at Cozy Bowl in Queens, features bowling, trivia and costume contests. For more information, visit: www.lebowskifest.com. For information on the band Tied for Last, visit: www.tiedforlast.com or www.myspace.com/tiedforlast.

The four members of the local band Tied for Last can hardly restrain themselves from quoting from their favorite movie, "The Big Lebowski." After joking around with a friend as to whether her new guy was an "achiever" and a "go-getter" — fans of the movie will get this — lead singer Stephen Scollard ran out and wrote a song called Achiever.

So it should not surprise fans that the pop-punk band was picked to perform tonight at the Knitting Factory in New York City as part of the quirky Lebowski Fest. Tied for Last, which has played New York City clubs including CBGB and the Continental over the past few years, relishes the opportunity.

"I'm sure my co-workers heard me shriek like a girl in delight (when we got the gig)," said Scollard, who grew up in New Rochelle and now lives in Yonkers. "It's just awesome. It just seems like a great fit for us."

Tonight, the festival will include performances by live bands, including Tied for Last, and a midnight screening of the movie at the Knitting Factory, with an appearance by Jeff "The Dude" Dowd, the guy on whom Jeff Bridge's movie character was based.

The second night, at the Cozy Bowl in the Ozone Park section of Queens, features a costume contest, movie trivia and another Dude appearance. White Russians, a concoction of vodka, kahlua and cream, also known as the Dude's drink of choice, will flow throughout.

At the event, the band will hand out an EP called "Is this your homework Larry?" another quotable line from the movie. It will include Achiever and two other new songs, and two songs from their 2004 album Sorta Live. The band has also practiced two songs from the movie soundtrack to perform tonight.

Their second album, called, of course, Songs for Achievers, is due out before Christmas.

Tied for Last got together after Scollard posted a notice on a musicians Web site looking for members in 2001.

Guitarist Tom D'Angelo, who also sings a couple of the songs, responded first. D'Angelo, a Tuckahoe resident, said they clicked immediately, having similar taste in music.

Several months later, with a bassist and drummer on board, they began churning out catchy, energetic songs that they compare to bands like Green Day and the Ramones.

Now the band members balance full-time jobs with band practices in Mount Kisco. It helps that the members, who also include bassist John Battistini of New Rochelle and drummer John Geller of Mount Kisco, all live in Westchester.

D'Angelo said the members had so much fun attending last year's Lebowski Fest that they were dying to play this year. They sent their a CD to the festival's organizers along with a severed pinky toe wrapped in bloody gauze that they purchased in a Halloween store — another Lebowski-related joke. They were immediately invited onto the roster.

Needless to say, they are giddy.

"We're really excited about it," D'Angelo said. "We're looking at it as not just a gig, but as a party."