Smithtown is in a New York state of mind
Theresa O'Brien, 61, of Connecticut, left, and Ellen Kahen, 65, of Lake Ronkonkoma, enjoy cosmos before the Knicks watch party at Mike DelGiudice's Live on the Porch in Smithtown on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Knicks fans at Live On The Porch in Smithtown are kicking off their watch party celebrations with a live performance from musician Mike DelGuidice, who played in a Billy Joel cover band before joining Joel's band in 2013.
“Mike has been a Long Island guy for a long time,” said Tim Vigneaux, from Nesconset. “Him opening this place for the Knicks watch party, then playing some music that represents New York, it’s just perfect.”
At 8:00 p.m., DelGuidice asked the crowd if they would like to switch to the pre-game, or if he should continue playing. In a dominating vote, Knicks fans opted for live music over the pregame show.
DelGuidice later left the stage after playing "Don’t Stop Believing" with one final message: “Lets go Knicks.”
“The pre-game show added a whole ‘nother level to it,” Valerie Schecher of Oakdale said. “It got us all excited.”
Adriana Bailey came back to her home of Long Island from Tennessee to cheer on the Knicks. Bailey is originally from Bethpage and moved to Tennessee four years ago, and she just got back to New York yesterday.
“I have been watching every game and hopefully tonight will be the one,” Bailey said.
What made Bailey choose Live on the Porch over other high-profile watch party locations was the performance of DelGuidice before the game.
“I have been following Mike for forever,” Bailey said. “This was the first time I saw him today, and it was beautiful.”
DelGuidice’s night did not end when he left the stage. He stayed to enjoy the game surrounded by Long Island Knicks fans. DelGuidice has been a Knicks fan for “a long time,” but he stopped watching for a while after the heartbreak of the Knicks losing the finals in 1999.
“I was so devastated that I stopped watching for a long time,” DelGuidice said. “This has really rejuvenated me getting back into watching the game.”
For him, not only would a championship matter to him because it is his home team, but because of the people he is surrounded by tonight.
“I think it would be incredible, to have it in this place, this vibe, the energy that's in here is unbelievable,” DelGuidice said. “I just hope that they do what they got to do, that they get it done.”
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