Review Centre: Pop / Rock Singers

"As a music journalist, I am someone well used to hearing performances covering the whole spectrum of ability, from very talented, to no talent whatsoever; mainly on the working circuit, encountering much from the bottom end of the scale, the flaws of which seemingly pass by, or go over the heads of the audience, mediocre musical acts often gaining acceptance despite (or because of) their lack of any talent whatsoever. So, when on a random whim, I booked MAYHEM into The Old Crown, Hayes, I was pleasantly surprised to come across that jewel one constantly seeks: a light hidden in the bushel, an act of great quality. Don’t get me wrong, on the surface, MAYHEM are basically just another covers band, with certainly not much more to offer in terms of choice of material than others treading the same circuit. The difference though, is in the depth of thought in the vocal arrangements, and the attention to detail in the performance of the songs. Someone in the band has true musical knowledge. The way the vocals are arranged and used is no accident, and the music has a depth and surety that is pure class. Carol’s voice is unique, and at many points conveys rare emotion for those who can hear. The two voices are a happy accident of coincidence; Carol’s rather treble voice, Billy’s gruff baritone, both interesting voices taken in isolation, but together producing a sound that is perhaps greater than the sum of its parts. The quality of both singers shows itself also in the faultlessly correct intonation, the thrilling blend and invention of the harmonies, the search for expression in the vocals, the subtle use of the arrangements to produce expression. Most of these subtleties are of course lost on the general public, but the band still have enough battle-hardened experience and know-how to ride out any waves of indifference, and overcome the hardest heart with a friendly approach to their clientele, patiently trying out various styles and eras, constantly striving to reach their listeners, despite a kind of yearning in the music for serious recognition. Personally, I found it somewhat sad that a talented band like this has to resort to some popular (and bland) material, but one must bow to reality, and work is work. Still, the musicians didn’t just accept the status quo of this material; they always had a few surprises in store in the way they approached any song, however scraped from the bottom of the barrel. Carol’s voice sounded at its best on songs like “SUMMER OF ’69” and “I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT”, but she shone through on harder songs too, like “LIVING ON A PRAYER” and “DON’T BRING ME DOWN”. Billy didn’t sing quite as many lead lines, but when he did, it was with a power and confidence that knew just how best to carry the melody, and the strength of harmony singing was in a different league from the average one would expect to hear in a situation like this. On “Living La Vida Loca” the dual vocals were outstanding, perhaps the most equal blend of the day, with other such highlights for me being “Don’t Stop me Now” and “I Wanna Know what Love is”. The locals however enjoyed some of the lighter material more, such as “Rockabilly Rebel”, square dancing their way through the afternoon with great whoops and hollers, playing their part in a very pleasant day in a very pleasant pub. There was a humorous moment when the lads at the bar joined in with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” all pointing and dancing in the manner of Tom Cruise in “Top Gun”! A vivid sight to behold, for sure! The day ended with a raucous rendition of “Rockin’ All Over The World”, the two singers showing that they could rock it with the best of them when the chips are down. Can’t wait to see this band again. (10 / 10) Andrew Staines "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Celebrate Liveband exceeded our expectations at our wedding! Their professionalism, musical talent, and adaptability made our special day truly unforgettable. We highly recommend them for weddings and private events"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"As a long-time Folkpunk, Celtic Punk, Irish Folk Punk fan, I found the line up perfect. It started with the Gavin Carpenter Duo, two men, alone on the big stage. Vocals, guitar and a cajon, that was all to give the audience a taste for the rest of the evening. Personally, I really enjoyed this hour of folk music and I was certainly not alone. The people sang along and clapped along, Gavin Carpenter took the audience to the Emerald Isle musically with his discreet, not at all obtrusive manner and looked very good in his fine suit."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"...the feelings of...protest in the song ('Barbwire Blues') ...gave me the chills...yeah, it did...really liked your vocals... "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Saw them performing at the Safety Harbor spa and resort. Very talented duo, incredible voices and range. Great sound equipment, very compact and portable. Great for parties, events or weddings. Enjoyed listening to them for awhile!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked singing waiters for our French English wedding this July. From start to finish Paula was an absolute star, even stepping in on the day with microphones to save the ceremony. The singers we had were amazing. They had everyone up singing and dancing and really got the party started. They even managed to stay secret throughout the day from me (the bride that had booked them!). I cannot rate them highly enough! Five stars isn't enough!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had the singing waiters team for our wedding in Septemeber in Chateau de La Valouze, we loved every second of the performance and the team were amazing. All our guests loved it and I think we successfully had every guest in a conga line at the end! Great idea to keep the party going and get the crowd engaged. Paula communicated with us great pre wedding to pick the songs we wanted and the team even learnt an Irish song that meant a lot to us as a couple .10/10 and 5 star"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Chris went above and beyond. He really helped give the party the right atmosphere and I would highly recommend him. He was very professional and accommodating."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Bowled over by a lovely young lady with an AMAZING voice...... I couldn't commend Laura highly enough, a superb performer and she kept the party going all night. Our family and friends are ranting about her and we are looking forward to seeing her at our next bash. Thank you so much Laura, you are a star. Yvonne"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Many thanks Lee. We thought you were perfect for our relaxed garden party the day after our wedding. Your soft vocals and talented acoustic guitar playing really made our day special. And you are a nice pleasant guy too. Everyone commented on how they were enjoying your music and couldn’t believe you lived just down the road. My only regret is that we should have booked for you to play longer. I would not hesitate to recommend you."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You were wonderful. I hope we meet again.I heard you're in the States, but that's okay, our paths can always cross."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. Everything ran smoothly and we felt well looked after. Highly recommend"

Reply by Richard Sneyd – Wedding Guitarist & Singer
Thank you Sean!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The band were amazing for my wife's birthday party. Great communication ahead of the event, crowd loved the song choices. Would highly recommend! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Tom put on an amazing show for our wedding. So much fun and so professional. Tom is amazing at his craft and is such a great entertainer. Thanks Tom for helping make our special day what it was. I 100% would hire Tomy for an event he is just that good"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Catfish Kings were superb! Great musicians. The vocalist and band leader, Harry, sings over a tremendous rhythm section comprising saxophone, bass, drums, keyboard and guitar. Every song played delivered a great authentic sound. Every song invited you to dance. And we did! The band were friendly and showed great professionalism from start to finish. They entered into the spirit of the occasion and were a key factor in the success of the evening. So many of our friends and family, of all ages, were very complimentary about this band. Thanks to Harry and the band for a great night."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: