Review Centre: Rock 'n' Roll Bands

"Ian P. Woodbury I’ve been serenaded AND stirred by THE ROCKITS twice in 2022, since being introduced to them only recently. I made a pledge to myself, in the mirror, to go and listen to them whenever I need to satisfy my audio addiction for exceptionally performed, hard driving Rock n Roll. As a guy who has been playing guitar, and singing for an audience since 1956, I continuously need to have my appetite satiated with Good Ol’ Rock n Roll. The Rockits satisfy my need quite satisfactorily! Thank You Very Much! The Rockits share the top shelf of the D.C. Area bands, with only a few other bands up there with them. There is no better party band than The Rockits. The band is well-rehearsed, instrumentally and vocally tight, and they really know how to keep the good vibes topped off at FULL, without losing the personal touch with their audience. Everyone in the band is a seasoned musician, sings very well, and harmonizes on key. But…the vocal standout is Robin Brown, the female vocalist. Robin should be known by everyone in the D. C. Metro Area, who enjoys hip Shakin’ Rock n Roll. ROBIN IS THAT GOOD! She commands the stage, like a Queen, but she is never domineering. She does not try to draw undue attention to herself, but knows her position on stage, as an integral part of a smoothly wild ensemble. She shares the M.C. duties with the band’s leader, Peter Grattan, who is a fine drummer, but in The Rockits, he is a triple threat on keyboards, guitar, and vocals. All the instrumentalists are in the top echelon of local talent, each attuned to his role in the overall mix, and they all shine in their spots. If you want a really satisfying Good Time of listening and dancing, there is no better band, who can lift you higher, than The Rockits. Going out to get your Rock n Roll fix with The Rockets is an evening well-spent. "

Reply by The Rockits
Thank you so very much Ian. We strive to give the best performance possible and it is people like you that make it all worth while. Having been 'Rockits' for over ten years, we appreciate every gig we get, every booking is unique, and having played a 3 year 6 nite a week residency at one of New Zealand's top hotels in my twenties, I know how important it is to 'entertain.' My experience as TVNZ's Head Of Entertainment Production for three years also has given me the experience needed to become an all round entertainer. Years of touring the world on cruise ships, recording four records for CBS and years in London have helped, so that our repertoire of 1000 songs spans sixty years and encompasses the best of the Rock 'n Roll era. Your heart felt review means so much! -Peter G Grattan (band leader)

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Any's Band a full year before our big day. The wait was sooooo worth it! They’re such a fun vibe. Can’t say enough about this band! 10/10!!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Lenin and Lionel are great for any event big or small, they are fantastic entertainment and will have the crowd up singing and dancing in no time! We have booked them for a range of performance events and have never been disappointed."

Reply by The Party Band
Thank you! 😊

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Liam sang at our wedding ceremony on July 2nd 2022 and he was just amazing. His communication before the wedding is great and so relaxed. He sent us clips of what his version of a song would sound like which was so nice of him. His renditions of our favourite songs during our special day meant so much to us. My family commented after the wedding that they’d never walked into a church with such a relaxed and fun atmosphere already set before the ceremony had even started. And that was all down to Liam’s singing and persona during the build up to the ceremony. Would absolutely recommend!"

Reply by Liam Paul
It was amazing to be a part of your special day, thanks so much

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Shannon and the band made my sister's birthday party. All the guests mentioned the music saying how much they enjoyed it."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Time really flies too fast when Time Benders are performing live. They are able to to perform a wide variety of musical genres in their own individual way. Keeping the right musical balance and momentum throughout whole wedding day was perfect! Vocals and violin solos are spot on! I will not mention the last minute music selection for cutting the cake (Boris & Rocky will know) :) "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fun and professionalism guaranteed! We chose the Self Portrait Blues based on a recommendation from a vendor we met during the organization of our wedding, and we couldn't have made a better choice! They are friendly, empathetic from the first moment, extremely talented, professional, helpful, and engaging. Their music is amazing, and they can elegantly and delicately involve all the guests without ever being intrusive. They were always available for every request and patient with unexpected situations! We still receive many compliments for choosing the musical band, and we will never stop thanking them for everything they did for us; our wedding would never have been the same without them. Thank you, guys! Federica & Alessio 22/07/2023"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Amazing, as always! ❤️ I just love you guys. Can't wait to experience the experience again soon."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Cheers were amazing, I hired them for my wedding and I cannot recommend them enough. From start to finish there communication was excellent. They spoke with the venue directly and created a stress free experience for me. They answered any question I had, and had a very handy guide to use for timings and common questions from their previous experience. They were brilliant. The band itself is awesome, everyone at the wedding came and asked me where I found the band, they got everyone up and dancing. We had a male and female singer, both were excellent. The song choice they made, had everyone laughing, and bouncing around. You know there brilliant when the venue asked for their details to recommend them to other couples :D I have nothing bad to say, professional throughout, great communication and the music was just perfect. They also learnt our 1st dance song and smashed it out the park. Thanks Ben and the whole band, It was magical Roxanne & Matthew Langley."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"FReSh RAiN came to my local neighborhood bar with two divas Sanging; yea I said it. That band was on a mission performing a good mix of Rock, Pop, Country, Top 40 & R & B all in the same set. They did a dang good job keeping us rocking. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You might expect an album with edgy, teal-lit cover art and the title of The Isolation Blues, by the Mike Goudreau Band, to be either dark and brooding or a real barroom stomper, showcasing the loudest guitar you’ve heard since Jimi Hendrix’s. Instead, from the first notes, you’ll find it’s a peppy ensemble extravaganza with horns galore. More’s the better, too – the Winter Solstice is coming up, and we need an eye-opening blast of sunshine in the middle of it. Smooth, jazzy-influenced, and boasting crystal-clear vocals, it’s a must-play on New Year’s Eve. Born in 1965 in Newport, Vermont, into a musical family with an English mother and a French-Canadian father, Mike Goudreau picked up his first guitar at age 14 and hasn’t stopped playing since. His early influences included the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and later, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Powder Blues and Downchild – to name a few. Such diverse interests help to explain why Mike is comfortable in so many musical genres, especially jazz and blues. Since 2007, Mike’s songs have been heard on hundreds of network TV shows and films, such as the TV movie The Happiest Season (Hulu), Dynasty (CBS), the Universal Pictures film Dark Waters, the Hollywood film The Banker, starring Samuel Jackson (2020), The Neighborhood (CBS), NCIS Los Angeles (CBS), and Chicago PD (NBC), among several others. Joining Mr. Goudreau (vocals, guitars, bass and hand claps) are Jean-Francois Begin (think Menachem Begin, not “begin”) on drums and percussion, Dany Roy on tenor sax and trumpet, Ira Friedman on organ and piano, and Pascal Veilette on harmonica. You know all the shows and films mentioned earlier? Together, they spell diamond-level QUALITY. That’s what’s been poured into each of the fourteen original tracks on this CD. Every note, every musical phrase, glimmers like the light off one of that gem’s many facets. This is real-deal blues, whether in swing/jump form (as on the opener “Let’s Go Down to the River”), the angsty, harmonica-infused title track, the guitar and piano boogie known as “The Mooch,” or the laid-back instrumental “Sea Breeze Blues.” Any band can crank out an album in their garage or basement and deem it good enough, but not Goudreau and his posse. They care about their offerings like Michelangelo cared about David, or Da Vinci the Mona Lisa. That’s because they’re not just musicians. Not just craftsmen. They’re artists, and don’t you forget it. Got The Isolation Blues? Here’s the cure, or at least the vaccine! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Uno spettacolo Dalla cerimonia, emozionante, con il sax Aperitivo con la band, ci hanno fatto ballare e divertirci La cena, balli tra le portate e un po di canto E poi, fontane luminose per il taglio torta e e super dj set finale, con balli incredibili Tutti gli invitati sono stati estasiati dalla loro bravura Li consigliamo con tutte le nostre forze."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I've known Liam for a long time and enjoyed putting on gigs for him around the London circuit. He is a kind, unique, rare, and honest man, very talented, and always helping others whilst spreading happiness through music and making a big difference."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"5/5 Superb entertainment and what a lovely guy! He went out of his way to ensure the birthday boy had a great time...and by letting the whole family join in Loads of comments about what a great time everyone had, would recommend highly!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thanks to the band for doing such a great gig on Saturday night (23rd) You really helped our evening to go perfectly. We had loads of comments from guests to say how good they thought you were. I only wish I could have spent more time dancing in the hall myself. I was surprised that some people left quite early but then they did have quite a distance to travel. We certainly made the right decision in choosing you to perform at our celebration and will of course be in touch for any future events. Thank you so much Nikki & Nigel Summers"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: