Review Centre: Funk Bands

"The diversity of the guest at my mother-in-law’s birthday party was my initial concern with booking a live for the event. Although the honoree was turning 70 and loved classic R&B, the attendees were of all ages and background. This was not an issue for the N.L.T. Band. Their music catered to everyone and by the end of the night, every shoe hit that dance floor. They played everything from the Gap Band to Mary J. Blige to John Legend."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I had the pleasure of hearing for the first time the wonderful performance of Doug Earley at a huge elaborate Baby's First Birthday event. He stood out from other performers that night. I was so impressed with his refreshing and sultry saxophone sound that I went ahead and booked him for my friend's 50th Birthday Bash a few weeks later. Despite his busy schedule and distance, Doug was willing to accommodate. He was extremely professional and timely in arriving an hour early to set up and getting to know his audience. Doug was amazing with his creative and flexible sound of jazz, pop, and soul. He uplifted the mood of the party with his rich and unique style of performance! He played with a soulful sound that captures the depth of the human spirits. His beautiful smiles and engaging demeanor highlighted his wonderful performance. Doug was absolutely extraordinary!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"There’s more to Johnny Ticktin than meets the eye. Well-versed in the blues, having once served as lead guitar player for the legendary Louisiana Red, the open-minded Ticktin is a sponge, soaking up the subtle six-string nuances and intricacies of a multitude of genres—from surf to classic R&B, swing and even Mambo—on his eighth album with The Headhunters, That’s All I Need. It would feel right at home in any rough-and-tumble roadhouse. The title is borrowed from a song, covered here in all its dark, swampy glory, off Magic Sam’s 1967 iconic electric blues marvel West Side Soul. Watery, backwoods ripples of Sam’s tremolo guitar style and seductive rhythms meander through Creedence Clearwater Revival’s mysterious kudzu on Johnny & The Headhunters’ version, as Ticktin and company paddle up a lazy river of Bayou groove. Just as fluent in nasty rockabilly, they thrive in the sweltering heat of the 1957 obscurity “Chicken House,” giving it a warm buzz and making it rumble and swagger, while the lascivious, infectious funk of “Body and Fender” – a Doc Pomus/Duke Robillard joint originally built for soul crooner Johnny Adams – shakes all over and ogles the female form. A rousing, boogie-woogie version of Lowell Fulsom’s Chess Records’ hit “Rock ‘Em Dead” is wonderfully shambolic, and Ticktin rides the lightning of the Link Wray instrumental “Ace of Spaces” like a champ, gleefully wheeling through edgy garage-rock riffs with appropriate vim and vigor. What feel he and his band have for this material. There is not the slightest bit of indifference to it anywhere on this record. Not that they need it, but help arrives in the form of keyboardist Tam Sullivan, who wraps smoky, sensual organ and wraiths of piano around a soulful remake of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Lead Me On,” and singer Liz Springer, who joins her brazen vocals to Ticktin’s in the cheeky, but charming, duet “Watch and Chain.” And, with the solid machinery of a good backing band at work behind him, Ticktin can just let loose – witness the slide-guitar fury of their cover of Elmore James’ “Shake Your Money Maker.” For aficionados of tasteful guitar work and music that time shouldn’t have forgotten, this is what you need. —Peter Lindblad SPREAD THE NEWS! FacebookTwitter RELATED STORIES September 3rd, 2023 Rhythm & Roots Festival August 28th, 2023 Rhythm & Roots: Family Fave July 28th, 2023 When Rock & Roll is a Verb"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Main Event's live music provided amazing customer service and professionalism. We booked them for our wedding and they exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend booking their services to anyone looking to spice up their event with entertainment. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Proprio come ci immaginavamo! Una giornata trascorsa insieme con bellissima musica e tanto divertimento! Abbiamo ballato e cantato insieme fino a notte fonda! Grazie Tuneagain, vi faremo sicuramente un'ottima pubblicità! Ciao."

Reply by Tuneagain Band
Grazie di cuore a voi per averci scelto! Ci siamo divertiti anche noi e spero che gli ospiti abbiano gradito la vostra scelta...a vedere le reazioni crediamo di si! :D Tanti auguri Ciao TUNEaGAIN

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"It was a pleasure working with you. Alex (gig manager) was super friendly and made everything so easy for us. We told him where we were celebrating the wedding, the type of cocktail hour we were having, and the kind of music we liked, and he recommended the perfect singers for us. In the end, we chose Adrian, and it was a total success. The small details make all the difference, especially at weddings, where everything tends to feel the same… and these kinds of details are what truly set your event apart! Thanks for everything, guys! 🚀💪🏽"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We loved every second of the set. We have had amazing feedback from all of our guests. We have been to 9 weddings this year and ours was the only one with a "posh pit" so cheers for that! Definitely book this band."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I wanted a swing/jazz band for my wedding, and oh boy, did they deliver! They were swinging, and lively; their repertoire was quite expansive. They reached out to ask if I had any specific songs and then added additional pieces that suited the style I wanted. We contracted them for both the ceremony and the reception, we had a 3 piece band for the ceremony (piano, bass, and sax) They showed up early and set up with no extra help needed, played some gentle jazz music until the ceremony began, and even added in a drummer for no extra charge. I flip-flopped on the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to until almost the very last moment, and they were incredibly understanding and flexible. For the ceremony, we requested a 7 piece band so it could be boisterous and fun. There was almost no time that the dance floor was empty from the moment they began playing, even though the music they played was a sort of old-school jazz that few people know how to properly dance to. They played so well and brought such an element of joy and fun, that all our guests felt comfortable enough to dance all night. We learned how to swing dance for our first dance (Louis Armstrong, 'Bout Time), and the band played it to perfection (even if we didn't dance it perfectly LOL). This moment is one I will treasure forever, it was exactly as I had wanted it to be. For the rest of the night, they played off a setlist of a few songs I gave them and filled in the rest with their own recommendations. The singer has the most beautiful voice, all the band members play perfectly, I felt like I was in a 1920s jazz bar which was exactly what I had wanted. We had guests approach us all throughout the night, and even now to ask who the band was and to congratulate us on such a fun event. If you want a band that can swing, rock, and any other musical verb you like, this is the band you want. They were so communicative, helpful, and perfectly able to understand my vision. To the Orignal Moonlighters: thank you for making my wedding as special as it was."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"“Matt and his band from start to finish took my very precise requests and seemed to easily make my dream come true Each and every musician was on the top of the game and seamlessly blended into our Dj set . Taking my favourite songs and practising them before hand and executing them with their own style and finesse I would recommend them to anyone . A few People from my wedding said that they were the best band that they have ever seen . I searched through loads of bands hearing them beforehand and I knew these were the guys for the job they made the greatest day of our lives even better we are even thinking how to employ them again to have another party Thanks again guys”"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Aww bro thank you so much to you and your talented band for playing at our wedding. Everyone enjoyed it so much and kept asking what’s the name of your band😅"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired John Paul Band for our company celebration and they absolutely nailed it. The energy, the song selection, and the interaction with the audience were top level. They started with classy background music and later turned the night into a real party. The dance floor was full for hours. Professional, reliable, and easy to work with — exactly what you want for an important corporate event."

Reply by John Paul Band
Thank you for the fantastic feedback! We’re thrilled that the energy and music selection helped make your company celebration such a success.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had the pleasure of hosting The Street Foxes at our global tech sales kickoff event in Barcelona, and they were phenomenal! From the initial planning stages to the final encore, their professionalism and communication were top-notch, ensuring everything was tailored to our needs. During the cocktail and happy hour, the acoustic duo set a delightful tone with their soothing and engaging performance, perfectly complementing the sophisticated atmosphere. As the evening progressed to the after party, the whole band ramped up the energy and truly brought the house down! Their dynamic performance was infectious, keeping our global team on their feet and dancing through the night. It's not just their musical talent but also their ability to connect with the crowd that made the evening memorable. We highly recommend them for any event where you need professionalism, talent, and pure entertainment. They’re not just musicians; they’re true performers who know how to make your event special."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A great young couple with an individual style. Entertained a variety of age groups and the knowledge and trivia presented in their sets was second to none. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Members and spectators are unanimous : your performance at the Arènes de Riscle on 07.23.2021 was quite simply extraordinary with a very broad musical register. Interpretation of all the songs played at the top, the singer Tamara worthy of a Diva. A big and beautiful concert with attentive and very sympathetic musicians. If you want to book them, hurry up and don't hesitate, they're good."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Cameron, Ceri & The Session Band, I just wanted to say thank you so much for your performance on Saturday night. We had an amazing day and you guys and your DJ just topped it off perfectly. I think you could probably see that you smashed it and the dance floor was literally bouncing all night LOL! All our guests said that they had the best evening and you were by far the best band we have all ever heard at a wedding. One of the guests has already referred you to their son who is also getting married at Nanteos Mansions later in the year. We are so pleased with the day so thank you so much and hope you enjoyed playing as well!"

Reply by The Session Band
Thank you so much for your review!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: