Review Centre: Soul Bands

"Review received on 9/13/2023 A night to remember with the Jersey SureCats Band! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I can't say enough about the amazing performance by Jersey Surecats Band at my husband's staff party! They truly went above and beyond to make it an unforgettable night for everyone on the cardiac step down unit. The setting, with the band playing on the elevated covered porch overlooking the beautiful Shark River in Avon by the Sea, NJ, was absolutely picturesque. As the music filled the air, the energy was palpable, and everyone danced the night away on the bluestone patio below. Each member of the band brought their unique talent to the stage, creating a harmonious blend of sounds that kept the crowd moving. Chuck Conlin's guitar skills were nothing short of extraordinary, while Eileen Meara's vocals were simply mesmerizing. Andy Magerowsky's bass guitar added a powerful depth to the music, and Bill Waldron's guitar expertise was the perfect complement to the ensemble. The diverse range of songs they played was a testament to their versatility and musical prowess. From the timeless classics of the British Invasion era to the energetic hits of the 80s, they covered it all. The transition from the Romantics to the Rolling Stones was seamless, and they flawlessly moved through genres, paying tribute to legends like Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and more. But they didn't stop there! Jersey Surecats Band took us on a journey through the 90s, delivering powerful renditions of songs by Pink, Pearl Jam, and Foo Fighters. The Motown and Disco hits had everyone grooving, and their rendition of modern favorites by the Lumineers, Jason Mraz, and Adele showcased their ability to stay current while honoring the classics. What truly set them apart was their dedication to ensuring everyone had an incredible time. They graciously agreed to stay overtime, playing an additional hour because nobody could resist the infectious beats. Not a single person sat down the entire evening, a testament to the band's ability to keep the party alive! Jersey Surecats Band's performance was nothing short of spectacular. If you're looking for a band that can cater to diverse musical tastes and deliver an unforgettable experience, look no further. I can't recommend them highly enough. Thank you, Jersey Surecats Band, for making this celebration one for the books!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"XCITEMENT 7/29/2023 at BMC XCITEMENT WAS ON 🔥🔥🔥. It was a vibe! One of the best nights I’ve had in a while!Definitely a supporter and they are the finest! Can’t wait to jam with them again and again and again! Y’all need to check them out and their music covers many genres! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️"

Reply by XCITEMENT
Thank you so much Nikki. Much love!..-XCITEMENT

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You guys are amazing!!! We just saw you at the winter carnival and yes the ice sculptures were good, but damn you guys brought the house down. I keep telling my wife, I freaking love this band. I usual dont dance in public around strangers but when you played Prince “I would Die for You” I couldn’t help but jam out! You have gained a couple of fans for life and will definitely come to any concert you do."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I’m Joe Rico. Host of Jay-Dees Jam Nite in Alhambra; 11 years running pro jam night. I have been running what many studio and touring cats call “ one of the best kept secrets in the San Gabriel Valley/Los Angeles—- our open and pro jam nights... there is so much talent out there and they are fired up to play and listen to awesome, eclectic mixes of LIVE music. Among the best parts is having someone exceptional walk in, someone whose virtuosity triggers the “oomph!” That’d be Dougie—Doug Earley. Give him a wink or a nod in the middle of the song and when he steps up, dessert is served! Candlelight jazz, spunk, funk, fusion, power—From Thelonius Monk to the sweetest of Motown and the pop energy of LAs wrecking crew... Sign him up! Carry-on children, Joe Rico, former news reporter KNBC News/ Los Angeles."

Reply by Doug Earley Saxophonist
Thanks for everything Joe! Doug Earley

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Kenneth Stone for my sons wedding. Kenneth brought a great vibe and could transcend all generations of people at the party. I highly recommend him ."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Where do we start? What a fantastic night we had with The Mirrors as our entertainment at our 40th wedding anniversary. Azu and Flippo pitched the evening perfectly - our guests were completely blown away by them as were we. We didn't want them to leave! Made our night absolutely perfect, thank you. Don't hesitate to book them Janet and Paul."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just like to thank you for your hard work in 2019, will be in contact for Next Year!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"What a show!!! Sooo good. You guys smashed it 🔥🔥 Can't wait for the next!!"

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review:

"Vilket otroligt drag! Bandet höll dansgolvet fullt hela kvällen och stämningen var på topp från första låten till sista extranumret. Alla gäster, oavsett ålder, var uppe och dansade. Vi kunde inte ha önskat oss en bättre fest!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"beautiful voice and vibes, brought the perfect atmosphere and was so kind. will definitely consider them for future events!"

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review:

" We had Mr. Dough play at our Christmas fair two times already. My husband and I saw/heard him playing sax on Santa Monica Pier two years ago and were very impressed not only by his playing, but also we liked his personality. This musician is so natural, honest, opened and easy to communicate with. Everybody at our events liked him so much, we heard just good words about him. After hearing Mr. Dough play at our events, some people of Lithuanian community hired him for their parties and were left with positive vibes. He is also very reliable and always on time. I so hope to see him play at our future events too!!! "

Reply by Doug Earley Saxophonist
Sal and Lina! Love and miss you both! Hope all is well!! Doug Earley

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"SoulMates were absolutely fantastic at our wedding celebration. They were able to play exactly what we wanted and the quality of service and responsiveness was phenomenal! Our guests danced the whole time and are still talking about how wonderful the band played! Thank you again Francesco and band members you truly made our day special."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We can't recommend these ladies highly enough. We are so glad we made the decision to book them. Thank you so much for making our day extra special "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Not only were they great musicians, they were lovely people. Thanks for making it a special night. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band, The Globe, Cardiff, January 31st Jan Louder Than War’s Nick Fisk catches Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band for an evening of soul classics, resulting in him feeling like he probably should have seen them sooner. There’s something life-affirming about tonight. We may be specks of dust on a chunk of rock spinning around in a seemingly meaningless way, but when people come together for this band, somehow it’s as if sense is made of the world after all, if only for the duration of the gig. Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band have been treading the boards for some time now. And with it being such a large band, you’d think a lot of those boards must have been worn right down. They’ve been known to play in pubs and clubs the length and breadth of Cardiff, including pubs near to this very venue, like the Claude. Have always meant to catch them, but somehow never did, and as a result, this was my first time. I always thought The Regular Fries would have made a good support act. In terms of musical styles, the two bands are like chalk and cheese, but then again, if you think about it, a hamburger and a potato chip are not really similar food stuffs, but are great as a combination. But the London baggy propagandists split up some time ago, while Big Mac has just carried on. The name of the band pretty much gives it away in terms of which genre Big Mac’s fit into – unapologetically in the style of The Commitments (though they actually began before the film came out, and have even supported the band), this is a great, big band, playing all the soul classics you might expect to hear, but in such a smooth, polished style that they can rightfully claim to be the best in South Wales – it would be a brave effort to try to steal this band’s mantle. They have the look, the sound, the lot. Dressed smartly in black, there is a proper feel of professionalism, with just that little bit of gangster-chic thrown in for good measure, with the heavies on the right on the brass, the ladies on the left on backing vocals, and Mike “Big Mac” McNamara himself, proudly centre stage, with something of the look of Al Pacino about him. He has a fantastic voice, with a great range, which he can vary according to which song he’s covering – he can be deep and gravelly at one point, but then switch to softer and smoother, but all the while, extremely strong and confident – he’s a great leader, always with a smile. It’s hard to say which are my favourite songs of the set, they do them all so well. “Mustang Sally” is definitely one that seems popular with everyone; I’ve always liked “Build Me Up, Buttercup” for some reason. We have two whole sets of all the greats, plus an encore, so value for money is never in doubt. When it’s done right, I guess it goes without saying that soul music is good for the soul, and Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band are proof positive of this. This gig was a sell-out, and there will be many people greatly looking forward to seeing them again in a few months for their 25th anniversary in Newport. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: