Review Centre: Wedding Bands

"Retrosky has become my go-to party band. I threw my husband a 50th birthday street-party that couldn't have been better!! Rob worked with me to make this the most fun, memorable party my neighborhood (which is a serious partying neighborhood!!) Will never forget. We had to get creative with the set up, but Rob was 100% on board with my crazy ideas! They played for hours, got the crowd involved and dancing, emceed the party for me, etc. I can't wait to have another reason to have them come out! If you're even considering having a live band - do yourself a favor, and call Retrosky - you won't be sorry!!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much to Nigel and the guys of the Hound Dogs who MADE our wedding - no one sat down for the entire sets!! Brilliant vibe and upbeat throughout, we left the set list to them - they absolutely know how to keep everyone dancing. We could have gone on all night. Thank you so much guys!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I was given the responsibility of finding a band for my Nan and Grandad’s Diamond Wedding Anniversary party. I booked The Ramrods for this event and they were fantastic! My Nan and Grandad reminisce their dancing days, listening to songs they used to dance and jive to. Everyone enjoyed listening and dancing to the songs they brilliantly performed all night. Would highly recommend this rockabilly band for any special occasion."

Reply by The Ramrods
Hi Izzy thank you very much for your review. We enjoyed the evening, glad to see your grandparents and everyone enjoying themselves. Bryn

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Long Players were worth every penny. Their communication prior to the wedding was excellent and they responded immediately to any queries or requests we had. They were flexible, professional and reliable throughout. On the day they proved to be an excellent band, and the guests had a great time dancing to them, including a spontaneous conga to Satisfaction! We would certainly recommend them. Thank you Lee and the rest of the band"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"On a beautiful August night JSJBF member band The Gumbo Gum bas, a project that grew out of leader Joe Grillo and his late brother Alfie's love of all things New Orleans, played to an appreciative crowd at Bands on the Beach. This was the second of two shows held on the beach for this summer-long Sunday night concert series, sponsored by the City of Long Branch in association with the JSJBFT. his show gave the band a chance to play live much of the material that can be found on their new CD, "Zydeland," with our own Jill Baskind donning the rub board for a couple of tunes. For those of you who may not get the reference in the title, Zydeco is a southern Louisiana dance music featuring the accordion, rub board and in this case horns. The music on the CD was dedicated to Alfie, who passed during the pandemic, and their mixing engineer, Tim Gilles, who left us during the making of the CD. All of the band members who appeared on the beach are on the record, including Dave Anthony on drums, Vinnie Borselli on trumpet, Joe on tenor sax and vocals, Steve Munter on baritone sax and clarinet, Greg Novick on bass, Steve "Big Squeezy" Rice on accordion and piano and Lars Wendt on trombone. All tunes were written, arranged and produced by Joe except as noted below. The opening title track "Zydeland," begins with the measured beat of the drums and is joined quickly by the accordion, with the horns kicking in as the lyrics invite you to join the band on a journey to this magical, musical place. As with any good Gumbo, it's flavored with local ingredients, in this case a dose of the Jersey Shore sound spices up the mix. "Dance With Me" picks up the beat and is reminiscent in tempo and style to one of Joe's major influences, Louis Prima. If this tune doesn't get you out of your seat, nothing will. "Waiting for the Cane," is dedicated to the crazies who choose not to evacuate, but start the party in anticipation of a hurricane, and party they will to this number. "King Cake" includes lyrics by Joe and music by Steve, was explained to the uninitiated that night as the legendary dessert of Mardi Gras which is said to bring luck and prosperity to whoever gets the plastic baby in their piece. It's a high energy number that gives each member of the horn section a chance to stretch out and strut their stuff, and they made it a highlight of that night and the CD. The recorded version of this song literally jumps out of the speakers. "Can't Go Back To New Orleans" is a moving tribute to Joe's brother, envisioning an ode to the city they both love through the sound of Tom Waits, one of Alfie's favorite artists. I got the chills listening to what starts out as a somber tune but ends in an upbeat fashion, finishing with Frank Rein's tuba. Joe and Vinnie collaborated on the lyrics to the tall tale of "Gumbo Parmesan," a song that's lyrics are as much of a fun dream its title implies. "By the Water'' has that infectious "Congo Square" beat, which is highlighted by Dave's opening drum pattern with accompanying percussion and conjures up a scene of the locals doing a NOLA style tap dance. With lyrics by Ken Morrison and music by Steve Rice, "Drifting Off and Dreaming of You" is a mid twentieth century style ballad, complete with strings, and has Joe in the role of a crooner which he does quite eloquently. A welcome respite from the nonstop party to this point, he sounds like the last man at the bar, smoke curling up from that final cigarette, with drink in hand, thinking about the woman of his dreams. The penultimate song, "Drinks On the House," is another fanciful flight of fantasy which would be loads of fun as an MTV video. Bring on the aliens, it's party time! The final tune, "Why Can't Everyday Be Mardi Gras?," is a fitting end to this party with Steph's clarinet leading the second line followed by the rest of the band with a chorus children along the route singing out the refrain. For this band, every time they start to play it's Mardi Gras. If these songs don't leave you smiling and dancing I don't know what will. Mission accomplished in the fun department as far as I'm concerned."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Fan Club Acoustic exceeded all expectations and truly elevated the entire experience. Their exceptional musicianship, infectious energy, and versatile repertoire kept our crowd engaged and dancing throughout the night. From seamless transitions between genres to personalized touches in their performance. They showcased professionalism and talent that made our ewedding unforgettable. I highly recommend them for anyone seeking a top-notch musical experience for their special occasion."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Deze ijzersterke band bracht sfeervolle nummers die het publiek echt wisten te raken. Vlotte samenwerking. Superfijn dat ze ook onze verzoeknummers speelden. We hebben ervan genoten! "

Reply by Jazz/popband
Fijn dat je er zo van genoten hebt!

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review:

"Brice arrived in plenty of time and handled setup on his own! His rendition of Canon in D was gorgeous, and I would recommend it for any bride. He was very professional and fun to have as part of the wedding. His skillset extends beyond just my wedding requests, and I would recommend him for anyone’s event!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much for playing at my party! Your music was incredible and made such an impact on everyone who came. It really made the party! Will definitely be recommending "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Magnificent Eva Sakellari and her band made our wedding night special.Everyone keep talking about how good the band and the songs were.We didn't stop dancing and singing all night long.If you want you're wedding party to be cheerful, special and unforgettable you definitely should choose this band."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Stephano and the trio were AMAZING!! Way better than we could have imagined and stayed an extra 30 min without us asking. One of the best hires we had for our wedding. "

Reply by Italian Band: Folk, Swing & Tarantella
dear guys It was a pleasure and an immense joy to make your party special! W GLI SPOISI!!! ❤️

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We can highly recommend Belle Histoire as a musical act for your next event. Our attendees really enjoyed listening to the music. The whole set-up with the venue, food&drinks and Belle Histoire has been just perfect for our event. I'm sure that attendees will remember this evening for a long time. In addition to that communication before and during the event was quick and very nice. We wish you a lot of fun with Belle Histoire at your event."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you for making it a great party, you were awesome."

Reply by The Britpoppers
Thank you so much - it was truly our pleasure! Thanks for having us, Simon.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Everything was perfectly taken care of! What we appreciated most was the quick turnaround and scheduling. The saxophonist was a huge asset to the whole thing. We're already looking for a reason for our next party!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"It was a 100% positive experience from beginning to end. We were accommodated to our every wish, given the best advice where we were unsure, and guided through the important journey of our wedding with the utmost professionalism, punctuality, seriousness, kindness and sympathy. Sarah is a very good singer, Mirko an excellent musician and organizer. We would recommend them to anyone who asks, because we are very happy to have met them. And who knows, if the family ever expands, we certainly already know who to contact for the baptism! 😄 Thanks from the bottom of our hearts, from Simone and Elisa."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: