Review Centre: Pop / Rock Singers

"Rating 5/6 : Very Enjoyable Absolute Mayhem The Horse & Chains, Bushey on Saturday 30 September 2023 It's a rare thing to go into a local pub and hear a keyboard player who has been described as a musical "genius" by none other than David Bowie. This is no tall story either. The musician Billy Ritchie was the first player in rock music to give keyboards a prominent role -- and that was before Keith Emerson (ELP) and Rick Wakeman came on the scene. Billy told me that he remained good friends with the Thin White Duke until his death in 2016. Lanark-born Mr Ritchie now provides the skilful and fancy keyboards and records backing tracks for his latest incarnation Mayhem with talented female singer Carol Leslie. Carol is a really strong vocalist with a gutsy style. This dynamic duo started their first set at the cosy Sebright Arms with Elvis's late sixties' classic Suspicious Minds. The second song was a surprise -- Kirsty MacColl's comedy number There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears His Elvis. It was a perfect choice after the first song. Carol and Billy select their material wisely and give their audience something very different from the predictable Mustang Sally, Brown Eyed Girl and I Saw Her Standing There, churned out by so many pub bands. So it was great to hear Georgio Moroder and Phil Oakey's electro smash Together In Electric Dreams, Matchbox's catchy rocker Rockabilly Rebel, Starship's uplifting We Built This City (on which Billy demonstrated his keyboard dexterity) and Solomon Burke's gospel-ish Cry To Me. And that was just the first half. Carol is happy to tackle songs usually associated with male vocalists and she started part two with a raucous version of Bryan Adams' rocker Summer Of 69. If you have never seen Mayhem, ask Billy to perform Light My Fire, the Doors rock classic from 1967. This was a sheer musical masterclass as he re-created both vocally and instrumentally this great song. Billy has a rich, tuneful voice and this was a stunning performance. Other highlights in the second half included Journey's rock anthem Don't Stop Believing, Carol's gritty interpretation if Shania Twain's Man I Feel Like A Woman and a fine performance of Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer A total of 24 songs and I cannot wait to see this duo again. My only concern is their name. I think many club and pubgoers might think Mayhem are a heavy metal band rather than an all-round, top class duo. COLIN FENN, DJ, Freelance Journalist Colin Fenn, DJ - Freelance Journalist, Thursday 5 October 2023"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"hello, I just wanted to send an email to say how brilliant you guys were on at our wedding. You really were amazing, everybody was dancing all night. So many people have commented on how good they were so thank you so much Erik Walker & Cheryl Walker"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Martin and Roy played at my Birthday Party and it was absolutely Brilliant! The Dance floor was packed from the moment they started playing to the end of the evening. Everybody said how much they enjoyed the music. It was all the songs we new from the 60's to the 90's and some contemporary ones too. The sound was fantastic. It really sounded like a 6 piece band with backing vocals all at just the right volume. If you want a great fun band that can play all your favorite hits then look no further than Footloose. Their vocals and guitars were fantastic and the extra instruments they played on the backing were spot on. Thanks Footloose"

Reply by Footloose
Hi Maggie, thank you so much for your review, we absolutely loved playing for you, it was such a lovey bunch of people and we really enjoyed ourselves. Hopefully see you again sometime, All the best Martin and Roy, Footloose

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had singing waiters France at our wedding, and they were absolutely incredible! It was a complete surprise for my groom and our guests, and honestly booking them was the best decision I ever made. From the moment the singing waiters started, they brought so much energy and fun, our guests are still talking about it! In the lead-up to the big day I dealt with Paula, and she was super easy to work with and so lovely. Paula took the time to understand us as a couple; our love story, our wedding journey so far which gave it that personal feeling. Paula communicated clearly, was always quick to respond and made everything feel so stress-free. We really appreciated how creative the team were with their suggestions, they had some amazing ideas, but they were also more than happy to go along with whatever we wanted. It was the perfect balance. Jeremy and Laurent were our assigned singing waiters and WOW! They are both super talented, so much fun and really got the guests involved in the act which is exactly what I was looking for. 10/10 guys! You made our day! On top of it all, the singing waiters team were just genuinely lovely people, so friendly, enthusiastic, and clearly passionate about what they do. They helped make our day unforgettable, and we couldn’t recommend them more highly! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Just wanted to thank you for Saturday night - we really enjoyed ourselves and had so many positive comments on how good you were! Thanks again for making our special occasion so memorable"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I went to a concert by a cover band that was playing songs by a GREAT BAND. Imagine my surprise and joy when I heard a band that sounded powerful and genuine. I saw the musicians on stage drawing joy and energy from playing. Their eyes and smiles showed that they were having a real time. There was no tension or nervousness among them; they were enjoying the music perhaps even more than the audience. The musicians are virtuosos, and the drummer and vocalist are true stage animals."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We hired Exit Left for my Father's 70th Birthday Party....Guests ranging in age from 35-75 and EVERYONE was dancing the entire time! We did not want the night to end!!!! Sue and I communicated often via email, she was beyond accommodating! I would 100 percent hire them again! Talented and kind artists who were flexible and professional!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"2 Beatz were fabulous, and really made my mums 80th birthday house party a very special occasion, thoroughly recommend them. They both have amazing voices and are very talented. 🎶🎊🎶"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had the pleasure of having Chris perform at our wedding, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. From the start, their professionalism stood out, making the entire process stress-free. He offered a great range of songs, catering to every moment of our special day, and even learned a challenging new song at our request, delivering it beautifully. Communication was seamless and thoughtful throughout the booking process, ensuring everything was perfect on the day. We truly couldn’t fault their performance and would 100% recommend Chris to anyone looking for a talented and reliable musician."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"If I could give more I would! Ian is an absolute gentleman, our guests were on the floor all night long! He went above and beyond what we expected and truly gave us a night we will never forget. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to any bride and groom for their wedding... you'll be in amazing hands"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We couldn’t have ask for better! Beautiful acoustic for the diner and party music for after. You fulfilled all our desires and couldn’t haven’t dreamed for better. All our guest had an amazing time and complemented on the music. Thank you for making our wedding memorable! Francesco and Adeline xx"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Can highly recommend Matt! We had him our wedding, and he was brilliant. Great music, and he interacted with everyone and was spot on reading the room for the vibe. Got everyone up, dancing and singing along. He was also at a friends wedding, and he was just as great then. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Amazing Band , with great presence. Loved the vibe "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Very best band in Rome, Malena it's a fantastic singer and guitar player, she's enchanted us with her voice. Andrea is a wonderful guitarist, his sounds are perfects for Malena. Very professional band, i suggest them!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Darren was a great surprise, really interesting, pleasant engaging musician, with a brilliant repertoire played and sung well. The level of volume was just right so as to not make conversation difficult. He arrived on time, set up quickly and left after the gig with no fuss. I will definitely hire him again. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: