When all you want from your wedding band is rock music!
Some couples just want to rock out at their wedding with the band! No pop, no Motown, no R&B, no country, no folk.... Just pure and simple rock music!!!!
Being fortunate enough to play at lots of gorgeous weddings, I've learned that a variety of genres is what works brilliantly and best. Some of our past couples though, have asked us not to play a variety and to only play one genre - and that genre is always rock! The first time we said we had enough songs in the rock category of our repertoire to be able to deliver a whole evening of it, I remember feeling super anxious that it may not work out and so we made a plan B, just in case!
To our surprise and relief though, it did! And I'm happy to report that when it comes to playing only rock music for your evening wedding reception, it works! We think it's because there are so many sub genres - Indie Rock, Classic Rock, Soft Rock, Progressive Rock, Glam Rock, Punk Rock, Rock and Roll, Britpop and so on, and an experienced band will know intuitively, which ones to play and when to play them in their sets.
Photo credit Peter Denness.
So if you're a couple who's one and only love is rock music and the thought of having anything else at your wedding makes you shudder, I'm here to tell you it'll be okay! As I aways say, it's your wedding and the vibe should be a reflection of who you both are. Of course it's kind to be considerate of your guests but if the thought of having poppy music makes your blood run cold, then don't worry guys! It'll all be okay, as long as you mix up the rock and include songs that people can dance to. People love to dance at weddings and for some, it's the only time they get to do so and they massively look forward to it!
My advice is to look for a band who play the rock sub genres I mentioned earlier. I don't want to be a 'Debbie Downer' here but please consider, it's important to find a professional band who has experience playing rock at weddings. Many dedicated wedding venues have sound limitations these days due to local council regulations but unfortunately, not all of the venues explain this to the hirer and only mention it to the band or DJ when they arrive to set up. A really loud rock band (or any loud band or DJ in fact) won't be suitable, especially a band with a drummer using an acoustic drum kit where the sound carries and can’t be turned down. Bands who have electronic drum kits are great because their volume can be controlled and musicians playing to backing tracks also, is another way around this issue. It’s always worth asking your venue in advance, how loud you can have the music. My band carries a professional decibel reader with us and in all honesty, a venue with a limiter less than 90db will struggle with a lively band, even with an electronic drum kit or backing tracks which have guts, which is really what you want whichever genre of music you've requested.
Rock music doesn't have to be deafly loud and the usual 120+ decibels when it's played well... So as long as you have great musicians with professional equipment and experience playing in wedding venues with limitations, there's no reason why everyone shouldn't enjoy the rockier music!
One of our couples requested Comfortably Numb for their first dance and was desperate for it to include a big guitar solo. I have to say it worked out to be one of the most moving first dances I've had the privilege of being a part of. I thought the song may be a little too sombre for a first dance but how wrong I was and it taught me never to presume anything when it comes to first dance song choices. The atmosphere was uplifting, spirited and intensely romantic! I only wish I had a video to show you guys the emotion but I do have a recording of us playing the song. I have to give it to our couple, they chose a brilliantly beautiful and very rare first dance!
Some of the artists we cover and find work brilliantly are Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Bryan Adams, Pink Floyd, Razorlight, The Black Keys, Joni Mitchell, The Foo Fighters, Florence & The Machine, Journey, The Pretenders, The White Stripes, The Stereophonics, Queen, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, The Kinks, Paul Weller, Blondie, The Cure, Guns n Roses, The Rolling Stones, Hendrix, Oasis, Jeff Beck, Santana, Bon Jovi, The Beatles, Muse, Dire Straits, Thin Lizzy, Eric Clapton, Prince and more!
One of our gorgeous couples, Will and Jane, love the artist Prince and asked us to play a couple of their favourite Prince songs for them. Their first dance was Adore and towards the end of the night, we played Purple Rain, their absolute favourite! I think they liked it! ;-)
If you'd like a full list of rock music we cover, please drop me a line! I'd love to hear from you and I'm here to help!
Love Georgia x
