Reception Music

Hello People! Did everyone have a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend? I hope that along with eating hot dogs and burgers and taking a day off from work, we remembered the service men and women fighting this very instant for all of us, as well as remembered those fallen in battles recent and long ago…..

Hey! Do you like music? I LOVE music. I also LOVE receptions. Put great music and great receptions together and you’ve got yourself a PARTY!!!!!

As videographers, Lynette, Amanda and I have logged many an hour listening to music while we video the receptions. And let me tell you, since I have been to every single reception for weddings we've covered, I have heard LOTS of music! I consider myself to be an expert on music at receptions. Yes, I like that. Just call me The Reception Music Aficionado.  :-)  And tonight I would like to write about the bands that I’ve really enjoyed listening to while working a reception.

You think standing behind a video camera for two or more hours listening to music doesn’t make for a night of fun? Sometimes I want to start dancing myself. And other times, I feel like screaming if I hear yet another rendition of  “Celebration”, “We Are Family”, or “Shout”.  Don’t get me wrong, I know that these are great songs. They generally get the guests up and out on the dance floor. And I also know that unlike me, not everyone hears these songs over and over throughout the year. But I would like to add that it is so refreshing when we hear a band entertain the guests and get everyone out on the dance floor with a wide variety of songs. And it’s those bands I want to take my hat off to.

But I don’t wear a hat…..

Anyway, we’ve already heard some great bands this year. Bands such as Familiar Faces and Skyline Drive. But I would like to embellish a little on the bands or acts that we were fortunate enough to hear last year at some great receptions.

I can’t comment on a band or act without mentioning The Tyrone Smith Revue, or sometimes better known as Super T. We were fortunate enough to get to see and hear Mr. Tyrone Smith ourselves last summer at a reception at the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall. And what an act that was! He definitely had the guests on the floor and sometimes on the stage, dancing and having a great time all night long. Plus, he’s a pleasure to watch. He’s up on the stage dancing and grooving along with everyone else. And then there is his attire. The first part of his show, he’s Tyrone Smith, looking good wearing a long cut fancy suit, strutting around onstage……he KNOWS he’s looking good! Then after his break, he comes back as SUPER T! He cranks it up wearing a costume (similar to that of Superman), that is definitely eye catching! And somehow Super T carries this off wonderfully! He and his band are laying their groove down and the guests are getting down with him and having a ball. It makes for GREAT video!!!! You can see Super T in action by viewing Dana and Warren's 'Dance Montage' clip posted in our screening room.

Another band that I would like to hear again because they were so much fun to watch and listen to, is Complete Desire. They are a band out of Atlanta that we were having a blast covering at a reception at the Downtown Hilton Hotel last summer.

I must say, I have a weakness for bands with an act and a show. And these guys could put on a show! I also have a weakness for bands with an upfront singing chick. And again, Complete Desire had one heck of a female singer who could belt it out and hold her own with the guys. The band was smooth, yet rockin! They choreographed their songs with moves that would make James Brown want to get down! During their show, I had a hard time keeping my eyes on my viewfinder and focused on the guests dancing. I wanted to watch these guys movin and groovin on the stage. And even now, just thinking about them makes me leave my “g’s” off my words! :-)  Their show included covering some of the classic dance songs, but also included some newer, funky songs. Yes, I must say, I had a lot of fun at that reception.   You can see how great this band was by viewing Laura and Neil's "Dance Montage' clip posted in our screening room.

But I must take my hat off, (and again I don’t wear a hat) to a band that played a reception at City Hall last fall. The band, Guilty Pleasures, was awesome!

These guys, (and girls) are a band focused on putting out the songs and letting the guests have fun with the music. Guilty Pleasures is a ‘80’s cover band, but they didn’t cover the “common” and sometimes overused ‘80’s songs. They covered some great songs that I haven’t heard since the ‘80’s! And that was GREAT! There are so many great ‘80’s songs that are crowd pleasers but yet they never get played. Well, with Guilty Pleasures, they get played. The band itself could rock. They could lay it down and keep it comin. (Again, where is my “G”)? And something that I really enjoyed, was that every person in that band could sing. They took turns on lead vocals and they had at least five singing chicks who could belt it out and put on a show. I know these guys played for two hours straight without taking a break. I was smiling the entire time out of pure enjoyment, since I am an ‘80’s girl. I may have even danced a little behind my camera. :-)

I could go on and on but I won’t because Lynette plans to post some info on them in the Vendor Spotlight section.  You can read more about them there as soon as she gets it up.  Until then, check them out in Jennifer and Todd's 'Dance Montage' clip posted in our screening room.

Yes, I love music. And that’s one of the perks of  being a wedding videographer. I get to cover great receptions and hear some great music while doing so. And I’m looking forward to hearing more great bands this year.

But for now, I’m through drinkin my Pepsi, and I’m goin to bed……..