Indie Band Archives - Page 10 of 10 - Indie Rock Wedding Band / Party Band / Corporate Events / Birthdays

16th July 201426th May 2023

21st Birthday Party Band

3:15pm – It’s a 21st birthday party band tonight for Indie Rock cover band ‘Punch The Air‘ that we’re performing at. So I (Your author and professional musician Andy Starkey) load the van up with my sacred vintage bass guitars, various bits and bobs and then head to my friends house to pick up my extra LED stage lights that I let him borrow last week for a wedding he was performing at. (To hire a 21st birthday party band contact me Andy and let me know the date and postcode of your event)

3.30pm – My good pal is actually in thankfully and he has the gear ready for me by his front door. So I leave my musician friends house exactly on schedule. I’m off to a great start then. Hopefully the traffic on the roads won’t be too bad today.

4.30pm – I’ve been on the road for about an hour now and luckily the roads and motorways are pretty clear apart from a 50mph section of the M40, but it’s only for about a mile so there’s no real hold up. The van is running very smoothly having just past its first MOT while in my possession (with no advisories). I’ve listened to a couple of great driving playlists and have just completed ‘Rubber Soul’ by The Beatles. I wonder to myself if there are any 21st Birthday specific songs? (I look it up when I get home…no there aren’t.)

5.15pm – I’ve reached J14 of the M25 and marvel as aeroplanes fly very low over the motorway. I hope they don’t fly too low.

Arriving at 21st Birthday Party Band

5.28pm – I arrive at the community hall we’re performing at two minutes earlier than planned (124.2 miles taking 1 hour and 58 minutes with no major speeding incidents). It’s now absolutely boiling hot outside. I check my phone and see thats its 24 degrees, so its going to be one hot and sweaty affair for a live band and guests this evening. I speak to the client (The father of the 21st birthday boy) who is happily sticking up huge blown up pictures of his lad on the walls in various places.

He buys me a pint of shandy and I start to cool down a little. We discuss times of live entertainment etc and I start to load in the PA lighting and my bass rig from the van. We’ve got a really decent sized stage (amateur dramatics stylè) so they’ll be plenty of movement from us tonight. I place the speakers and sub on the floor in front of the stage (and also the dancefloor lighting) to give us maximum stage space.

6.00pm – James arrives and I continue to set up while he brings his amp and function band guitars in.

6.15pm – My drummer arrives (Slightly late as he had to pop back home 5 minutes into his journey to pick up his drum mics…doh, drummers eh!). He starts to bring his gear inside and starts to assemble his drum kit.

Seeing what the birthday party venue has to offer

6.25pm – I notice that there are various onstage and hall lighting switches hidden behind a side curtain, so give then a quick flick….most do nothing, some add a little more ambient light. This may help our live birthday band somewhat.

7.15pm – We’ve nearly finished setting up but there is no sound coming from the mixing desk into my in ear monitoring system….. yep, the leads gone kapput. It gets quickly replaced and we’re all ready to sound check. Its a very echoey room as its got a wooden floor, and no sound dampening on the walls or ceiling, but it still sounds really great. A few tweaks here and there and we’re ready just in time as the guests arrive.

Cranking up the DJ set

7.30pm – I meet the birthday boy (His actual 21st Birthday Party Band was a few days ago in the week) and we have a quick chat about a few things. I’m surprised he’s not plastered yet. The arrival music DJ set goes on we head outside to cool down a little.

7.40pm – I head back in slightly worried that its a little too bright in the hall. So I find the bar manager who turns off most of the lights. Its now looking a lot better with our dancefloor lights doing their things. The clients customised projector logo that I designed for him (featuring his favourite bands logo) shining nice and clearly on the wall. I head back outside again and join the rest of the band.

8.35pm – We get changed into our on-stage clothing and head to the stage for a final tune up.

Time for the first live performance at this 21st Birthday Party Band

8.45pm – Live music commences with the first song of the first set underway but unfortunately James breaks a string one minute in. (Its only a top E, they always break). No one else has noticed and we continue on with the song anyway. A very quick swop over of guitars after the first song and we’re into the rest of the first set. Its fast and furious and very hot on stage and the audience are happily dancing away. The birthday boy runs screaming to the front of the hall singing his head off to each new song. There’s Beatles, Amy Winehouse, Primal Scream, Stereophonics and much more.

9.05pm – The client joins us on stage for some expert tambourine playing during ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’ and all the cameras come out. Then its straight into some Kinks, Monkees and Lynyrd Skynyrd and some Indie rock covers.

9.30pm – The first set ends to whoops and claps and we head off stage to get some much needed air outside and down a couple of pints of water each. Its still really hot outside, but at least its cooler than inside. After a few minutes the buffet arrives (Pizzas) so we tuck in to keep our energy up. The client thrusts his iPod into my hands and asks if we can play his playlist over the PA. “No problem” I tell him and disconnect our DJ gear. I pop on his favourite rock tracks for him and his friends to enjoy while eating. So far its seem to have been a great 21st birthday party band for us and the guests.

Second live performance

10.10pm – We head back on stage, to tune up just before we kick into the 2nd set. There’s songs from Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Pulp before we get the audience to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song to the client. Then we crack into The Ramones version of Happy Birthday ourselves . Followed by some 80’s, some 70’s and a decent slab of Britpop from Oasis, Blur and Reef. Everyones dancing now and although there aren’t many guests at this event they’re all dancing and singing their hearts out to us. Highlights include the whole room singing the riff to ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes back to us.

10.57pm – After 3 encores we end the set with the screaming ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ by Jet. There’s rapturous applause and the live sets are done. The client comes on stage and shakes all of our hands thanking us for a brilliant night.

The end of the night

11.00pm – The end of night DJ set goes on and we head off stage (looking like a complete sweaty mess) to catch some much deserved air outside again. Guests come up to thank us and talk about the evenings events with. We head back in and start to break down some of the gear. The client comes up and thanks me again. Saying that his son had said it was exactly what he wanted for his 21st birthday. He tells me how happy he was to have found us to hire a 21st birthday party band.

12.00am – The lights go on and we start to load the van and cars up. It doesnt take too long as packing away is MUCH quicker than setting up. A quick goodbye again to everyone and I’m back on the road again at 12.15am

1.00am – Crazy amounts of rain keep me awake on the way home, as does some excellent music by Blondie and The Clash.

2.15am – I arrive back at home (Much earlier than I thought I would do) and settle into a cold beer. Popping on an episode of ‘American Dad’ while I chill out before heading off to bed. Its been a really great 21st birthday party band and we were all happy to have been a part of it all.

Contact Indie Rock cover party band ‘Punch The Air‘ for a quote as a wedding band, party band, corporate event band, birthday party band. Choose from all our party packages. Book a 21st birthday party band.

14th April 201412th May 2023

Local Wedding Band

5.50pm – And I’m off to the venue to a ‘Punch The Air‘ local wedding band. Even the M54 has roadworks at the moment, so that’s now every motorway around my home town. Luckily it was pretty clear sailing / driving and I arrive at the venue Pimhill Barn, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire wedding band 20 minutes earlier than planned (arrival time was supposed to be 7pm on this occasion). James the guitarist had just arrived so we had a wander around the lovely farm, realised that the wedding speeches were still taking place and so chilled out for a while as Matt the drummer arrived. (Why do drummers always arrive last when they always have the most amount of gear to set up?)

Local wedding band loading equipment in

7.10pm – (The schedule only running 10 minutes late) We’re able to move our vehicles right up next to the load in doors of this Salop venue so it’s a very easy load in (and out later). We help out the serving staff by moving the tables for this evening wedding reception so we can get our indie rock wedding band gear in and get setting it up. This really isn’t our job but we want to get set up so and not let things run late. It’s a beautiful looking barn and we have the whole end 1/3 section which is plenty big enough for us. There are cool large retro styled bulbs hanging from the ceiling and a large wooden illuminated star on the wall right behind where drummer Matt will set up his drum kit. We speak with the bride and groom quickly and we’re ready to start setting up. It’s not going to be hard work today in this lovely barn.

7.40pm – Its all going very smoothly and stress free and there’s plenty of room for our live wedding entertainment, the PA and the lighting (including our new high powered lighting rig) at this Shropshire wedding band. Apart from one cable being connected into the wrong input and one XLR deciding to break on us there are no further set up issues at all….this is now one seriously tight ship.

Soundcheck sorted

8.20pm – Only 70 minutes have elapsed and we’re set up and have already sound checked our live wedding band (Knocking 20 minutes off our usual 90 mins wedding band set up time – This is what we can achieve when there are no Bridezillas or anything else is running very late).

8.25pm – We go off to get changed into our dapper wedding party band on-stage clothing, a quick dab of deodorant and trussing of hair takes place and we’re back on stage waiting for the bride and groom to arrive for the first dance.

8.40pm – We don’t usually do first dances, but the client had asked if there was any chance we could learn “Here Comes The Sun” and with us all being huge Beatles fans how could we resist? The bride and groom approach the dancefloor at this SY4 postcode venue as we kick into said song…..the photographers snapping away as we do our best to not ham it up Rock n’ Roll style while they happily dance along to our rendition. Before the song finishes many others have also joined them on the dancefloor and then we kick into the rest of the “Beatles heavy” first set.

During the first live performance

9.00pm – We’re well into live entertainment of the first set now with no real issues. Local wedding band guests are happily continuing to dance along to us while playing their legs like guitars and sloshing alcohol all over the floor (Mental note to self “Get serving staff to mop the dancefloor at half time”). We go out onto the dancefloor and play our guitars along side them merrily dancing away much to their enjoyment.

9.30pm – The first set is over, there’s a huge round of applause for our professional wedding band. The buffet is about to be served, so we head off to get some fresh air and a cold drink.

9.55pm – We tuck into hot pork and stuffing baps, strong cheeses and are informed that we have a tab behind the bar and to “Help ourselves” 🙂

10.15pm – I chat with the bride for a while checking that she’s fine with the evenings entertainment so far (Which she is of course)….I’m surprised she’s still quiet sober :). I then have a chat with the groom about when they would like us to go back on stage. Originally we’d planned for 10.45pm, but we both agree that 11pm would be better.

Wedding running late, no problem for your local wedding band.

11.10pm – Batteries are changed in our in ear monitoring systems and a little later than planned. We crack into the second Indie Rock Cover Band “Party set”. There’s a couple of light hearted punk numbers to start with and then onto a new song. “Common People” by Pulp performed in our own unique style. Guests are going crazy at this point jumping up and down, climbing the beams of the barn. They even attempt to invade the stage area.

11.40pm – Its in full swing and the guests are enjoying themselves as much as we are enjoying performing for them. They sing-a-long to the huge chorus’s of “I Love Rock n’ Roll”, “Sex On Fire”, “Parklife”, “Wonderwall” etc. A quick encore and its….

Midnight – The second sets over and we say our thanks and start to pack away and the DJ set goes on. But apparently its not over yet. The groom comes over and starts to barter with us for more live material…..how can we refuse 🙂 So we start putting the gear back together again, another quick change of batteries and we’re into a third set. We let the guests decide which songs they want us to play so we perform “Valerie“, “There She Goes“. Then “Seven Nation Army” (With massive crowd participation) and a few other great numbers.

Third live set completed

12.30am – The third live set is now complete and it really is time to start packing away. The guests continue to happily dance along to the final 30 minute wind-up/wind-down DJ set we’ve put together for them. This complimenting us for our “Kick-ass live show” as one guest says…..”What a remarkable wedding band” another guest remarks.

1.00am – That’s it, the nights entertainment is over. The lights go up, guests drink up and start to leave the venue. We continue to pack away the rest of the PA and lighting and start to load up our vehicles. It lightly rains outside. We chat again to guests and the bride and groom. It sounds like they have all really enjoyed their entire day and our evenings entertainment.

1.30pm – We say goodbye to the bride and groom, set our sat navs to HOME and we’re off. There’s still roadworks on the way back (No doubt it won’t be the last time I see them). I think to myself that it was one of the best and least stressful weddings we’ve ever performed at. I’m very happy with how it all went.

2.20pm – I finally arrive back at home and fall asleep on the sofa until 3.30am

Two days later we receive an email from the client:

Many many thanks for Saturday night – you were fantastic! Lots of people commented on how good you were. I apologise if I pestered a little too much, and for the impromptu request for an additional set. I was a little worse for wear by that point! We hope you had a good time. We’ll most certainly be recommending you to whoever we can for a local wedding band.

Many thanks
Tom and Hannah

……ah…..bless em’ 🙂

Contact wedding party band ‘Punch The Air’ for your local wedding reception band.

Shropshire wedding band video.

10th December 201312th May 2023

Wedding Fair Live Band

Pre-checks

6.30am. I woke up early to get ready for the day promoting ‘Punch The Air‘ indie Wedding Band as a Wedding Fair Live Band (Thank you extra hour in bed “Mr Greenwich Mean Time”). I’m quite a slow starter in the morning usually, but in just 30 minutes I’m showered and shaved. Hair coiffed and I’m all good and ready to go.

8.00am. The car has been loaded up (Filling up about half of it), hair has been suitable coiffed, jackets & ties are packed for later and its time to set off (via a quick stop for a spot of McDonald’s breakfast en route). Double sausage and egg McMuffin meal and a coffee and now I have the strength to see the day through. Mmm, yummy scrummy.

Arrival

8.15am. My partner and I arrive at the wedding fair venue at Little Aston Golf Club, Roman Rd, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield B74 3AN. It’s a short four trips from the car park to the marquee and all the gears in and ready to be set up. Very luckily we have a corner table in a very nice spot so we’re looking at maximum exposure here.

Setting up our Wedding Fair Live Band

8.20am. We start to set up the Indie Rock Wedding Band gear and today we’re using an iMac with two powered monitor speakers for our showreel. A laptop for slideshow photos of the band, another laptop to display the website (that you’re looking at now) and a portable DVD player playing live footage. I connect two sets of headphones to it so brides and grooms can watch at the same time. But there doesn’t seem to be any power supply anywhere so I have to go and have a word with the wedding fair organisers who promise to sort something out. The black backdrop (That took me over an hour to iron last night) is hoisted up nice and easily and has remained uncreased throughout its journey. The colour scheme of the table is looking really great all in black and light blue, all I need now is some lighting.

Eventually I am shown a single power point across the other side of the room, so its a good job I decided to bring my own huge extension cables and gang ways. I’m down on my hands and knees taping over the wires so no one trips up on them (Is this really my job?), the rest of the hall is still pretty much swamped in darkness and no one else still has power. Gradually people come over to me asking if I can help with their power issues, so I’m off supplying extension cables and I’m back on my hands and knees again installing them and taping them up for them (Signed off by the head honcho mind you).

Nearly ready to go

9.20am. We’re nearly ready now. The lighting goes up, the custom projector gobo goes up, the computers are turned on, posters go up, I pull out an acoustic guitar and a bass (To make it a bit more obvious what we’re actually trying to sell), pop out some flyers onto the table and we’re ready for the day at 9.28am. I shine some of our lights on the photography business just around the corner from us to try and help them stand out a little more (A nice couple from Colourstone Photography, Aldridge, Walsall). They made me laugh when they said they’d been looking at the names of the other businesses there today and wondered what we did…..they thought we might have been balloon modellers…brilliant 🙂

9.45am. Other exhibitors are still arriving (So much for all being ready for 9.30am as was advised) and cutting it very short.

Opening Time

10.00am. OPENING TIME of the wedding fair…..I guess, as no one potential clients have made it into our marquee yet.

10.20am. Finally brides & grooms start to trickle through….very slowly looking for some wedding entertainment and wedding products.

10.23am. I engage with the first potential client directly by walking out from behind the stand and telling them about what the band can provide for them on their special day……You’ve got to be proactive haven’t you.

11.15am. I’ve spoken to quite a few people now and its great to get feedback on what they’re after. Or have already booked for their special day. Some say they hadn’t even thought of having a band. Others say they have already booked a band. Some say their friend is in a band and he’s doing it for them….(ah that old chestnut) A few folk just want a DJ, and some people aren’t having any music at all for their evening do (Very strange if you ask me). I even get a “We don’t like music” from someone (quote of the day). We’re even asked if we play birthday parties too…which we do of course.

Other Musicians There

11.25am. I have a chat with an instrumental guitarist over the way from me (A really nice guy called Derek Brock) We talk about how its been going, bookings etc. We discuss how we may even play a little number together if we get a spare moment later on.

12.30am. It must be time for lunch and so a nice homemade pre-prepared bagel is pulled out. One bite and I’m back up talking to another potential client. I sit back down again for two seconds, take another bite and I’m back up again. We’re giving out lots of flyers and info today so there are sure to be some big hits on the website over the next few days.

Slowing Down?

1.05pm. Things are starting to slow down a little now (Maybe people are having lunch themselves?), so I suggest to my partner that she pops back home for a bit and enjoys the rest of her day off “I can handle it”….I say, and I do just about.

2.18pm. I’m starting to feel a bit like a stuck record now at this wedding fair telling people about the band, how long we perform for, what gear is included and all about the DJ service.

Booking Confirmed for this Wedding Fair Live Band

3.05pm. A lovely couple that I spoke to about an hour ago return and we have our first official booking of the day at Swinfen Hall, Lichfield wedding band next year. Then another soon to be bride and groom enquire about us being their Little Aston wedding reception party band.

3.15pm. I’m chatting to another great young couple who seem really keen to secure us for October 2015 at Packington Moor, but they dont have a date 100% confirmed yet. They pop off for a few minutes to discuss it together.

2nd Booking Confirmed for our Wedding Fair Live Band

3.25pm. They’re back and we have our second booking of the day confirmed (Even though there isn’t a date quite yet).

Winding Down & Packing Away

3.34pm. Things look like they’re starting to wind down a little now. Other exhibitors at the wedding fair are even starting to pull their stands down. I give it ten minutes and then start to do the same. My partner arrives back to help out (I always call her my Little Helper Monkey). It takes less than 15 minutes to get it all down and back in the car. I have another quick chat with Derek. Brilliantly we find out we’ve both been booked for Swinfen Hall on the same date. It’s brilliant that we’ll get to see each other again soon.

4.05pm. The photographers next to us say they did OK today too. And so do the wedding dress people on the other side of us. So we bid our farewells and then we’re in the car heading back home.

4.20pm. We arrive back at home, unload the gear (I’ll put it all away properly tomorrow). We pop down the pub for a quicky tipple to discuss whats occurred today. I’ll be busy sorting contracts etc for the rest of the week. It was well worth the time and effort I put into this today though.

……..9.15pm. (Yes, only 9.15pm) Time for bed as I’m absolutely knackered and can’t keep my eyes open.

Get in contact with Indie Rock Wedding Band Punch The Air for a quote.