Michelle & Jason’s Wedding 7-25-15

I enjoy nearly all the gigs I play, and I know I’m lucky to have the job I do, but every now and then I get to perform for a couple or client who not only share my musical tastes and sensibilities, but whose friends and family do so as well, which makes those parties the ones I love playing best of all. Yesterday’s wedding was just such an affair. The couple were very into indie and alternative music, and wanted their cocktail and dinner music to reflect that taste. That gave me a great opportunity to mix things up from the get-go, and allowed me to segue into an eclectic mix when it came time to dance. The entire crowd seemed very responsive to the music, and I received no shortage of positive feedback from attendees.

The wedding took place in Aptos, at the historic Sesnon House. The mansion, and its gardens, offers a luxurious view of the Pacific Ocean, and is a wonderful spot for a wedding.

First up, here’s what I played during the cocktail hour and dinner.

Lebanese Blonde [Instrumental Mix] – Thievery Corporation
You Look Great When I’m Fucked Up – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Woman I Know – Bernard Butler
Best Day of My Life – American Authors
Change the World – Eric Clapton
I’ve Just Seen a Face – The Beatles
A Century of Elvis – Belle & Sebastian
Lucky [feat. Colbie Caillat] – Jason Mraz
Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
The Girl From Ipanema – Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
Sea of Love – Cat Power
Just Like Honey – The Jesus and Mary Chain
Oh My Love – John Lennon
Minnesota, WI – Bon Iver
The Only Place – Best Coast
Nothing But Our Love – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Llaw = Wall – The Joy Formidable
Warmer Climate – Snow Patrol
Today Is The Day – Yo La Tengo
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side – Magnetic Fields
Between the Bars – Elliott Smith
I Will – The Beatles
Place to Be – Nick Drake
First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
Funeral For My Future Children – Anna Von Hausswolff
By Your Side – Beachwood Sparks
We’re Going to Be Friends – The White Stripes
The Book of Love – Magnetic Fields
Jesus, Etc. – Wilco
Warsaw – Sharon Van Etten
Kelly Watch the Stars – Air
Virus – Björk
The Greatest – Cat Power
To a Fault [feat. Grizzly Bear] – Dntel
The Day Is Coming – My Morning Jacket
Piazza, New York Catcher – Belle & Sebastian
French Navy – Camera Obscura
Winnipeg – Joywave
Black Treacle – Arctic Monkeys
Street Joy – White Denim
We’ve Been Had – The Walkmen
Picture In a Frame – Tom Waits
Amor Fati – Washed Out
Wada Na Tod – Yann Tiersen
Life In Mono – Mono
Protection – Massive Attack
At Last – Etta James
Trigger Hippie – Morcheeba
Tessellate – Alt-J
The Guns of Brixton – The Clash

Ending the dinner set with The Clash was a fortunate accident, as it got people up and moving around, and provided a nice segue into dancing. This time around the family did things a bit differently– the dances with parents came before the couple’s first dance together. Though unorthodox, it worked rather well, as open dancing began with the bride and groom together on the dance floor, which encouraged everyone else to join in. And join in they did, and it seemed like no one left the dance floor for the rest of the night. This was a great group to play for, and one that seemed to appreciate both classics and lesser-known songs. Oh, and another plus– the bride and her friends know the Wobble Wobble dance, and that alone was enough to make my night behind the decks.

Mother/Daughter Dance: Michelle – The Beatles
Mother/Son Dance: Mother’s Nature – The Beatles
First Dance: Luna – Smashing Pumpkins

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – Neutral Milk Hotel
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Midnight City – M83
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
Someone Great – LCD Soundsystem
Uptown Funk [feat. Bruno Mars] – Mark Ronson
Rock With You – Michael Jackson
Wobble Baby – V.I.C.
Thizzelle Dance [feat. Chuck Beez] – Mac Dre
Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G.
This Charming Man – The Smiths
Banquet – Bloc Party
Hard to Explain – The Strokes
Major Tom (Coming Home) – Peter Schilling
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service
Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys
Chapel of Love – The Dixie Cups
It’s the End of the World – R.E.M.
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Barbie Dolls – Pizzicato Five
Chick Habit – April March
Panic – The Smiths
Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire
Disco 2000 – Pulp
Fall In Love – Phantogram
My Little Corner of the World – Yo La Tengo
Fade Into You – Mazzy Star

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