We had a blast performing at OP Rockwell in Park City for New Year’s Eve! Here’s a video recap of the event.
Viewing entries tagged
utah jazz band
Had an amazing time performing for an awards show and we were able to see some sharks along the way . . .
We were filmed recently performing at Maxwell's in downtoan Salt Lake City. We performed "Suit & Tie", "Havana", and "Marry You". Thanks for watching!
For thousands of years mankind has placed music at the center of community gatherings, celebrations, and social functions. It is truly a universal language. You can feel this at live shows. There is nothing quite like it. There is an energy that flows from live performers and is reciprocated by the audience, and everyone involved is somehow lifted by the experience. We love to perform, we've all been doing it since we were young kids. Over the years we've honed our craft and learned how to best respond to each live setting, crafting and performing our set specific for each event. We've been having a lot of fun lately creating textures and even songs right on the spot at live events to fit the mood. Conn is actually really good at coming up with lyrics to fit the moment- a skill he has developed over many years of constant song making. You start to see the world differently the more you use the lens of music in your life.
We feel like a musician needs to be a craftsman- a great deal of care needs to be put into the way the music is presented. There is a spirit to creating that is infectious- and we're really caught up in it now. We're excited to be working on new original songs for an upcoming album release. In the meantime, you'll find us improvising and stretching boundaries on stage- working out new ideas, trying to make moments count, and sharing in the celebration of music that brings people together better than anything else. It feels like the world needs that more than ever these days. Til' next time- we hope to see you out on the road this year.
-GS
Twice a year Salt Lake City Utah hosts the Outdoor Retailer Market. Retailers come from far and wide to expand their businesses. Thursday August 4th we had the privilege of being a part of it.
Experticity hosted a special event for those in town for ODR. It was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Red Carpet event was nothing short of extraordinary. We were placed on a white LED Stage where we started the night with Jazz/Lounge versions of Standards to welcome in the Audience.
Then when the night progressed, we brought up the beat for some dancing. It was a perfect evening!
Experticity knows how to throw a party!
The photo booth at the Experticity event.
The white LED stage at the event was on point.
Conn was in rare form, feeding off the energy of the crowd. It was a packed house and an unforgettable party.
The night closed with a huge dance party. Experticity does it right.
Thank you to Outdoor Retailer and Experticity for having us be a part of an amazing evening!
It all started back in about 1963 when Douglas Curran (Conn Curran's father) and Serge Benson (Rob Bennion's great uncle) sang together in a group in college called the "Intervals". (Doug Curran on the Left Serge Benson next to him on the right)
The Intervals (1963)
Much further down the road, Rob joined a group with Bart Olson, called "The Shriners of Ska".
The Shriners of Ska
A little while later Rob joined a group with two of Conn's older brothers, Quinn and Shane Curran, known as "The Groove at Mikes Deli". Conn was just a little tike at the time, attending lots of their shows.
The Groove at Mike's Deli
Then in 2006, Rob joined another Curran band. Another one of Conn's brothers, Sean Curran, started a hip hop band called "Wreck Room".
Wreck Room
During this time Bart Olson was performing and touring around the country signed to Capitol Records with a band called Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand.
Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand (2005) Colin Botts, Bart Olson, Ryan Shupe, Roger Archibald, Craig Miner
Then in 2011 Rob, Conn, and Bart became the group "Gold Standard", blending elements of Jazz, Electronic, Dance, and Soul music. In the past 5 years they've performed across the globe from Japan to New York, as passionate as ever about sharing the gift of music.
Performing at the White Party in SLC
Gold Standard in San Francisco
We have played hundreds and hundreds of shows. Over the years, we've come to understand that music and live events take a lifetime to master, but with enough experience, you learn to flow and adapt in all kinds of situations. Live bands know better than anyone, there is an energy in the room and it starts before you even set foot on stage. We always arrive well before an event starts, and immediately the mood is being set. There are always unique aspects to the venue: architecture, furniture, lighting, location, ambiance. These attributes give the room a spirit and a soul. A good event planner knows how to enhance the venue and make it shine. We have played some gorgeous locations, and we have seen how a top planner can make it look incredible. Here are some of our favorite recent locations.
Wedding at the Dumke Home.
This party called for an intimate jazz trio set in the gorgeous big tent, followed by dancing on a large patio surrounded by forest and a rushing stream.
Utah State Capitol
You'd think that the formal nature of this state capitol would lead to a more formal vibe at the party, but this was one of the bigger dance parties we've played this year. It was fun adapting to the party and turning this event into a true celebration.
The Aria- Las Vegas
In all of our experiences performing at the Aria in Las Vegas, we have learned that this resort and event center is always top notch. Behind us were elaborate sculptures made of a huge array of colored roses and backed by these giant gold glittering panels. We were really feeling it in this venue. It always helps to be surrounded by such an incredible sense of design and taste.
Music is an essential part of a wedding, and the decision to hire a band or a DJ can be difficult. Here are a few things to consider:
What is the feel or vibe you are going for? Music is often what people remember most from a wedding.
Whether you hire a band or a DJ for your event, a variety of music is needed to appeal to the age range which attends a wedding, keeping your grandparents and the bridal party entertained.
Budget can be an important factor in the decision making process. If you hire a string quartet for the ceremony, a jazz band for the cocktails and dinner portion, and a DJ for the dancing, things can get more expensive. Swing bands can consist of 25 people or more, while DJs often come alone to do the event.
How much room do you have to set up in at each point of the wedding, and how many different locations will music be needed? Weddings can have up to 5 different locations for ceremony, cocktails, dinner, reception, and dancing. Is the band or DJ able to provide music in each of these locations? Will they need to move from one to another, or do they have enough equipment to set up multiple sound systems or speakers?
Will the band be able to keep the music going while they are on breaks? No band will play music continuously for the 3-8 hours needed for a wedding. What is the plan for when they take a break?
Do you want to hear music exactly as you know it, or do you want to hear a musician's interpretation of the hits? Some bands play songs much like a karaoke track, nearly exactly like the original, some bands remake them to be their own. Will you have a band perform your first dance, or are you thinking of having it played by a DJ?
It’s good to see the band or DJ perform live. Also, long before the event a good band or DJ will ask you questions about your musical preferences, family songs and special song requests to make sure your event goes smoothly.
Because Gold Standard integrates a DJ into the band, our clients can have the best of both worlds: DJ or live music for ceremony, live band for cocktails and reception, and DJ for dancing.
For the past 3 years, Gold Standard has had the opportunity of being a part of one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the country. Ernst and Young is a global organization that is committed to building a better working world, with increased trust and confidence in business. We have been very fortunate to be an integral part of their annual Entrepreneur of the year ceremony.
Each year it is held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is such a beautiful setting. We provided music throughout the whole evening. Thank you for the many years of fun EY!
Photos by D'Arcy Benincosa
The holidays are a busy and special time for us. We had the pleasure of performing for several corporate holiday events around the nation in 2015, from New York to Salt Lake City, we performed for some of the best parties happening during the holiday season.. This event in particular was held at the Varsity Room on the 6th floor of the Rice Eccles Stadium Tower. It was an amazing experience to perform holiday music while watching the sun set behind downtown SLC. The Reliable Controls Corporation was a fantastic crowd! Thank you for having us!
The decor was top notch. We love working with such great party planners. They set a perfect vibe for crooning out jazz trio standards overlooking the Salt Lake skyline. (Photo credit: Really Photography, http://really.photography)
Warming up to set the mood for the party. Live music overlooking Utah from the tops of the mountains, not a bad way to spend an evening. (Photo credit: Really Photography, http://really.photography)
Conn added perfect percussion touches to his vocal performance. A truly multi-talented live jazz singer! (Photo credit: Really Photography, http://really.photography)
We love working for such kind and gracious clients. What a party! (Photo credit: Really Photography, http://really.photography)