Arlen Music News

What an amazing first quarter for the Sirens! In January, Chicago’s original rock violin show was featured at several high-profile events ranging from the Chicago Bulls Charities Dinner on the floor of the United Center, to The Master’s Brunch at The Special Event at Venue SIX10.

In February, the Sirens partnered with Frost Lighting, Creative Consulting, and Stage Factor to put on a completely customized show, including original medleys of new music and unique wardrobe.

That same weekend, the Sirens were on the dance floor at the River East Art Center in front of a crowd of 300 guests performing for Lara and Jeff’s Wedding. We had the pleasure of working with BCR Events to produce this amazing show.

The Sirens are known for their engaging personalities, versatile repertoire, and the ability to entertain a wide demographic with their performances. This applies not only to social and fundraising events, but also to corporate awards functions.

The Sirens were fortunate to entertain the crowd at the Wrigley Corporate Awards Show in February at the Civic Opera House, in addition to customizing music for the entire awards ceremony. Some of the fun repertoire included original arrangements of the company’s jingles, such as Big Red, Doublemint, and Juicy Fruit!

Often imitated, but never duplicated, the Sirens look forward to the rest of 2013 as they rock Chicago one gig at a time!

“As a bandleader, I’ve tried to create a space where we can all contribute to the sound of the band in a personal way that features our creativity and passions." - David Sherman

While all five of our bands at Arlen Music are built on a model that has proven successful — a vast repertoire ranging from Motown to Top 40, high-energy performances, and the perfect mixture of fun and elegance — each band offers a unique flavor. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with David Sherman, the bandleader of Front of House, to discuss what makes his band so distinctive.

 “As a bandleader, I’ve tried to create a space where we can all contribute to the sound of the band in a personal way that features our creativity and passions,” says David. “Several years ago, I discovered a band called Girl Talk that performed mash-ups of Motown and rock songs by adding electronic dance beats and hip hop onto the original tracks. I was inspired by that sound and worked with the rest of the band to incorporate it into our repertoire.” Bret Zwier, the drummer of Front of House, was up to the challenge of creating such an effect. Using a state-of-the-art sampler, Bret searches for new beats to layer onto standards like Don’t Stop Believing and You Shook Me All Night Long. The result, according to David, is something that’s “familiar but also a little bit unexpected.”

Like Bret, other members of the band find unique and personal ways of approaching the repertoire, such as our vocalist LeTroy Jackson adding an original rap verse in a rock song, or our guitarist Don Stiernberg showcasing his bluegrass mandolin playing on occasion. “When the band is excited about the music they’re performing, the audience can feel it, and it creates a synergistic feedback loop that is contagious to everyone in the room,” says David. 

Considering this mix of raw talent and enthusiasm, it's no wonder Front of House has been selected as the entertainment for high-profile events like the Peninsula Chicago New Year’s Eve Gala for four years running (2010-2013). The band has also performed at countless weddings, corporate events and fundraisers over the last 8 years. When I asked David if he has any goals for the future of the band, he said, “My main goal is to make sure that each performance is unique and exciting for both the musicians and the audience. I feel that each party is the most important party I’ve ever played, so it’s important to me that the band stays, current, vibrant, authentic and fresh.”

Thanks to the help of our loyal friends and clients, we are proud to announce that Arlen Music Productions/Ken Arlen Orchestra received BizBash Chicago's Reader's Choice Award for Entertainment Act of the Year 2012!

BizBash is the leading trade organization for the special event industry. Through their magazines, electronic media, and trade shows, they advise professionals on how to create effective special events and meetings.

Each year, BizBash invites its readers to nominate their favorite local event professionals in 13 categories. Thanks to the support of all of our friends and clients, we received the most votes in our category and won the award!

We appreciate your loyalty, and will continue to produce the first-class musical entertainment that this award  has recognized!

Arlen Music prides itself on offering a variety of entertainment options to suit each client's vision and budget. Drawing from our versatile dance bands and our specialty ensembles like Lake Effect and Twilight Combination, we can create a perfect entertainment program for special events in Chicago and across the country.

We are excited to add a new band to our impressive roster. Skyline, led by vocalist Caitlin Simone, is a 6-piece group that has all of the components of an Arlen Music dance band: stellar musicianship, a wide variety of repertoire, and a high-energy performance that keeps guests on the dance floor all night long. Skyline is our smallest dance band, but it has some unique features that enable it to bring the same level of entertainment that our larger groups are known for.

One of those features is Wes John, a gifted performer who we're thrilled to showcase in Skyline. Wes is a world-renowned guitarist who has worked with the likes of Phil Collins, but he also has a soulful voice that our clients will be fortunate to hear. In addition, Wes is an accomplished saxophone player, and his show-stopping solos are sure to make an impression. Wes packs the talent and skill of three musicians into one, and we can't wait for him to make his mark on the Chicago special event scene as a member of Skyline.

One of the most important decisions we face in launching a new band is selecting its leader. Our bandleaders must be world-class musicians, but they must also be exemplary MCs, they must be able to interact with our clients and accommodate special requests, and they must have incredible organizational skills to stay on top of the countless details that go into each event. We are lucky to introduce someone who has all of these qualities and more. Caitlin Simone, the bandleader of Skyline, has a crystal-clear voice that can mold itself to any genre. In addition, she brings years of experience working for corporations like Toyota as a spokesmodel for tradeshows, so she is accustomed to all of the logistics that are involved in special events. Caitlin has a natural, charismatic stage presence, and is dedicated to making sure each client's needs are met. We are honored that Caitlin is joining our ranks.

In addition to Wes and Caitlin, Skyline features the most talented musicians working today. Please visit the Skyline website and give us a call to see how Skyline or any of our other bands can make your event a success!

The Ken Arlen Orchestra was invited back to perform at the Kentucky Derby Museum Gala! This marks the fourth time we have been a part of this extravagant celebration that honors the "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports."

In addition to the Derby Museum Gala, the Ken Arlen Orchestra performed for the FIRST time at Churchill Downs, the famous racetrack that hosts the Kentucky Derby. The Orchestra was honored to be the featured entertainment for Opening Night, an annual event that kicks off the racing season. Our performance occurred during a hailstorm, but we did not let that stop us from keeping the 40,000 spectators on their feet, dancing happily in the stands!

See pictures from the Kentucky Derby Museum Gala on Flickr.

See pictures from Churchill Downs Opening Night on Flickr.