OpenRoad Band

Who We Are

Nominated by KRON TV-4's Best of the Bay TV as one of 2009's "Best Bands in the Bay Area, OpenRoad plays high-energy, instantly recognizable music that will pull you onto the dance floor. The Band is "Open" to tailor music performance for each Client’s guests or audience. From Motown to Modern, we're your "Road" to Classic Dance Hits! For Weddings, Birthday Parties or Special Events, we’re your band!

OpenRoad, plays everything from Classic Rock 60’-90’s, R&B, traditional standards to current Artist hits. We know how to entertain, get people to dance and have a great time they’ll remember.

The OpenRoad Band is a group of experienced musicians who grew up playing Rock, R&B, Funk and other styles in cover bands. We look forward to performing for live audiences. We formed in the fall of 2003 and are based in the San Francisco-East Bay Area.

Our group showcases female and male lead vocalists with a real flair for connecting with the audience.

• We feature up to five singers to sound just like your favorite songs!
• Our female vocalist, Jacqueline, has been described as vibrant, alluring, passionate, energetic and fun!
• We can work with you to create a script, provide a master of ceremonies for any introductions or work with your own designated speaker(s) for your program.

We provide highly experienced musicians on drums, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, percussion, trombone, blues harmonica, lead and harmony vocals to deliver “just like the original” sounds.

• We provide our own professional sound system for indoor or outdoor venues
• PA available for your event program and or background music.

The band name, OpenRoad, was chosen for the following reasons.

• We are “open” to play our Clients’ favorite songs to take their special event “wherever they want to go”.
• We also work to create that special energy we see when people have a great time dancing and singing along to hit songs they associate with their best memories. It’s like the exhilaration you can experience when you’re on an “open road” traveling some where you’ve never been before after a long work week.

What We Can Do For You

The OpenRoad Promise
We will go the “extra mile” to make your event successful:

• Planning consultation to best understand your event needs, preferences.
• We tailor our song lists, balance dancing music vs. listening music, if needed.
• Songs for all special wedding moments: Wedding Party introductions, First Couple, Father-Daughter dances, etc.
• We dress to suit your event; whether formal attire for weddings or even theme costumes, as needed.
• Male and female vocalists available for wedding ceremony performance.
• If you request songs we do not play, or there is not enough time to learn them before your event:

        - We can provide the artist CD original version on our dual iPod/PA system as a “DJ-type” service.
        - We play mp3s this way so there is no gap in the music if we’re on a short break.

As confirmation to our “OpenRoad Promise”,
1. A Wedding Reception Client sent this email the day after their wedding reception to us:
“Everything went off without a hitch last night. All our friends were raving about the band. Thanks again for all of your hard work. We had an incredible night!   - Mike, (Groom)

2.We’ve also received a 5 out of 5 possible points on the Gigmasters’ Client Survey in all key areas including: professionalism, overall talent, handling special  requests, how strongly Clients would recommend us to their friends, and overall satisfaction.

We’ll work to make your event a time to remember!
 - OpenRoad Band

    Note:
     We reserve performance dates on a first-paid, deposit basis.
     We encourage you to secure your event date early, especially during the months of:
          June - September, (Weddings)
          November – December, (holiday parties).

Client Experiences
NY Eve, The Terrace Room, Lake Merritt Hotel, Oakland, December, 2009
OpenRoad was better than I imagined!  During breaks,  the group learned a song requested by a special guest. You provided Dinner music requested by our Catering Manager to replace the recorded music we have. Thank you so much! 
-Donna Inscho, The Terrace Room 

Private Birthday Party Los Altos Hills, November, 2009
Open Road was great! They played all the songs I requested and sounded wonderful. I recommend them very, very highly.
- Linda F.

Wedding Reception, Stinson Beach  Community Center, Stinson Beach, July, 2009
I just wanted to say THANK YOU!  You guys just blew my socks off!
OpenRoad was awesome and you worked easily with our modified (and constantly changing) timeline throughout the evening. 
You guys were great to work with and I appreciate the fun time you orchestrated!  Nobody wanted the music to stop; I had one friend say “Tell the band to keep playing; I will pay for their extra time, just ask them to keep playing!!” 
By the way, I adored my father/daughter dance  Tim McGraw – I didn’t realize it was going to be played live, and wish my groom would’ve allowed our first dance song to be live too – it was so good! 
Also, I noticed you guys kept playing and didn’t take the set breaks (except the garter and bouquet toss that was planned), so thank you for keeping the party moving!  Everyone truly enjoyed it, and it all went by so fast. 
With much gratitude,
- Aleah and Brian Baklenko, Bride & Grooom

Wedding Reception, Golden Gate Ballroom Fort Mason, San Francisco, March, 2009
OpenRoad & Ed Vargas are absolutely amazing. The band was fantastic, so fun. I was incredibly impressed and so were all my guests. I couldn't have found a better band. Ed was professional -to make sure everything went smooth. Thank you, OpenRoad.  Lisa, (Bride)  If anyone wants more info - email lisasun45@hotmail.com

Annual Dinner/Dance, Contra Costa Assoc. Realtors, Walnut Creek, February, 2009
Thank you for performing at our Crab Feed Fundraiser. You were absolutely wonderful and everyone had a great time. We look forward to having you play again next year.

- Joel McDonald, Dir. Member Svcs., CCAR

Hot Summer Nights Concert, Laguna Hall Amphitheater, Elk Grove, August, 2008
“OpenRoad was great! Very professional, easy to work with; from booking to Showtime. The male vocalist, Mike, was awesome!
The artistic quality was spot on! Concert-goers danced all evening. I’d recommend them to people who want to have a fun time dancing to favorite tunes. Thanks OpenRoad!”
- Nicole L., Hot Summer Nights Event Planner

Wedding, Palm Event Center, Pleasanton, July, 2008
There were certain songs we really wanted that weren't on the song list of the band. After expressing my concerns to the band leader, Ed agreed OpenRoad would learn over 10 new songs, just for our wedding! (Most other bands we contacted were willing to learn two at the most.) The band ended up being great and we're really glad we went with live music over a D.J. All of our friends and family raved about the band, saying their high energy kept the dance floor full throughout the night. As a result, the night flew by and everyone was disappointed when it was over.
- Kristen, (Bride)

It was great working with OpenRoad.  We’re happy to refer you to our Clients, as we know they will be well taken care of by your team.  Feel free to send brochures we can pass out.  My biggest concern with bands is that sometimes they don't have an MC to keep the party moving. However, you and your band were great about keeping Kristen's reception running smoothly.  It's no surprise you received the compliments from Kristen.
We look forward to working with you again in the future.
- Monique Bogni, JWIC, Director of Events, Palm Event Center

St. Michael’s Crab Feed Fundraiser, Livermore, January, 2008
I would like to thank OpenRoad for doing such a great job at our annual crab feed. You have played for us for three years and you just get better. Your renditions of the old classics were excellent. While you were playing I heard from numerous people about how good you were, where did I find you etc. It was truly a pleasure having you join us for dinner and dancing to the music. Thank you and we hope to see you again next year.
- Michael Valent, Crab Feed Chairman 2006, 2007 Assistant Chairman 2008

Public Event Highlights:

Multiple Sclerosis 150 Waves to Wine Bike Tour, Santa Rosa, 2006:

"Thank you for supporting the 2006 Waves to Wine Bike Tour sponsored by Genentech. We were ecstatic to have OpenRoad join us in fighting the devastating effects of MS. We had over 1,100 participants at the MS 150 Bike Tour and have thus far raised over $675,000. OpenRoad's contribution directly affected the success of our event! Emily, (ERB Event Planning), will be in touch, (with OpenRoad), for next year's Spring and fall events".

- Joanne Neuman, President, Northern California Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society

OpenRoad was the evening's entertainment after the fund-raising corporate cyclist teams completed their respective Napa-Sonoma Wine Country course at the Youth Community Park in Santa Rosa. Our thanks to Genentech, the Title Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, the Wellness Center Sponsor and the Bay Area Development Company, the Entertainment Sponsor, for this great event for such a worthy cause.

Jack London Square 4th of July Festival 2006, 2004:

"I just wanted to write you a quick note to thank you so much for being a part of the Jack London Sq. 4th of July festivities. OpenRoad did a great job entertaining our guests and your band was fantastic. It was a pleasure working with you; your professionalism, organization and help made working during a hectic time much easier and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend OpenRoad to any other event planner. Best of luck to you and your group! And I look forward to working with you again".

- Brian Lee, Jack London Square Special Event Manager

Muscle Car, Hot Rods & Art Fair, San Ramon/2005:

We were the featured entertainment for a benefit for families that have lost loved ones in the current Middle East conflict, sponsored by ‘Hats Off America' and the ‘Fred Biletnikoff Foundation'.

Walnut Creek Harvest Holidays Festival/2004:

The Chamber of Commerce of the City of Walnut Creek closes downtown streets for this annual fall weekend event. Our band was asked for an encore performance that closed the show.

City of Martinez 4th of July Festival/2004:

We played a set at the City of Martinez Fourth of July Festival mid-day and for two hours on the main stage at the Fourth of July Celebration at Jack London Square, Oakland, California .

Music At Noon Series/2004:

Produced by the City of Concord, Jim Ocean & Community Concerts. OpenRoad was featured with the Steve Sage DVC Rock, R&B Revue. We were televised on the City of Concord cable television program.

City of Martinez First Night 2004 Celebration:

This New Year's Eve downtown merchant sponsored festival is a great time for families, friends to celebrate a non-alcohol evening. Streets are blocked off; shuttles bring you to food, music and activities.

Rock, Rhythm & Blues Showcases/2004:

We were featured at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and Cue Productions band showcases produced by the DVC Music Department. We want to thank Steve Sage, DVC music director, for his program and support.

If you want to book the band for your Wedding, Private Party, Special Event, Grand Opening, Festival, etc., you can reach us by email at: ev1538@gmail.com

If you are calling from the SF Bay Area, you can use the toll free number, (800) 717-8803.