Josh & the Empty Pockets

• Josh Solomon - Guitar/Vocals
• Erika Brett - Vocals
• Danny Rosenthal - Drums/Vocals
• Nate Bellon - Bass/Vocals

Named one of AMERICA'S 15 BEST WEDDING BANDS!
(The Feast Wedding Special)

#1 Gigmasters Cover Band!

#1 Gigmasters Customer Satisfaction!

Chicago's Best Modern Event Band.

Specializing in today's hits and reinvented classics, the Empty Pockets offer a dynamic and fun musical experience sure to keep your event rocking all night long. Plus, we'll help you through every detail of the party planning process AND tailor our show to reflect your personal style.

Why Hire Us?

We're professional, we love what we do, and it shows. That's why we've headlined SXSW music festival, shared the stage with Jennifer Hudson at the House of Blues, toured the world on Princess Cruise Lines, had two singles chart on the Billboard top 100, and garnered appearances and song placements on multiple major network and cable television programs. We are a hip alternative to your traditional event band - no pomp and circumstance here, just straight up rock and roll.

"With a Buddy Holly tribute album, a record contract and a SXSW showcase under their belt, Josh and the Empty Pockets are, by most accounts, a successful indie band. But they also do local weddings, getting bodies on the floor with a rockabilly-heavy set that often deviates for a crowd-pleasing Michael Jackson medley."
-James Jung, The Feast Wedding Special

"There's no stopping this kid!"
-Hedi Weiss, Chicago Sun Times

"Huge young, talent... Terrific!"
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

"Josh And The Empty Pockets have a bright future. They play intelligent, well-crafted pop/rock with substance that still manages to not get bogged down in its own importance. Buddy Holly would be proud." 
-Duke Egbert, Daily Vault Album Reviews

"The songs are melodic and interesting and they're obviously talented musicians that work together... I guess the best word to describe this band is fun.  They seem to be having the time of their lives, which is infectious..."
-Amy Lotsberg, Producer of Collected Sounds

• Raise Your Glass - Pink
• Hey Soul Sister - Train
• Gives You Hell - All American Rejects
• Forget You - Cee Lo Green
• Glitter in the Air - Pink
• American Honey - Lady Antebellum
• I'm Yours - J. Mraz
• Lucky - J. Mraz + C. Callait
• Love Story - T. Swift
• The Cave - Mumford + Sons
• Little Lion Man - Mumford + Sons
• First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
• Everything - M. Buble
• The Luckiest - B. Folds
• Come Away With Me - N. Jones
• Turn Me On - N. Jones
• Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
• You are the Best Thing - R. La Montagne
• Stars Go Blue - R. Adams
• Today - J. Radin
• One and Only - Teitur
• The Underdog - Spoon
• The Way I Am - I. Michaelson
• Bullets - B. Schneider
• Falling Slowly - G. Hansard + M. Irglova
• The Time of My Life - D. Cook
• This Year's Love - D. Grey
• Two is Better than One - Boys Like Girls
• Until You - D. Barnes
• Hot 'n Cold - K. Perry
• Home - Daughtry
• I'll Stay with You - Goo Goo Dolls
• Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
• Comfortable - J. Mayer
• Better Together - J. Johnson
• The Difference - The Wallflowers
• Wild Rover - Dropkick Murphys
• Drunken Lullabies - Dropkick Murphys
• Black Horse & the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall
• Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
• Hangin' Around - Counting Crows
• (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles - The Proclaimers
• Wonderwall - Oasis
• Basket Case - Green Day
• Rock n Roll - E. Hutchinson
• Stay (Wastin' Time) - Dave Matthews Band
• What Would You Say - Dave Matthews Band
• Hard to Handle - Black Crowes
• GIRLS Just Wanna Have a MASHUP - C. Lauper/Beastie Boys
• My Favorite Mistake - S. Crow
• That Thing You Do - The Wonders
• Mmm Bop - Hanson
• Run Around/All For You - Blues Traveler/Sister Hazel
• I'm a Believer - Smashmouth
• Feels Like Home - C. Kreviazuk/E. Hayes
• Somedays You Gotta Dance - Dixie Chicks
• The Way You Love Me - F. Hill
• Friends in Low Places - G. Brooks
• Callin' Baton Rouge - G. Brooks
• Squeeze Me In - G. Brooks/T. Yearwood
• Redneck Woman - G. Wilson
• Fall Into Me - Sugarland
• Little White Church - Little Big Town
• I Loved Her First - Heartland
• Fishin' in the Dark - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Thank God I'm a Country Boy - J. Denver
• Sweet Child of Mine - Guns 'n Roses
• Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
• Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
• Your Love - The Outfield
• Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
• Sunglasses at Night - C. Hart
• Footloose - K. Loggins
• Don't Fight It - K. Loggins + S. Perry
• Fire - The Pointer Sisters
• Back in Black - ACDC
• Black Velvet - A. Myles
• Material Girl - Madonna
• Forever Young - R. Stewart/B. Dylan
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
• Michael Jackson Tribute - M. Jackson
• PYT - M. Jackson
• Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
• Jessie's Girl - R. Springfield
• Not Fade Away/Satisfaction - B. Holly/Rolling Stones
• Simple Man - L. Skynyrd
• Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
• Play that Funky Music - Wild Cherry
• I Will Survive - G. Gaynor
• Sweet Caroline - N. Diamond
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough - M. Gaye + T. Terrell
• Higher Ground - S. Wonder
• Superstition - S. Wonder
• Isn't She Lovely - S. Wonder
• You are the Sunshine of My Life - S. Wonder
• Signed Sealed Delivered - S. Wonder
• Takin' Care of Business - B.T.O.
• What I Like About You - The Romantics
• The Thrill is Gone - B.B. King
• Sweet Home Chicago - B. Guy/R. Johnson
• Mustang Sally - M. Rice
• Kodachrome - P. Simon
• You're Mama Don't Dance - Loggins & Messina
• Dixie Chicken - Little Feat
• Shakedown Street - Grateful Dead
• Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
• Southern Cross - Crosby Stills & Nash
• To Make You Feel My Love - B. Dylan
• Knockin' on Heaven's Door - B. Dylan
• Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
• Wild Night - V. Morrison
• Domino - V. Morrison
• Have I Told You Lately - V. Morrison
• Crazy Love - V. Morrison
• Moondance - V. Morrison
• Tupelo Honey - V. Morrison
• Brown Eyed Girl - V. Morrison
• Rockin' Robin - Jackson 5
• My Girl - The Temptations
• In My Life - The Beatles
• Rock And Roll Music - The Beatles
• I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
• Twist and Shout - The Beatles
• I Will - The Beatles
• Act Naturally - H. Williams/The Beatles
• Jackson - Cash/Carter
• It Ain't Me Babe - Cash/Carter
• Folsom Prison Blues - J. Cash
• Feelin' Alright - J. Cocker
• Old Time Rock and Roll - J. Cocker
• Chain of Fools - A. Franklin
• At Last - E. James
• Runaway/Let the Sunshine In - D. Shannon/B. Raitt/The 5th Dimension
• Shout - Isley Brothers
• Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
• Jailhouse Rock - Elvis
• Hound Dog - Elvis
• Blue Suede Shoes - Perkins/Elvis
• Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
• Everyday - B. Holly
• Reddy Teddy - B. Holly
• Oh Boy - B. Holly
• Peggy Sue - B. Holly
• That'll be the Day - B. Holly
• Ollie Vee - B. Holly
• Maybe Baby - B. Holly
• True Love Ways - B. Holly
• Roll Over Beethoven - C. Berry
• Brown Eyed Handsome Man - C. Berry
• Johnny B. Goode - C. Berry
• Rockin' Around the Clock - Bill Haley & the Comets
• Stand by Me - S. Cooke
• Over the Rainbow - Standard
• Almost Like Being in Love - Standard
• Cheek to Cheek - Standard
• When I Fall in Love - Standard
• I'm Beginning to See the Light - Standard
• Blame It On My Youth - Standard
• Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby - Standard
• Fever - Standard
• I'll Be Seeing You - Standard
• Come Rain or Come Shine - Standard
• (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons - Standard
• Someday My Prince Will Come - Standard
• It Might As Well Be Spring - Rodgers & Hammerstein/Standard
• Beyond the Sea - Darin/Standard
• Dindi - Standard
• Taking a Chance on Love - Standard
• God Bless the Child - Standard
• My Way - Standard
• Paper Moon - Standard
• Satin Doll - Standard
• The Girl from Ipanema - Jobim/Standard
• Route 66 - Standard
• The Way You Look Tonight - Standard
• I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Standard
• More Than You Know - Standard
• It Don't Mean A Thing - Ellington/Standard
• Bye Bye Blackbird - Standard
• I'm Through With Love - Standard
• It Had to Be You - Standard
• Just Squeeze Me - Standard
• Please Be Kind - Standard
• Twisted - Standard
• Save Your Love for Me - Standard
• I Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good) - Standard
• Bewitched - Standard
• Mac the Knife - Standard
• Can't Help Lovin' That Man - Kern/Standard
• Dream a Little Dream of Me - Cass/Standard
• But Not For Me - Gershwin/Standard
• Embraceable You - Gershwin/Standard
• Rainbow Connection (Alternative Version) - J. Henson/Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Meaningless Words Medley (Papa… Rolling Stone + Lady Maramalade) - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Monsters - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• You're the One - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Predator - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Side Effects - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Too Late - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• I Don't Wanna Know - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• You Know I Do - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• All I Need - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Cupid's Out of Town - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Find or Fail - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Home - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• It's Over - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Nay Says and Maybes - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Ooh La La - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Fall Right Now - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Freedom to Me - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Beautiful to Me - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Leaving Jackson - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Let Go - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Missteps - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Traveling Song - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Tractor Song - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Snow Shoes - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Chosen One - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Eskimo Lady - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• Sarah - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• More Than You Know - Josh & the Empty Pockets
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen + We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies + S. McLachlan
• What Christmas Means to Me - S. Wonder/Hanson
• Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home - F. Loesser/D. Love
• Silent Night - Traditional
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town - B. Springsteen/Traditional
• Santa Baby - E. Kitt/Traditional
• Run Run Rudolph - C. Berry
• Lord's Prayer - Traditional Christian
• Hava Nagila - Traditional Jewish
• Moon Behind the Hill - Traditional Irish

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Josh and the Empty Pockets are the BEST! Everyone's been commenting for weeks since our wedding about how fabulous the band was. The jazz set they did during dinner was sexy and classy and such a nice touch. The dance sets were absolutely rockin - they read the crowd and kept everyone dancing and happy. We had a special request to have them do a medley of our parent's "songs" and they said no problem and put together an awesome medley. Josh as an emcee was awesome. Everyone loved him and everything was so smooth... Erika's communication was so great through the whole process...very easy and comfortable and thorough. HIGHLY recommend!! THE BEST! THANKS GUYS! -- Chalise P, Saint Charles, IL, 8/21/2010
• I'm having a hard time fitting within the character limit of all the great things I want to say about Josh and the Empty Pockets. Everyone in the band is an amazingly talented musician and an absolute joy to work with. They go above and beyond EVERY request to make sure EVERY detail is perfect. I can't even count how many people (young AND old) came up to me and my husband asking us where we found this band and telling us how awesome they were. They were absolutely phenomenal and we cannot thank them enough for everything they did and what an awesome wedding we had because of them - we love you guys!! BOOK THIS BAND!!! - Anna and Dave Jalensky -- Anna W, Madison, WI, 7/11/2010
• OMG, you guys ROCKED the house!!!!!!!!! I can't count how many fantastic reviews we have gotten since the wedding on how amazing you guys were! We wanted a band that was gonna play rock'n'roll, classic rock, and some current stuff, and you guys did an awesome job. So many people said that you guys were the best band they've seen at a wedding! Thank you for playing our requests and being so accomodating, flexible, friendly, and genuine. You MADE the wedding!!! It was a raucous party and NO ONE will forget it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! -- Megan F, Chicago, IL, 6/19/2010
• They were AMAZING...laid back and funny. Our party guests kept tweeting all night about how fantastic the band was. I'd seen their video clips, but they were even better in person and played a wide variety of music. I will definitely look for occasions to hire them again. -- Emily H, Chicago, IL, 4/15/2011
• Our wedding reception was absolutely AMAZING and that was all due to Josh and the Empty Pockets! It was really important to me to have a wonderful band at my wedding that would have fun with my guests and keep them dancing all night long and that is exactly what Josh and the Empty Pockets did! I felt this band was so good that I was really honored and lucky to have them play for my husband and I and our guests. We had people all night long asking about this band and commenting that they were wonderful. I loved their performance and I know that they are going to be so successful! -- Jaclyn M, Shelby Township, MI, 8/6/2010
• Can not say enough good things about Josh and the Empty Pockets. They had to drive through a blizzard to get to our reception and then put on a great show. Wonderful music. Great job of emceeing our event. They were great to work with and would highly recommend. Our guests all had a great time and raved about the quality of the music. Josh and the Empty Pockets will add something special to any event. They definitely made our reception even more memorable. -- Kurt K, Saint Paul, MN, 12/11/2010
• We hired Josh and the Empty Pockets for our October, 2010 wedding...and I'm so glad that we did! We received nothing but compliments from our guests, and they completely tailored their music selections for our wedding theme. They are willing to learn up to 5 songs for an event, and I thought their covers of the songs were good. Now our friends are telling us that they want to book Josh and the Empty Pockets for their wedding! -- Andrea B, Chicago, IL, 10/17/2010
• Josh & the Empty Pockets were amazing. We couldn't recommend a band any more than this one. They accommodated every one of our requests, and they handled all of emcee duties as well. As a live band, there is no one better. You cannot go wrong with Josh & the Empty Pockets. -- Chris G, Green Bay, WI, 10/24/2009
• Absolutely awesome! We couldn't be happier with the way our reception turned out thanks to Josh, Erika, Danny and Nate. They amazed everyone with their talents and were a pleasure to work with. We had countless compliments from our guests who were rockin the dance floor all night! Thank you so much for helping to make our wedding day so special! -- Matt M, La Crosse, WI, 9/6/2009
• I can't say enough to explain how pleased Kari and I are with Josh and the Empty Pockets. They learned a bunch of new songs for us, customized the play list, and did our grand entrance for the wedding party. We are still getting many compliments from wedding guests as well as our vendors. Lastly, they drove from Chicago to Dubuque, IA for us. I must say they truly care about making you happy! -- Daniel R, Dubuque, IA, 8/22/2009
• We got a lot of compliments throughout the night on how good the band sounded, and we were very pleased with them! -- Brittani G, Madison, WI, 8/15/2009
• Josh and the Empty Pockets completely rocked at our wedding. Completely professional, fun and talented. Everybody had a blast at our wedding and I know that Josh and the Empty Pockets were a big part of that! Can't recommend them enough! -- Michael H, Indianapolis, IN, 4/18/2009
• This group is absolutely fantastic. You won't find a better group for your event, I swear it!!! We booked them for our wedding in Davenport, IA and there was no shortage of fun or dancing the entire night. High energy, great crowd interaction... they know how to keep things moving. Very professional as well. Josh and the Empty Pockets should no doubt be Number One on your list. -- Mallory J, Davenport, IA, 9/6/2008
• Josh and The Empty Pockets were amazing at our wedding! They met and exceeded our expectations. Our guests had a fantastic time, due to their performance. They arrived extra early to set up and greeted us when we walked into the room before the reception. Not only did they play all of our requests, but learned songs just for us to dance too and even surprised the bride with a song from her favorite artist! We would highly recommend the band for any event! Thank you so much and we can't wait to see you perform around Chicago again. Yours truly, Annie and Greg Porthanb -- Greg P, Chicago, IL, 7/26/2008
• Josh and The Empy Pockets ROCKED our wedding! They were great and all of our guests thought we had the BEST reception thanks to them!! Dan and Ashley -- Dan B, Chenoa, IL, 7/12/2008
• Josh and the Empty pockets were great! They learned our song without any problems and kept people dancing all night. Thank you !!! -- Katie V, Lake Forest, IL, 9/19/2009
• Josh and the Empty Pockets were AMAZING! They had a contagious energy that never quit. They kept the crowd engaged from song to song. And they are fantastic musicians. This band will go places without a doubt. Thanks for adding to the magic of our evening! Dagny Event organizer -- Dagny K, Lodi, WI, 8/1/2009
• We were extremely impressed by the performance of the group. The band was able to showcase the talents each individual member brought through the variety of songs played. There was NOT a single song they played that wasn't perfect. All of our guests commented on how awesome the band was and we all had a blast. The overall talent of the group is outstanding and we really liked the dynamic of a male and female vocalist. -- Melissa R, Bensenville, IL, 6/13/2009
• Excellent show, very professional. We loved them and will have them back again. -- Annette S, Centralia, IL, 10/22/2010

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