Brass Monkey Brass Band Brass Band from San Francisco, CA

For fifteen years, Brass Monkey has turned weddings into unique, unforgettable events, with their infectious rhythms and soulful brass sound that gets everybody up on the dance floor — from 8 to 80. The exceptional alternative to Top 40 bands and DJs. The BMBB wedding client is that bride that does NOT want to have a bunch of guys in tuxedos on stage playing “Brickhouse” or a DJ leading all the ladies on “I Will Survive.” Instead, she wants something unique, festive and infectious that will get everyone on the dance floor, yet hasn't been done at everyone of her friend's weddings over the years. Other clients include brides that may be having more traditional entertainment for their reception, but want to spice up their ceremony or cocktail hour with a brass band. Hollywood has fallen in love with Brass Monkey as well. The band was asked to be part of Seth Rogen's beautiful wedding a few years back. The band can also be seen in the hilarious wedding scene of The Five-Year Engagement. HISTORY BMBB originally formed to play a Fat Tuesday party in 1999 by Bay Area tuba man Jon Birdsong (Beck, Victoria Williams, Beth Orton) and drummer Kevin Stevens (Meow Meow, The New Morty Show). The success of this one-off show inspired BMBB's eight members to start writing and playing together on a regular basis while maintaining their sideman gigs with greats including Sly & the Family Stone, Santana, Boz Scaggs, Minnie Driver, KC and the Sunshine Band, Donovan, Thomas Dolby, Howard Tate, Pharoah Sanders, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Polkacide, The Rhythm Pigs, and even The Barnum and Bailey Circus. Word quickly spread about BMBB's high-octane, highly danceable nights, establishing them as favorites on the SF club scene, playing The Fillmore, Bimbo's 365 Club, Great American Music Hall, Elbo Room etc. Before long they were invited to play countless festivals such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, “New Orleans Day” at the Concord Pavilion with John Fogerty and Dr. John, Blues by the Bay (Eureka, CA), and the Rhythm & Roots Festival (Santa Rosa, CA). While the band's musical chops earned them the coveted slot performing an impromptu set with Bobby McFerrin at the SFJAZZ Festival in 2002, BMBB's universal appeal made the band the perfect choice for the San Francisco Giants to have the band play Opening Day at Pac Bell Park. In 2006, the band was asked to be part of a monumental night at the legendary Hollywood Bowl (Hollywood, CA.). The “New Orleans Night” bill included the long awaited return of the original members of The Meters, The Neville Brothers, and Brass Monkey. BMBB's debut CD, Live in Time and Space (2001 Weed Records), received national airplay on a wide variety of radio and the song “Saints” was the soundtrack for a 2002 Coca-Cola commercial. Their second full-length recording, The Highest Good, which features 75 minutes of wide-reaching writing, arranging and performing, and pushes the New Orleans brass band to the next level.