I can't even remember how I happened upon the Lucky Devils Band, but as I sit here writing this about a month after our NYE wedding, I can't imagine having had anyone BUT them play... the day. Honestly, this band is not just musically worth every penny, but one of the best and most professional vendors we worked with throughout our entire wedding planning process.
I'd gone to see them at a showcase in San Francisco, which I highly recommend doing if you're on the fence or even "band shopping." It's a great way to test the product and in the case of the Lucky Devils, their showcase was like a concert -- and in my case, it completely cemented that this was one of the best event bands I'd ever seen. I literally hired them that evening. It was one of the earliest decisions I made in the planning process (right after venue selection), and it was easily one of the best. I'd already been interacting over email with their manager, Jefferson, so I also knew that they were very professionally run, which also meant a lot to me. They'd also sent over a terrific demo CD (for free), which also had a very pro look and feel -- again, these things matter when you're talking about forking over several thousand dollars in a deposit to someone you may or may not ever meet in person. Anyway, all of this is to say that Jefferson/the band's responsiveness, handle on pre-wedding day logistics, and professionalism was a huge bonus to what I knew would be true: the day-of music kicked ASS.
I actually hired the Devils to provide the music at all three "junctures" of the wedding: the ceremony, where I had a keyboard and violinist; the cocktail hour, where I had a jazz trio; and the wedding reception itself, where I had an eight-piece band. The musicians for each component of the wedding were absolutely top-notch. One thing to know is that the total band is large - it's more like a band version of a theater company than a band, in the sense that the people you see at the showcase may not play your event. But rest assured that whoever does will know their way around their instrument. The band that played my event was wildly talented and a lot of fun. I can't say enough about the quality of the music and their ability to keep people dancing on what was a long (but really fun) night!
Finally, I'd be remiss not to note how accommodating the band was in incorporating live versions of songs that meant a lot to us as a couple. I had specific ceremony music requests, which were beautifully rendered, and we had the band play our first dance song (which they learned, and executed to perfection). The band went above and beyond to make our day as incredible as it was, and anyone who can should hire them. They're the best!