About this vendor
The Cool Rulers are a dynamic, professional, and world-class cover band hailing from Brooklyn, NY. We specialize in Motown, soul, funk, disco, pop and more. Our videos and glowing reviews speak for themselves.
Comprised of close friends with genuine musical chemistry and a deep passion for the songs we perform, The Cool Rulers offer an exciting alternative to typical flashy top 40 event bands. Our members not only perform together in a variety of musical settings but also have impressive résumés, having toured and recorded with renowned artists like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, Lauryn Hill, Antibalas, Easy Star All Stars, MS MR, Broadway musicals, and many more.
If you're seeking a unique, soulful, and unforgettable musical experience for your wedding day, look no further than The Cool Rulers.
Learn more at: http://www.thecoolrulers.com
Details
Instruments
- Bass
- Guitar
- Keyboard
- Organ
- Percussion
- Piano
Music Genres
- Dance
- Disco
- Hip-Hop
- Jazz
- Pop
- R&B
Music Services
- Live Music
- MC Services
- Recorded Music
- Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
- Ceremony
- Reception
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.067 reviews
Review photos
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The cool rulers were the absolute smash hit of our wedding.
Their funky melodies made even the most modest of distant relatives get up and shake their booties on the dance floor.
From hava nagila to abba, their expansive playlist kept the party vibes sky high for our entire reception.
If you’re searching for a wedding band, stop looking and have the cool rulers set your party’s dance floor on fire.
The Cool Rulers were amazing! So easy to work with, great vibes and brought incredible energy for our wedding. They have a perfect mix of modern classics and older hits with an unmatched sound. Guaranteed to get your friends - and (grand)parents - dancing from the first note to the last song. We only wish the night had gone on forever! We were pretty hands off and encouraged them to do their thing as we loved their style and song list but I'm sure they would be able to accommodate if you have more specific requests. We had tons of people post (and during) our wedding asking about them and a number of people referred to them as the best wedding band they'd seen. Would highly recommend! The only caveat would be if you really want exclusively modern music/top 40 and/or don't love Motown, they might not be the band for you.
HIGHLY recommend - 1000/10
If you're looking for a band, this is your sign, The Cool Rulers are who you want!
They were the best decision we made for our wedding. Such incredibly talented people. We got more compliments on them than anything else that night.
We hope to see them again in the future!
If you’re reading this and wondering if you should book The Cool Rulers for your wedding the answer is absolutely!! They were incredible, easy to work with, and our dance floor was incredible!
What an amazing night of Music. From the ceremony, through the cocktails and dinner, and all through the night these wonderful and talented musicians were 100%. Thanks for playing our song(s)!!!! Highly recommend this ensemble! From planning to the big day, they were all ears and delivered! Thank you Cool Rulers!
We had such a blast with The Cool Rulers at our wedding. Charles was so easy to work with and we always felt like we were on the same page. We loved how they took our top ten songs and built out a curated set list that really fit the vibe and energy of the wedding. We had friends telling us it was some of the best live music they have ever seen. They’re the best!
How to begin to sing the praises of the best band there is? We’ll start with unsolicited reviews from our friends: “Would you be offended if I use your same band for my wedding? I feel like anything else would be a let down.” “What’s your band name? I have to follow them on Instagram.” “Pretty sure that was the best band I’ve seen in 20+ years of weddings.” We had our wedding at the Prospect Park Boathouse, and by 20 minutes into the first set the band had amassed a crowd of passers-by who stopped to watch and listen from a nearby bridge and stayed all evening long. Logistically, The Cool Rulers made life easy. We had a number of special requests for our wedding and The Cool Rulers approved them without hesitation and executed them flawlessly. This included learning 3 new songs, one of which was to be sung by 2 of our friends. Charles & Co coordinated with our friends to send them a demo and arrange time for a quick rehearsal, all of which culminated in a “performance” that seemed as if it had been rehearsed for months. The even accommodated a specific request for how they were set up, leaving us an aisle to walk down and filling it in during a short break later in the evening. The Cool Rulers are immeasurably talented, and the perfect complement to that talent is their ability to set the tone, ride the energy, and deliver an absolutely perfect evening of music and dancing. We could not be happier and could not recommend them more highly. A++++++
We hired The Cool Rulers to play at our Wedding in Newcastle, CA (outside of Sacramento) in June 2024 and we are SO happy we did. I first found them because the wedding coordinator we hired posted a video of them performing the Hora at a wedding she worked in Tahoe. We knew we would have the Hora at our wedding, too, so I immediately sent the video to my mom who agreed we NEEDED them! Charles was so easy to work with. He was responsive to me, and also took initiative to get in contact with my coordinate and the venue's coordinator. We also had a DJ/Emcee who he worked closely with. They performed our ceremony, cocktail hour, all of the first dance songs, Country Roads and the Hora to kick off the dance party. Despite it being about 105 degrees out, the music was perfect and the energy of the Hora in particular set the tone for so much of the night. After the wedding, one of our friends asked if the band would do a weekly gig at a bar we frequent - a pretty high endorsement if you ask me!
The Cool Rulers made an incredible day, exceptional. The music at a wedding is so important and they truly delivered. The song choice, energy, crowd interaction, everything. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. I doubt there’s a ‘wedding band’ anywhere in the world that can touch them for quality. They are a proper band who do weddings, not a wedding band. Hire them.
The Cool Rulers were absolutely amazing. Charles is extremely professional and responsive and was a pleasure to work with throughout the process. From the ceremony, to cocktail hour, to the reception the band had our guests moving and grooving the entire night. They have a wide range and play music for all ages. If you’re considering playing the original track for your first dance, don’t! Let them play it. Can’t recommend them enough.
When the Cool Rulers played at our daughter's wedding in East Hampton in June, the dance floor was packed the entire night and many friends and family members gave the highest praise to the band in their follow up texts and emails. The entire Cool Rulers experience was stupendous. The singers were phenomenal and the horn section was unreal. Behind the scenes, Charles was such a pleasure to work with. He was extremely responsive to emails, willing to engage about specific requests and is a lovely person. Music was a priority at this wedding and the Cool Rulers were our dream band!
The Cool Rulers were incredible! We are still getting texts about how good they were, weeks after our wedding. They were communicative and made the process easy. The band was energetic and SO talented. They kept our 200+ person on their feet from the second the music started to the final song. We would absolutely hire the Cool Rulers again in a heartbeat!
Charles and the Cool Rulers were professional, flexible and very talented. They coordinated with us and our venue seamlessly on logistics, killed the special songs they learned for our wedding and overall were an awesome band for our wedding night as everyone danced the night away. Would definitely recommend them for your wedding or special occasion!
I am so grateful to have worked with The Cool Rulers for my wedding. My husband and I got married in an unexpected blizzard and the Cool Rulers CRUSHED IT despite having to spend the night sleeping on couches because the roads were closed. Their energy and flexibility carried the night to levels beyond my wildest dreams - as the bride, despite the stressful weather, I credit the Cool Rulers with helping me to finally let go and dance the night away. Cannot recommend this band more highly. Truly the greatest wedding gift I could have given myself.
We could not recommend The Cool Rulers more highly!! They played our friends’ wedding, and as soon as we heard them, we knew they were the only choice for ours. Months later, our guests are still talking about how great they were! Truly the BEST dance floor energy - the singers and musicians are all incredible and the setlist (which we were very hands off with other than asking for some must plays / no plays) was impeccable. Charles was super responsive, helpful with all our questions, and made all of the (complicated) logistics work seamlessly. We paid up a bit for the maximum number of musicians and highly recommend if your budget allows.
We can’t say enough amazing things about the Cool Rulers. Ahead of the wedding, Charles was incredibly responsive and worked with us to get a vibe of the music we were looking for, alongside a few requests we had. Let me tell you that I’m happy my wife and I didn’t orchestrate the set lists because the Cool Rulers put it together perfectly! They took some of our must plays and created a perfect set list that had the whole wedding on the dance floor the entire reception. Our guests still talk about how the Cool Rulers were the best wedding band they ever heard. We’ve heard this from dozens of guests and felt the same. Your guests will be raving and you’ll have the dance party of your life with the Cool Rulers. Thank you guys again!
The Cool Rulers are the best wedding band around, there is no one even close. They were extremely easy to work with, and completely tore the house down. If you are looking for a band to make your event special, they're the ones.
Truly couldn't ask for better....The Cool Rulers were a highlight of our wedding and exceeded every expectation we had. Their sound is unique, upbeat, and their song selection is incredible - our guests are still raving about them. Charles made the process super easy and was very patient. He ensured that everything was taken care of from the ceremony (acoustic guitar, microphones and audio equipment for our officiant), to the cocktail hour (a trio), and reception (full band). We feel so lucky that this talented group was available to help us dance the night away. If you're looking for a band that hits all the right notes (literally) and sets the mood for an unforgettable event, look no further.
Charlie was amazing to work with, super flexible, always responsive and the band made the wedding very fun, certainly one of the aspects our guests commented on long after the big night!
THE BEST wedding band ever!! A humid, steamy September wedding couldn't keep folks off of the dance floor when this band was playing. Our guests raved about how awesome they were and commented, "they were pure power!" I wish we could have another wedding just to hear them play again. Could not recommend them more highly!
...and if you do hire them, please invite us to your wedding so we can enjoy them again!
The Cool Rulers blew us away at our wedding. If you are considering a band to play at your wedding or another special event, we HIGHLY recommend you hiring the Cool Rulers! They are so talented, and they work incredibly well together making for the most seamless, natural, fun, and pleasing productions we have experienced at a wedding. We and all our guests are still gushing over our night of dancing, and it is all thanks to these incredible musicians! So BOOK THEM if you haven’t already
We have consistently heard back from guests that they were the best wedding band they’ve ever seen. Charles, their manager, is very easy to work with as well. He was so helpful throughout the process. We could not have asked for a better band and manager to work with!
We were looking for a band who can play Motown and modern songs. Cool Rulers played everything to perfection with soul! The Rulers were so entertaining, sharply dressed and positive. The dance floor was full our entire wedding, which was the ultimate goal :).
Also, working with Charles to book the band, go over songs, first dance, and all the other details was pleasant and straightforward.
Highly recommend. ... Only if you love soulful, entertaining, packed-dance floor-type weddings.
From the first chord to the last dance, The Cool Rulers were the pulse of our wedding. Their presence was more than just musical; it was the very essence of the joy and celebration we felt throughout our special day. Not only are they immensely talented musicians who set the perfect tone, but their energy and engagement were also unparalleled, ensuring our guests had a phenomenal time on the dance floor.
What's more, working with Charles was an absolute pleasure. His responsiveness and helpfulness in the planning stages made all the difference. He was accommodating and attentive, ensuring that the band's performance was tailored to our tastes and the evening's atmosphere.
Weeks have passed, yet the buzz from our guests about the band's performance hasn't faded. The Cool Rulers didn't just play music; they created a vibrant experience that was a significant highlight of our wedding. For any couple in search of a band that will not only entertain but also enhance the magic of their wedding day, The Cool Rulers, with Charles at the helm, are the perfect choice
If you’ve been searching for a wedding band, listening to demo after demo, stop here! You’re never going to find a group of musicians more talented, collaborative and, for lack of a better word, cool than The Cool Rulers. Every member of the group is a gigging musician, who’ve likely played with one of your favorite artists — Natalie Merchant, Antibalas, Japanese Breakfast, Lauryn Hill, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, Easy Star All Stars, Fun, Bleachers, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and several artists on Daptone Records — and lead their own incredible groups, running the gamut from Afrobeat to Soul, Pop, Funk, R&B and Experimental Jazz.
From our first conversation with Charles, The Cool Rulers’ main point of contact and drummer for LA-based events, we were amazed by the group’s professionalism, flexibility, and ever-growing playlist. You should feel comfortable that Charles will respect your “must plays” and “please don’t plays.” But also trust that the group knows how to build a playlist that will ensure guests of all ages will be on the dancefloor all night. In terms of wedding staples, you’ll never hear better live interpretations of Motown standards, “Shout” or “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” But what really sold us on The Cool Rulers was their repertoire of deep cuts across disco, funk and soul, their Afrobeat cocktail hour outfit, and ability to arrange and learn three songs of our choosing, including interpretations of Boney M’s “Rasputin” and “Sunny” that threw the crowd into a complete frenzy. Oh, and they do a phenomenal Hora.
Every single guest was blown away by The Cool Rulers and sad to see the night end, as they closed out the evening with Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.” We ended up booking the full 10-piece with a 5-piece for the cocktail hour and a solo guitar for the ceremony, and we’re so glad that we did.
To this day, our guests can’t stop talking about the music at our wedding. Thank you Cool Rulers for a night we’ll never forget!
The Cool Rulers were an incredible part of our wedding experience! Our guests were blown away by their talent, energy, and soul. They even learned a goofy song for us and were great sports about our unusual request. Every dance floor we've been on since hasn't compared to our wedding. If you're wondering if they're worth the expense, they DEFINITELY are!!
The Cool Rulers were absolutely amazing, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to others. We saw them perform at a friend’s wedding and knew we had to book them for our own. They kept the party going all night and were extremely professional and great to work with. We got so many compliments about them the day after!
Going with the Cool Rulers was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day!
After what felt like forever of us searching through a sea of generic or sometimes cringey wedding bands, a friend of ours who works in the music industry highly recommended the Cool Rulers to us. Listening to their demo and talking with Charles, we felt they perfectly fit the soulful, classic, and fun vibe we were looking for, and we had such an incredible time going through their song list and picturing our Day Of come to life.
Leading up to the event Charles made coordination such a breeze and was always super responsive and helpful in talking out all our options and decisions to be made. He worked through our song requests and helped perfect the order of our reception with us to make sure we got every detail just right. On the day of, Aaron, the bandleader, was very engaged with us and helpful so that everything would come out the way we envisioned. The band provided music during the cocktail hour and created such a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for our guests to unwind a little, mingle, and catch up amongst all our friends and family. During the reception, they turned it up and created a more incredible atmosphere than we could've imagined. Through kicking the party off or slowing things down for dances with our parents, they kept everyone out on the dance floor all night long. So many of our guests would not stop raving throughout the reception (and whenever we've seen them since) about how they couldn't believe how great the music was. We even had a few guests reach out for their info to use them for future events.
In the beginning of the planning process, Charles said what set them apart was that they were a real band with real chemistry and that really was so evident during our whole event. The Cool Rulers help create so many special memories for us on the dance floor and we couldn't have imagined having any other band help celebrate on such an amazing night.
Don’t look further - just hire The Cool Rulers for your wedding! We listened to many demos online for bands and it was obvious just from that, that The Cool Rulers were the best.
They literally made our wedding - we had hotel guests not at the wedding lurking to listen to the band and the entire wedding including my 92 year old grandma was up on the dance floor all night.
The musicians are fantastic and I can’t rave enough about them!
Booking them was smooth and easy - leading up the wedding we got to make a must play and do not play list and any special requests for the band to learn.
We used The Cool Rulers as the band for our wedding reception and they were AMAZING. Getting the music / band right at our wedding was one of our top priorities and I have to say, the entire process was enjoyable and smooth - Charles was extremely responsive and fun to work with and all the band members were so so talented. They have a really solid song list to pick from - there are so many great song son there that was hard to pick our top selections, but we also found that Charles was able to really match the “vibe” we were going for based on the song list we sent through to him. So the entire set list was absolutely perfect and fabulous. They also played live music for our processional / recessional as well as our cocktail hour, which was great - I really liked that we were able to to have live music throughout the wedding afternoon, and it was perfectly tailored to each moment (acoustic guitarist for the ceremony, jazz trio for the cocktail hour). I know that our wedding planners also found the band really easy to work with. I HIGHLY recommend The Cool Rulers if you want a fantastic, energetic band who knows how to get your guests to boogie down on the dance floor!!
10/10, would recommend to anyone!!! The Cool Rulers were amazing from start to finish. Charles was prompt, detailed, and so organized with all the planning that went into the day. I could tell from the start I would be in capable hands and that everything would run smoothly. The band played a trumpet version of La Vie en Rose as I walked down the aisle, provided upbeat cocktail hour music, and then completely tore the roof off the place for the reception. The band was the most complimented part of my wedding, by far. Every song was a smash, it was hard to find time for a break! We have already been brainstorming a way to hire them again just so we can relive the fun we had on the dance floor. If you're considering booking the Cool Rulers, it will be one of the best decisions you'll make in the wedding process.
They were incredible!
If you do anything at all for your wedding, book a band. And when you are deciding on a band, without question, book The Cool Rulers. It will be the HIGHLIGHT of your entire day - both for you and your guests. The Cool Rulers cultivated the exact vibe I was looking for on my wedding - lively, upbeat, everybody dancing, and everybody having FUN. Their performance was the biggest compliment we received from our guests, and I just couldn't agree with everyone more. They got everyone up and moving, the songs truly related to every generation, and they're sound, chemistry and overall vibe on stage was the best decision we made for our wedding. They even learned a few songs not in their repertoire that were particularly meaningful to me, and it just added such a special touch to the whole vibe. Look no further, just book The Cool Rulers. You'll be the standout wedding of the year.
The Cool Rulers are the ideal wedding band. They are the perfect combination of legitimate, incredible musicians who will nail every song (never cheesy, always amazing), while also having a complete mastery of weddings/events, checking all the necessary boxes in terms of logistics, schedule, communication, and delivering on your specific needs. It could not have been easier and stress free, and we’ve gotten hundreds of compliments from our guests since. You quite literally cannot do better than The Cool Rulers — book them immediately!
Brought the House Down!
The Cool Rulers were 1000% fire. They really put on a fantastic performance and had our whole wedding dancing all night long. We can't recommend them strongly enough. -Eliza & Matt
The Cool Rulers brought down the house at our Fall Wedding in NYC!!. We can't recommend this band enough. They were flawless to work with, easily customized their set for our special dances, and accommodated all of our special requests. We received tons of compliments, many of which were some variation of "best band at a wedding ever" or "this is NOT a wedding band, they should be touring"! Thank you to the Cool Rulers for being such an awesome part of our most special day.
The Cool Rulers are amazing!!!! My husband and I both worked in the music industry, so having a fantastic band was extremely important to us. We hired The Cool Rulers and couldn't be happier. I lost count of how many people at the wedding told me they were the best wedding band they had ever seen. 10/10 recommend, hire them!!
The Cool Rulers were undoubtedly the highlight of the wedding. People just adored them- every song was simply magical. They brought energy and love to every person who attended our wedding. And honestly my friends were just loosing their minds… We loved it just every song. Every musician was just excellent- I will highlight the vocalists who where COMPLETELY exquisite. If we could give them 100 stars we would. Charles is great to work with -easy and communicative and flexible. Look no further- this is an easy decision, just hire them.
Stop reading this review and just go hire The Cool Rulers. They performed at our wedding at The Wythe Hotel and blew us all away. All we heard all night was "WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS BAND? THIS BAND IS AMAZING." And they really are. We worked with Charles in the months leading up to the event, and he was kind, responsive, and organized. He took all of our ideas and preferences and crafted an unbelievable set list that had us saying "this is my favorite song!" at nearly every tune. He also worked with us to make it possible for me to perform my own jazz song with the band, which was a dream come true. The next time we have an event and need to hire a band it WILL be The Cool Rulers.
After more than 2 years of COVID party planning and replanning, The Cool Rulers helped us pull off an IRL wedding at long last!
Charles assembled an absolutely excellent group of musicians and setlist for an 8-piece Bay Area iteration of the band, and helped us with moral (and emotional!) support along the way. We loved it all, and spent the evening out on the dance floor for every minute of the live sets.
The Cool Rulers really brought a special energy to the evening and our friends and family were delighted to be together and in the presence of live music after so many months without. Top tier musicians, great set lists, professional and easy to work with – 1000% worth the investment.
All we can say is WOW - The Cool Rulers were such a hit at our wedding! They are so extremely talented, and kept the party going -- they had even the quietest and calmest of guests dancing, and the dance floor was packed all night long! Even 3 weeks later, we have guests telling us it was the best wedding band they've ever heard! Charles, the band manager, was such a pleasure to work with, and helped incorporate all of our notes and requests. They had an awesome setlist and worked up amazing versions of the additional songs that we had requested. We can't recommend them enough!
I cannot begin to tell you how spectacular the Cool Rulers were. My partner and I cared a lot about the band and spent agonizing months looking for the perfect fit. We found the Cool Rulers online and had a couple calls with them before locking them in for our Wedding in September. They absolutely crushed it - learned 3 songs at our request, and kept everyone at our wedding on the dance floor the entire night. Our planner told us she has never such a high % of guests dancing - our dance floor was not nearly large enough.
At least three guests have already asked for the Cool Rulers contact info for their own weddings/events. They are amazing - hire them.
CALL OFF THE SEARCH - the greatest wedding band in the history of wedding bands has FINALLY been found.
Acting as gatekeeper for The Cool Rulers, Charles was especially wonderful to work with. His correspondence was timely, informative and kind. We felt very well taken care of and immediately at ease with his recommendations and expertise at elevating the music, atmosphere and how to maintain overall tone for the night. Please trust this man and let him do what he does, that is the real magic of TCR. After exchanging some information about us, our preferences and requests, Charles took care of the rest. He laid out the playlist, customized transitions and even talked us into a few of the songs we put on our do not play list - HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING - so, don't fret and take the leap with him.
TCR began warming up during our first look/photos when no one else was around and we were so impressed and delighted that while we knew we made the right choice - our expectations had already been exceeded.
Our guests hit the dancefloor before dinner was served and our night erupted in a crowd wide chant of "ONE MORE SONG" followed by "WE WILL PAY THE FINE" (when made aware of the noise pollution restrictions in the Catskills LOL.)
We are eternally grateful for an exceptionally unforgettable night, made that much better with your talent, kindness, professionalism and sense of humour. Our guests have never stopped talking about "The Band," so thanks for making us look so good.
Two lifelong Cool Ruler fans,
Jac + Jules
Our our wedding night we were thrown a massive curveball when our wedding tent flooded after a massive rainstorm. Without missing a beat, the Cool Rulers rallied with us as we moved the party into the living room of the hotel. They were great sports in a tough situation and our guests all had an absolute blast rocking out with them. They also custom learned an intro song for our wedding party which was a great touch. The band is incredibly talented with old school and new school songs and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great reception party!
The Cool Rulers were absolutely incredible and we are SO happy we found them!!! We had a number of musicians at our wedding and quite a few older family members who generally don't dance. By the end of the night there wasn't a SINGLE guest who hadn't danced or made a comment to us about how fantastic the band was!! For weeks after the wedding, guests have been reaching out to us and telling us what an amazing time they had, thanks to the fantastic music. The Cool Rulers were the best band we could have hoped for and were super easy and friendly to work with. They were flexible and helpful and we would recommend them to anyone and everyone!! They MADE the party. Thank you, Cool Rulers!!
The Cool Rulers made our wedding. They were the absolute best band we've ever heard at a wedding and our guests were bummed when the wedding ended. We would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a real party at their wedding.
To you recently-engageds looking for your wedding band: your search is over. Just hire The Cool Rulers.
From our first phone call, when Charles explained the band’s background and we discovered a mutual love of Hailu Mergia, I knew this band would get what we were after: a great time, with a little something special and unusual. The band invited us and several couples to attend a practice set, which they absolutely blew through, and we hired them shortly afterwards. Working with the band was straightforward: Charles took point on communication, asking what we liked, helping us pick the right number of band members (we chose 8, which was perfect for our venue), and sending us a song list to mark our must-plays and don’t-plays. He also suggested an Afrobeat cocktail hour, a special talent of this band, which was so fun — we highly recommend this option!
My wife and I wrote our own ceremony, including several weird music cues that the band nailed perfectly, even learning a song for our processional. Charles attended our venue walkthrough and rehearsal to practice these cues, even though the band had another gig that evening. And the band provided sound equipment for the ceremony itself, which worked flawlessly — unlike many weddings I have attended, in our ceremony, there were no microphone issues.
When it was time to dance, the band absolutely destroyed their two sets. Many, many of our guests commented that this was the best band they’d ever heard, not just at a wedding but at any event, and asked for details to hire them. They also sounded fantastic, with great levels and control — they were never overpowering or too loud to hold a conversation, but they were energetic enough to keep everyone moving. In fact, one of my favorite memories of the whole day was being on the dance floor, looking to the dinner tables, and realizing that every single seat was empty. The Cool Rulers had every single guest on the floor, almost two hours into their performance! I’ve never seen this at a wedding, and I was so proud to have it happen at ours.
The Cool Rulers live up to their name: they are very cool, and they do rule. Stop looking now, and hire this band.
My wife and I highly recommend The Cool Rulers for your wedding. Our dance floor was brimming from start to finish and our friends and guests are still raving about the band (as are we). They are a seriously talented group of musicians with a versatile playlist and the ability to read the room perfectly.
They were accommodating with our song requests and even helped us play music through their speakers before the ceremony and during breaks.
Our experience with the booking aspect was also great. Charles and Aaron are responsive, helpful and professional.
We’re so grateful for the memory The Cool Rulers gave us!
My husband was adamant from the start of wedding planning that we had to have a live band at our wedding. I did a lot of research online and when I came across the Cool Rulers and listened to their music...I was sold. There was nobody else that compared to them. It also took 0 convincing for my husband to be on board. He loved them. Charles was very easy to work with and so kind. He listened to some of the ideas we had for music for the day of the wedding and even threw out some really great suggestions that we hadn't even considered. The Cool Rulers played acoustic guitar at our ceremony, jazz at our cocktail hour and then we had the full band for the wedding reception. THEY WERE INCREDIBLE!!! They blew us away. Not only do they all have great personalities...the instrument solos, the women hitting those high notes, walking into the crowd singing to our guests...our friends and family went nuts over it. They were so fun and to this day whenever our wedding gets brought up everyone talks about the Cool Rulers being the best band they have ever heard at a wedding. I only wish we could throw a party all the time and have them play for us! I would 100% recommend them.
We had a fabulous experience having the Cool Rulers play our wedding at Liberty Warehouse this past May!! They brought down the house and had the entire wedding party (more than 200 people) up on the floor dancing the entire evening. There were so many people on the floor that we almost ran out of room!
They coordinated a few custom songs that we requested and played during our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Throughout the planning process Charles was always there to answer questions and offer suggestions. We have heard so many rave reviews from our friends and family that it was an unforgettable band with the best music. We could not have asked for a more perfect band to play our wedding and will be recommending the Cool Rulers to all of our friends!
Thank you Cool Rulers from making the evening so special and allowing the two of us to dance the night away as we celebrated the first night of marriage!
They are the best ever. Period. The band will keep you on the dance floor all night, which is exactly what we wanted. Beyond that: Charles is an AMAZING vendor: responsive, responsible, flexible, generous, and thoughtful throughout the whole process. Everyone at our wedding agrees that they were the best part, especially my husband and me.
Quite simply, the band you want for your wedding. The musicianship and sound, energy, along with professionalism and good communication every step of the way, made our experience with The Cool Rulers a 10 out of 10. Choosing a wedding band seemed like a big task at first, but after sitting in on a Cool Rulers rehearsal, we knew this group was the one for us. The band is a unique mix of musicians that don't only play weddings. They are a musical group of players with interests and abilities in different genres and spaces, making them experienced musicians, not just a typical seasoned wedding band that plays the same music every week. Leading up to the wedding, communication was great, and we felt confident in the group's preparation. On the day of our wedding, we couldn't have been happier. The ceremony music was perfect, and the party was truly memorable. We wanted high energy, recognizable tunes for all generations present, and a get-on-your-feet dancing situation. All of it happened. We chose the 10-piece band for a full sound and are super glad we did. The most common responses we got about the party after our weekend were "that was the best wedding band I've ever heard... actually one of the best groups period" and "what was the name of that band?" As one of us is a professional musician and we had a lot of musicians and artistic people at the wedding, our standards and expectations were high. Everything about The Cool Rulers exceeded our hopes. Hiring a 10-piece wedding band is a substantial expense, but when they are this great, it's worth every penny. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
All I can say is - WOW! These guys are the real deal. My husband and I are both musicians, so we wanted an epic band for our wedding. The Cool Rulers are exactly that. Their talent and professionalism is through the roof. You seriously won't find a better wedding band than this crew. Also, their song repertoire is FULL of fan favorites, so get ready, because you'll have to drag your guests off the dance floor.
Thanks for an amazing night. You made our wedding a dream come true!
The Cool Rulers are an extremely talented group of vocalists and musicians. We've continued to recieve positive reviews from guests months later. There's literally nothing I can think of, from our very first communication, to payment, to additional communication about integrating sound, to picking songs, to performing, in the entire process of working with this vendor that was a headache. They were a very seamless, flexible, and easy vendor to work with and, when you're planning a wedding it's what you want. Not to mention their very fair and reasonable pricing. I would highly recommend to anyone.
The Cool Rulers were amazing. We fell in love with them at a friend's wedding and they made ours incredibly special. The music was fantastic but they were also incredibly communicative, flexible and fun to work with. Couldn't recommend any more highly.
This is THE band. My husband and I (and most of our guests) are musicians, so the music throughout the night was a very important part of our wedding. Not only have The Cool Rulers mastered the flow/energy of the party, but they're musically spot on. The instrumental solos and vocal chops are top-of-the-line. Bring a change of shoes, because you will be on the dance floor all night long.
Charles was so easy to work with—even our coordinator and venue told us how much they loved working with him. The band can easily tailor its size to fit the room and your budget, and they provide great options for ceremony/cocktail hours if needed.
Hire this band, and please invite us.
There aren't enough words to describe how thankful we are that we found The Cool Rulers. My now husband and I got married in the Catskills at a tiny inn called, Foxfire Mountain House. We knew we always wanted a large instrumental band, but were disappointed in what we had seen online. The general manager at our venue recommended The Cool Rulers. They had played there a few times prior, and the GM could NOT stop boasting about how fantastic they were. Thankfully, the moment we checked out their website we knew we had found our band! First off...Charles, the manager is just the sweetest! He's extremely thorough and timely in his correspondence. During a time that can feel overwhelming chaotic, I knew I could remain calm knowing I was in good hands. The day of the wedding the band showed up early and got right to work setting up. Without a doubt, they were the highlight the entire evening. From the ceremony solo guitar, 3 piece jazz cocktail hour, to the 10 piece band reception...boy did they NOT disappoint! Even when there was technical difficulty with the venue's circuits, the band did not miss a beat! They simply MacGyver'ed what they had to, and got right back to it. Their timing and execution with the event staff was flawless. Their rendition of our first dance to Neil Young's - "Harvest Moon" was unforgettable. The interaction they had with our guests was indescribable! Everyone was letting go on the dance floor, even my 92 year old Grandmother! They even took the time to throw in little surprises throughout. Like re-doing the song I walked down the aisle to, and an insane cover of the Talking Heads - "This Must Be the Place," I had asked for, and wasn't sure they could fit into the set with timing (I had asked for a few extra songs). My husband and I nearly lost it when we started hearing them perform it! One of my favorite memory's of the night, but too many to name. So to say that we were pleased with The Cool Rulers is an understatement. We knew we were the lucky ones in finding them. If you have the opportunity to experience them at one of your events, DO NOT HESITATE because that's what it is...an experience. They're smooth, and fun, and real, and chill, and everything you dream about when you dream about your wedding band. Just good juju. We will remember them fondly and we hope they feel the same.
The Cool Rulers were an AMAZING wedding band and one of the highlights of our wedding. Could not recommend more highly!
The Cool Rulers really made our wedding. The music was great, the band was super fun, and the selection of songs was perfect. They had the dance floor full the entire reception and our guests are still raving about how good they were. Charles (the drummer/manager) is the best. He was super easy to coordinate with and provided great suggestions for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. I will be recommending them to anyone looking for a band for any event in the future.
When my (now) wife, Liz, and I began planning our wedding, the most important factor at the forefront of the operation was music. We knew that we had to find a band that would A) bring the party and keep our guests dancing, B) successfully execute "A" without relying on Top 40 tunes and cliché wedding band repertoire, and C) satisfy the discerning ears of the musicians in attendance. With so many wedding and event bands in the NY Metro area, I could see why wedding planning could quickly become overwhelming for some. When Liz came across The Cool Rulers on Facebook, they very quickly piqued our interest.
With their sound and overall vibe grounded in soul, funk, Motown, and rock and roll, and with a setlist built around classics by Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin, The Cool Rulers provided entertainment that kept ALL of our guests on the dance floor throughout the night. The added value of TCR was obvious with killer performances of selections for our first dance, her dance with her father, and my dance with my mother. Their performance of Ray LaMontagne's "You Are The Best Thing," a long time anthem for mine and Liz's relationship and the tune for our first dance, made the night extra special.
It was an absolute pleasure working with Charles through the planning stages. He took the time to meet with us, discuss our needs and expectations for the big day, and answer all of my questions that likely exceeded the expected questions from clients (mostly things about sound reinforcement, music theory, and other points that gigging musicians occasionally consider). Charles, like the rest of the band, is a true professional musician. The combined resumé of the group is impressive - they're all true pro musicians. I highly recommend that you check out their website; individuals in this band have worked with major artists.
The Cool Rulers are an INCREDIBLE wedding band. They do not rely on an elaborate stage show (like some other wedding bands), or on Top 40 hits (though they have the musicianship to play anything, I'm sure). They were instrumental to the incredible event that was our wedding and they did so with a killer setlist, a fantastic mix for the room at our venue, fair pricing, and with a level of professionalism that any client would appreciate.
Julia and I have nothing but the best things to say about these guys. Let's start with Charles, the bandleader, who is simply the man. He couldn't be a cooler, nicer guy, and could not be easier to work with. He is extremely laid back and friendly while at the same time being super communicative, responsive, clear and professional. He instills a confidence (and a calmness) from the get-go that it's gonna be an absolute party, and delivers through to the last moments on wedding day. Our wedding was in a barn-type venue that tries to have certain restrictions on live bands, but when we booked The Cool Rulers, Charles did an excellent job of communicating with the venue and ensuring everything would run smoothly, quelling any concerns right off the bat.
I am a trumpet player myself, with an observant/critical ear for music, and very personal experience in this type of music having played in a funk/party type of band. As the video content out there on the web is sparse for these guys, please take my word and the word of every other reviewer that these guys absolutely bring it and put on as good a party as anyone! This band is tight and hardworking as can be. All of the members are top notch Brooklyn/NYC musicians (BK being one of the true groove capitals!), with an innate yet extremely tasteful bent toward funky, groovy party music. And not only are they cream of the crop talent but they legitimately perform and rehearse together year round (and I know they work/have worked together in other projects), so their chemistry is genuinely palpable and you can really tell the difference this makes. The cover performances they deliver are nuanced and detailed and have that 'next level', tight feel to them. It's almost impossible not to be up dancing to these guys, at all moments they are playing, and this was most evidenced by the fact that our entire 200+ person wedding was up off their feet and the dance floor was absolutely packed throughout the night. And I am not exaggerating! The level and amount of dancing and just all around fun party vibe exceeded our already high expectations. Everybody we talked to had EXTREMELY high praise for The Cool Rulers, and the band was consistently the first thing people would bring up upon re-hashing the night.
It's also worth mentioning that compared to other high quality bands we looked at, The Cool Rulers stood out as providing a very fair pricing structure. Wedding bands are not cheap of course, but some are truly exorbitant in what they charge and Charles, as is his MO, keeps that aspect very tasteful and reasonable. Plus, they will travel well outside the confines of NYC (our wedding was in Middletown, CT) and will specifically learn and rehearse 3-4 songs of your choosing. For a very sensible package they'll also provide top quality music through the three aspects of the wedding -- from a duo or trio for the quieter, more exposed ceremony, to a small, jazzy combo during cocktail hour, and ultimately to the 8 or 10 piece world-class band for the reception. We couldn't have chosen a more fun, quality band for our wedding and we couldn't be happier with our decision.
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