Claire Orpeza
“One of the most unique and ubiquitous bands in the local music scene”
— Staten Island Advance
The Bandulos are a funky, tight-knit group of versatile young musicians from Staten Island’s South Shore. Described by the Staten Island Advance as “one of the hardest, most diverse working bands in local show biz,” the Bandulos have established themselves as an in-demand band, playing numerous community events, weddings, private functions, and regular bar and club gigs all over the Island as well as in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Upstate New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Hampshire.
Our sets are made up of the best classic funk, soul, and rock’n’roll, along with hits from the ’80s and ’90s, reggae jams, and even some hip-hop gems.
If you’re looking for an independent event band that’s memorable and different from the rest, we’re a great choice. We’re not a random group of musicians assembled by a big entertainment company. The core of the group comprises brothers and high school friends who have been playing together for years. We formed the Bandulos in the summer of 2006 and have been performing regularly ever since.
Planning a wedding or other event?
The Bandulos can provide music for every aspect of your event. We tailor our sets to fit each event, and we will work with you to accommodate your tastes, preferences and special requests. In fact, many special requests have gone on to become mainstays in our live sets.
The standard Bandulos lineup is a six-piece ensemble of male and female vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and two trumpets. We also work closely with a small network of other young local musicians. We have incorporated additional female vocals, saxophone, and extra keyboards on many occasions. If you want a bigger sound, consider a bigger group.
Ceremony
Our trumpet trio provides a distinctly majestic air to your wedding ceremony, with beautiful brass arrangements of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” (“Here Comes the Bride”), Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” Pachelbel’s Canon and other timeless processional and recessional music. Looking for something a little more traditional than a brass trio? We offer solo piano, too.
Cocktail hour
For cocktail hour music, a jazz combo can set the mood with instrumental and/or vocal versions of jazz standards. Alternatively, we have a vocals-and-acoustic guitar duo that puts a light and mellow spin on popular songs.
Recorded music
And if you’ve just gotta hear the original recording of a special tune, we can handle that, too. We’re not claiming to be professional DJs, but we certainly have lots of experience with MP3 playlists.
If you do want a real DJ in addition to the band, we have a few we can recommend — experienced DJs we’ve worked with in the past — and we can offer a package deal.
Please feel free to call or e-mail to discuss your musical needs. We are happy to provide references, discuss special requirements, and answer any questions you may have.
Other projects
For a time, the Bandulos were perhaps NYC’s only breakbeat band, playing heavy funk breaks and riffs for b-boy competitions and showcases, including a memorial event for the late b-boy legend Frosty Freeze, a member of the famous Rock Steady Crew, and several local events featuring members of the Fresh Style Rockers.
The group also served as a backing band for Milton Henry, the Jamaican-born veteran reggae and R&B singer who has recorded and performed with some of reggae’s biggest names, including Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Meditations. The band has also backed the Trinidadian pop duo 2NTRIGUE and local rappers Dan Bangz and Mike Krisp.
