Category: Function
This is exciting news!
Hot As A Pepper members John M. Hoyt, Chip McDonald and their spouses Pamela Hoyt and Debra Hoyt attended the big gala event at Huguenot Mill behind The Peace Center in Greenville, SC on Tuesday, July 11th after receiving notification the band was one of two finalists for the BEST MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT category.
Our invitations got us in and a entitled us to a few drinks each and some hour devours, allowing us to mingle and talk with friends.
We were up against stiff competition who has a very large following and is well established, so you can imagine our surprise when they called our name as the winner for Best of the Upstate – Best Musical Entertainment!
We appreciate each of you who supported, nominated and then voted for our band. That means a lot to us! And while an award in and of itself not a direct measurement of who is “best” or who is a success, it is an honor to have the support that we have had from you! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU a million times over.
We didn’t win this – you did!
Need a band for your wedding reception, corporate event, birthday bash, graduation, retirement or any other purpose? We want to talk to you! Contact us and lets make some booty wiggle!
Did you join our mailing list yet? You can do so HERE and we promise not to bombard you with more than a couple emails per month.
Hot as a pepper has done shows that were based around a theme before, but it’s been a while, so we are itching to get something fun going again. If you are planning a party or event where you believe a theme would be go over well, or you have a theme based event and you need the music, let’s talk!
Here’s some ideas:
- Disco – Everyone gets to channel John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. With tunes from Kool & The Gang, KC & The Sunshine Band, Earth, Wind and Fire, Donna Summer, Bee Gees, Commodores, The Tramps, etc.
- Funk – Let’s get funky, nothing but the funk. James Brown, Parlament, Rick James, Gap Band, even some Bruno Mars.
- 80’s – We’ll get you going with The Fixx, Bon Jovi, Guns & Roses, Rolling Stones, Hall & Oates, Ramones.
- 70’s – How about a show based around Aerosmith, Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Steve Miller Band, Even some Skynyrd?
- 60’s – We’ve done this show for a large event and it went over super! Temptations, McCoys, GFR, Van Morrison, Steppenwolf, CCR, Stones, Turtles, Beatles, Kinks, Beach Boys, Zombies. From mellow to harder rock.
- Beach, lake or shag party – A whole show you can chill to or shag to. By the pool, ocean, lake, or at your venue.
Our specialty is performing Variety Dance & Party Shows, however, with such a large repertoire, Hot As A Pepper can heavily weight any show we do towards a specific decade or genre.
With enough planning, we can create a show that specifically meets your needs. Custom tailored for you.
We can perform an entire album or every hit song from a particular artist. Imagine a night of a Stevie Wonder’s awesome music, or maybe the entire Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits!
We’re available for your function, whether it is a festival, wedding, corporate event, birthday, anniversary, graduation, or a block party… Or for your venue such as a bar, club or restaurant.
Just about any occasion or location is enhanced by live music!
Use our contact form or give us a call at 864.979.1224 if you want to plan the most awesome event ever! We’re not tied to Greenville SC or the Upstate with a chain, we can cover your event anywhere in the Southeast, or even the world. If you’ve got the money honey, we’ve got the time!
Hot As A Pepper enjoyed playing for the Upstate organization “InDwellings” last month! Let’s talk about why…
First of all, InDwellings has a goal to provide housing to those with special needs so that they can experience a HOME environment, not just a HOUSE. This is important because as you may be aware, our area has a large number of people who this will impact! These homes which InDwellings hopes to provide will not be some type of institutional dwelling, it will be a home filled with love. With the smell of baking cookies. Please read more about them on their website to get the latest and to make a contribution.
Back to the bash…. To help achieve their goal, they held an event called “Back to the Bash”, which was a 70s themed gala at the Thornblade Country Club here in Greenville. Hot As A Pepper was booked because we can provide several hours worth of music from just about any style or decade. For this event, we played a huge selection of music that was mostly from the 70s, peppered with a few from the late 60s and even one or two from the early 80s. Rock, Beach, Motown, Disco, Country, nothing was safe from us!
The gala coincided with the acquisition of InDwelling’s first house! It was a real celebration for sure! But it got exciting….
Delvin Choice who competed on “The Voice” was in the house, and him and our emcee, the multi-talented Michael Codgill joined our band on stage for an impromptu rendition of the James Brown classic, “I Got You (I Feel Good)”.
Here’s a clip from that….
This was a fundraiser, so Jake Ohlinger, with Ohlinger Auctions was in charge of auctioning off some outstanding items, such as an African Safari, and food packages, etc… That was a huge success, as I believe every item was sold!
Jake was so kind as to write the band this note:
Good Afternoon John & Hot As A Pepper,
Great Job! First Rate! Enjoyable! Job Well Done!
I want you and your band members to know that the InDwellings Organization was very pleased with your performance for the “Back to the Bash : Destination 1970’s” at Thornblade Club the evening of October 28th. You delivered great music and blended well with the group.
InDwellings and I wish you and your group continued success and fun in you business of entertainment and in your careers as musicians.
Sincerely and I look forward to working with you again.
Jake
Jake Ohlinger, BAS
Auctioneer
Ohlinger Auctions, LLC
200 Del Norte Road
Greenville, SC 29615
2jake@ohlinger.comcell (864) 918-7572
It’s exactly that kind of appreciation that makes our “job” worthwhile! Thanks Jake for believing in us!
If you have an upcoming event where you need fun music entertainment, won’t you please consider Hot As A Pepper? What can we do for you?
1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s themed event? CHECK!
A disco or funk event? CHECK!
Variety – covering several decades and styles? CHECK!
This makes us perfect for your high school or college reunion, your big fundraiser, wedding anniversary or wedding reception.
We play all around The Upstate (Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Seneca, Clemson, Simpsonville) and down to Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Savannah, also Atlanta, Knoxville, Charlotte, Asheville and beyond!
Let’s talk about how we can work together! CONTACT US…
Hot As A Pepper loves playing wedding receptions and parties! Why? Because we get to hang out with people who want nothing more than to have fun, and more importantly, we get to share in a very special moment in a couple’s lives!
One couple, Todd & Joy, had seen our band perform at one of our favorite venues to play (The Spot on The Alley in Seneca) and decided that we would compliment their wedding day well, so they booked us for the wedding reception.
Their wedding director, Dee, was incredible, tending to every last detail, and making the venue (The Lighthouse) look more beautiful than it ever had for other events we have played there.
My Daughter, Megan Hoyt, played piano for the ceremony music and afterwards, sang and played piano and guitar for the cocktail hour music. I even sat in with Chris Eller to accompany her on a couple songs.
Then, Hot As A Pepper fired up and played a few special songs we had learned for the bride and groom’s first dance and the father/daughter dance, etc…. After which we saw a non-stop dance party until the last chords rang out. During the breaks we kept the crowd going with some popular line dance songs that had been requested.
Mission accomplished! It was an amazing night for the band!
Yesterday, we received this posting from the newlyweds on our Facebook Page:
Todd Scharich > Hot As A Pepper:
Thank you to Hot As A Pepper for providing a memorable night of entertainment at our recent wedding at the Lighthouse! The dance floor was full all-night long, with great selections of all genres from beach music and through every decade including current hits. The band was a pleasure to work with and we look forward to seeing them again soon. Thanks to Chip, John and the rest of the band!
I guess I don’t have to tell you… This is the icing on the cake! When you can do what you love doing, such as your band playing for a wedding, and then get positive feedback that people loved your work, it just doesn’t get better than this!
Thank you to Todd & Joy for trusting in Hot As A Pepper to play for their wedding. We wish you two a long lifetime of happy times and great music! We want to play for your anniversary parties!
– John
John plays bass for Hot As A Pepper and writes nonsense such as this blog post and silly comments on the band’s facebook page. The band is available for your wedding reception, party or other event in the Greenville area and out a few hours. We can provide a smaller “core” band of 4 or 5 people, or we can add our horns and an additional vocalist to cover just about any style of music you may desire!
Need cocktail or dinner hour music? How about ceremony music? We can handle all that. Give us a call, or use this FORM to get info on how to book or hire Hot As A Pepper!
Hot As A Pepper had a blast at the first Simpsonville Bacon Labor Day Festival on September 1, 2014.
It was a scorching hot day, yet the crowds were quite pleasing and the number of cars entered in the car show were higher than one would expect.
Hot As A Pepper had worked up a song to play for a special person, Donna Hughey, who was going to front the band and sing it, but due to the heat and her health, it didn’t happen. Hopefully we will get another chance in the future. You see, Donna only has six months to live. You can find out more about her story HERE.
Here’s one of the tunes we enjoyed playing, the classic rock song, “Magic Carpet Ride”.
If you would like fun and family friendly entertainment for your festival, fair, corporate event or any other occasion, please let us know! You can use this form to reach out to us HERE.
We play within a few hours driving range of Greenville, SC. Including Atlanta GA, Asheville NC, Knoxville TN, Columbia SC, Charleston SC, Augusta GA, Myrtle Beach SC, Savannah GA, etc.
Hot As A Pepper has become a HOT commodity in the fraternity and sorority scene. Seems that students can really get into dance music like disco, beach, funk and rock which is exactly what we bring!
Why not book us for your next college event? We’re fun, we’re funky, and we’re ready to help you dance the night away. Call us today at 864-979-1224 or use the BOOKING link!
Here’s a recent sorority gig down in Clemson… On stage, the crowd was just about the same level when they sang along as our monitors! Seems like they were having a blast!
Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”
The Beatles “Twist & Shout”
We can handle all the entertainment needs so you don’t have to think about that part! From the stage, to the lights to the audio, to the music during breaks – we’ve got this!
We made it through 2013 and have 2014 well under way!
Hot As A Pepper saw a lot of fantastic gigs last year, and this year is looking as though we will see just as many with already a pretty full calendar through July!
Don’t worry, there are still plenty of opportunities for us to play at your Greenville / Upstate party or event, or even bar, club or restaurant! If you have something coming up and you don’t see it listed on our calendar, give us a call or use our contact form so we can get it locked in ASAP. For booking call 864-979-1224.
We’re adding shows, updating our ever expanding song list and also getting some new equipment in order to help bring the best experience to your event!
Good luck in 2014!
HOT AS A PEPPER vs DJ
What’s the advantage of hiring “Hot As A Pepper” over a DJ?
1. UNIQUE – there’s nothing unique in the music you already have on your iPod or CD. The artistry and talent that world class musicians bring to their performance is priceless, and becoming more rare all the time. Live solos on guitar, keyboards, bass and drums won’t happen with a DJ. Not to mention the Vocal interaction of a Front man during a song getting everyone involved with the song!
2. CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY – in real time, when they have to, live bands can extend, shorten, re-arrange, vamp, transpose pitch, modify tempo, and alter lyrics of songs to fit requests and respond to “spur of the moment” dance situations. Sometimes these tools literally save the day. DJ’s can’t do these things.
3. MEMORABILITY – a phenomenal, live performance will be talked about for many years, especially when they keep an entire audience engaged for hours. But who will remember a DJ after a month?
4. ENERGY & EXCITEMENT – most people rarely, if ever get to experience the raw energy and excitement of a sizzling, live performance up close and personal and when they do, they hit the dance floor with passion from the get go. But the DJ; standing at the table, rarely moves
5. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE – how entertaining is it to watch someone wearing headphones and pushing buttons?
6. COST – a DJ may save you money, or will he/she? You will likely spend $200-$750 for a DJ – But that’s just for one or two persons. A reputable live band will run $500-$1,500, but that’s for 4-5 talented musicians and a show! Comparatively, that’s a very good value.
7. REPERTOIRE – the Hot As A Pepper song list is adaptable – it allows us to pace the crowd and engage the crowd with relatable songs for the moment! A live band is not necessarily limited in what they can play. Everything we play, we make our own. If that means staying true to the original – we do that… but if it means dressing it up for fun, we can do that!
8. COMPLETE PACKAGE – if there’s any song(s) the band doesn’t currently do that you want, You can request it us to play on mp3/CD. So with our live band, you have absolutely everything!
Edited & re-used by permission from MBBand / LA & Michael Benson
IT’S PARTY TIME!
This is the time of year where parties abound! Whether it be for the occasion of a Family reunion of some sort, a sports team’s important game or the three biggest holidays of the year; there are more than your fair share of reasons to host an event that will certainly uplift everybody’s spirits and enhance the mood for all.
Now, I can’t begin to tell you what kind of food to serve as each type of soirée is suited best by a different type of menu. I can’t tell you who to invite because lets face it… only you know who you want there.
Neither can I tell you where you should have it. Do you have your own party barn? Back 40? Favorite watering hole? Perhaps you’d consider renting out a site.
Is this thing gonna be formal? Themed? What’s it’s purpose? Do we bring Dates or will cousins suffice?
I gotta tell you… You sure have stirred a lot of questions and I’ve only got one answer: Hot As A Pepper is the band you need to call! Between the professionalism of the musicians and the experience there isn’t anything this group of guys hasn’t seen. We can play it… Make it FUN… AND ensure that the poor soul that decides to miss your event will be sorry!
Contact us for the times and dates you have in mind before someone else does!! ….namely that person whom you weren’t going to invite – you think they’d invite you to their’s???
We play parties in the Greenville South Carolina area and all over the Upstate. If your event is big enough, we’ll travel to you!
Curtis Butler – Percussionist