SODA Rocks!!!

Your band or DJ sets the tone for the night, and I believe Rob helped to make my wedding reception as perfect as it was. Guests are still raving about how great the band was, and even the manager at our venue said they had never had such a good band play there…ever. The band learned some new songs per our request, and followed our time line to keep the night on track. After watching the video, I was amazed to see Rob put down his guitar and pick up a trumpet-- he’s amazing! They could definitely be charging more, but they were quite a bit cheaper than the other 4 bands we considered.

Bethany G.
October 12, 2013

In SODA you'll find exactly what you need to get the party started. Formed in 2008, this all star line up has quickly become one of Chicago’s most booked and beloved bands. If you like variety in your musical experience, you’ll find that Soda captures the heart and soul of one of the most diverse play lists you'll find anywhere.

What's your flavor? Because you'll get everything all the time with Soda. From Johnny Cash to Cee Lo Green, and from John Mellencamp to LMFAO, this band can do it all. Three lead singers, each with distinctive styles, work to bring authenticity to all your favorite songs. The possibilities are endless. Classic Rock, 80's New Wave, Motown, Disco, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Alternative--the list goes on and on.

No matter what the occasion--weddings, corporate events, private parties--Soda has the tunes to get your guests on the dance floor and keep them there the whole night long. In 2008, Soda showcased at the Suburban Parks And Recreation convention and the enthusiastic response from the SPRA members (a standing ovation, supposedly a first) led to more bookings than any other band at the convention (Soda continues to be one of the most heavily booked bands in this market through the summer of 2012).

Soda has appeared at many famous Chicago locations including Arlington Park racetrack, and at U.S. Cellular Field for the White Sox. This past year Soda performed for The National Oral Health Conference at The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band has performed at the Renaissance Center in Schaumburg for the Community Bankers Association of Illinois, where they shared the evening with nationally recognized swing band The Cherry-Poppin’ Daddys (of “Zoot Suit Riot” fame). Soda has performed at Buckingham Fountain for The Annual Bank One Shamrock Shuffle road race, and in the Ballroom at Navy Pier for St. Viator High School’s Night Of The Lion Annual Fundraiser event. Most recently the band performed for CASA Kane County at The Q Center in St. Charles, where they shared the stage with local legend Jim Peterik (of Ides of March and Survivor fame).

In 2010, 2011, and 2012, Soda was awarded the Bride’s Choice Award at the Wedding Wire website in recognition as one of Chicago’s favorite wedding ensembles. Their past wedding engagements have taken them to such familiar locations as The Shedd Aquarium, The Morton Arboretum, St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, Medinah Country Club, and the famous ballroom at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago.

Soda is a full-time professional band and you can see them perform any weekend of the year at some of Chicagoland's favorite clubs. You can also check out more full-length audio on the Soda facebook page by clicking on the facebook logo on this website. Get a little taste of Soda and we’re sure you’ll be back for more!

	Rob Loar (Vocals, Guitar, Trumpet) From the deep baritone of Johnny Cash to the soaring falsetto of Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”, Rob has it covered. His smooth vocal style on country ballads and those quirky 80’s New Wave tunes make him truly the man of a thousand voices. His trumpet graces many Soda covers, including crowd favorites from Chicago and The Ides Of March. New for 2014, Rob brings his classic jazz stylings in the tradition of Miles Davis and Chet Baker to a combo setting available for cocktails or dinner at your private event. Look for the track entitled “Cocktail Jazz” on the Soda audio player.
Erik Swanson (vocals, bass guitar) A self-confessed (and now recovering) former bass guitar "shredder", Erik won several local bass contests early in his career. Those early pyrotechnics have since evolved into a style that is passionate yet still very precise. His playing has graced the stage with many favorite local artists, including Cathy Richardson and Scottish McMillian. Erik also displays his evocative vocal talents with Soda on covers by Tom Petty, Dave Matthews and John Mayer.
	Jeff Decker (drums, percussion, vocals) A drummer's drummer, Jeff brings his considerable chops and experience to the band. As a teacher at the area's premier drum shop "The Drum Pad", he stresses a substance over style approach that truly anchors the Soda rhythm section. And his fundamental sense of good taste has made him a "first call" session drummer for many of Chicago's finest jazz ensembles.
Mark Yde (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica) After touring the west coast for many years while living in Seattle, Mark returned to his native Chicago, and Soda is lucky to have him. He brings his rich “Whiskey Tenor” to songs by Bon Jovi, Kenny Loggins, and many other classic favorites, and his blues and country influenced guitar playing complete Soda’s All-Star lineup!
	Jennifer Schafer (Vocals) A native of Milwaukee, where she has been very active on the local club scene, Jennifer provides a lush, evocative, vocal presence to great classic tunes from Adele, K.T. Tunstall, Patsy Cline, Etta James, and others. Jen has studied jazz performance at the University Of Wisconsin in Whitewater, and is currently on staff at The Lake Geneva House of Music. Also this past year Jen celebrated her 10th year as the featured vocalist performing the national anthem at Miller Park for the Milwaukee Brewers.

To see more referrals please visit our review section on Wedding Wire
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Rob, Thank you so much for making our day truly special. The music, the timing, the emceeing, everything was flawless!! I hope you had as much fun as we did.

Thanks again, Pauline and Langston
October 26, 2013

Thank you so much for making our wedding reception amazing! The dance floor was packed and our guests were having a blast! We were sad we had to miss a few songs to take pictures. You were so great to work with and we are so happy we chose you to help us celebrate! Thanks again.

Mike and Sara Kazlauskas
July 5, 2013

Hi Rob,
We want to thank you so much for making Amber and Ben’s wedding the best ever. The ceremony music exceeded our expectations, and the cocktail hour and reception music were perfect and couldn’t have been any better.
Our dance floor was packed the entire reception. We heard nothing but wonderful comments from all of our guests about the band. You played a great mix of music which encouraged all of our guests to get to the dance floor and dance. You and your band brought great energy to the entire evening.
Rob, you were a pleasure to work with through the entire process, and we thank you and the band for traveling to Swan Lake Resort (in Plymouth, Indiana). Thank you again for making Amber and Ben’s wedding a big hit!

Al and Michele Weel
Parents of the Bride
July 20, 2013

Hi Rob,
We are still buzzing about the music from last night. Soda's performance couldn't have gone better in all aspects. You guys sounded dynamite in the Atrium room - harmonies, guitar and horn solos, chops, song pace, selection- the works. We loved the MC'ing and cocktail songs and we heard nothing but great things regarding the music and band. And, of course, thanks a million for letting Jack (Father of the Bride) and I sit in... it was an incredibly special moment for Katie and us. Soda complemented it perfectly-- please pass along our appreciation to your bandmates. It will be a pleasure to see a band like yours thrive, so please let us know how we can help promote your band in any way. And we definitely look forward to coming out to see you after we’re settled!

Cordially,
Katie and Carl
December 1, 2012

Hi, Rob
Thank you sincerely for making Julie and Neil's wedding the best party they and I (and based on their comments) our guests have ever attended. Your performance really did exceed our expectations, which were quite high based on your website demo. As I said at the wedding, you sounded even better than your website demo, which had really impressed us. Every song you performed sounded as good as the original recording artist. And special thanks for honoring my request for Tainted Love...I know it's not exactly a wedding song, but you did such an excellent rendition of that on your website demo that I had to hear it in person. And you didn't disappoint...you really gave an awesome performance!
I had spent many, many hours researching countless Chicago area bands, listening to LOTS on-line and via demo CDs I had requested, and gradually narrowed the field for Julie and Neil's review. Your sound stood out from all the rest and I thought you were the best but didn't give them my opinion beforehand. I remember when Julie called me excitedly saying, "Mom, I think we've found our band!" When I asked which one, she said "SODA!" I had not heard such excitement and enthusiasm from her about any of the other groups. There was no doubt you were the band for us. It was a really happy day for us when you told me you were available that day, and you gave me a very competitive rate. When I told Julie we had signed the contract she was thrilled. When she saw her wedding date posted on your website, that made it "really official" and that's when she knew she was going to have a great party.
Rob, you were a pleasure to work with, from beginning to end. We truly appreciated your flexibility in accommodating our requests. Whatever we asked or needed, you made it happen. From the moment Kristen amazed our guests with her dead-on rendition of Etta James' "At Last," you had a captive audience. They didn't even leave to get drinks, despite our open bar, because they were having way too much fun dancing! You know they loved you when they booed the announcement that the shuttle was there. Thanks so much for being an absolute professional who really knows how to deliver!
Kathy Petersen
June 23, 2012

-MORE KUDOS HERE-

Chicago White Sox
Arlington Park
Nordstrom’s
Bartlett 4th Of July Festival
The Signature Room at the John Hancock Bldg.
River Forest Country Club
Stone Manor in Lake Geneva
Mundelein Community Days Festival
Taste Of Wheaton Festival
Lockport Canal Days Festival
Church Of The Holy Spirit Family Festival
Highland Park Park District
The Glentown Center
Genoa Days Festival
Barrington Junior Women’s Club
Oak Brook Park District
Village Of Winnetka
Illinois Association of County Officials
Community Bankers Assc. Of Illinois
Valley Lo Country Club
Exmoor Country Club
Birchwood Country Club
Sunset Ridge Country Club
St. Andrews Country Club
Blue Chip Casino
Empress Casino
Epsilon
Metropolitan Industries
Petroleum Equipment Institute
Shogren Performance Marine
Connelly Electric
Northfield State Fair
Oak Park Park District
Renaissance Convention Center
Deerfield Park District
St. Donatus Feast And Carnival
Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Church
CASA Kane County
West Chicago High School Alumni
D.A. Blodgett For Children
Barrington National Night Out
Cary Park District
Lindenhurst Park District
Village Of Niles
Dundee Concert Series
Palatine Park District
Glenview Summer Concert Series
Villa Park Summer Nights

(click to enlarge)

Ain’t Too Proud To Beg / The Temptations
A Little Respect / Erasure
All Night Long / Lionel Richie
All Star / Smashmouth
All Summer Long / Kid Rock
Amazed / Lonestar
American Girl / Tom Petty
Ants Marching / Dave Mathews Band
At Last / Etta James
Beverly Hills / Weezer
Black Horse And The Cherry Tree / K.T. Tunstill
Blister In The Sun / Violent Femmes
Blurred Lines/ Robin Thicke
Boogie Nights / Heatwave
Brickhouse / The Commodores
Brown Eyed Girl / Van Morrison
Build Me Up Buttercup / The Foundations
California Gurls/ Katy Perry
Call Me Maybe/ Carly Rae Jepsen
Can’t Help Falling In Love / Elvis Presley
Cecelia / Simon & Garfunkel
Centerfold / J. Giles Band
Cheeseburger In Paradise / Jimmy Buffet
Chicken Fried / Zac Brown Band
Closer To Free / The BoDeans
Crazy / Patsy Cline
Dancing With Myself / Billy Idol
Dancing Queen / Abba
December ’63 (Oh What A Night) / Frankie Valli
Does Anybody Really Know / Chicago
Don’t Stop Believing / Journey
Dynamite / Taio Cruz
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn/ Poison
Faith / George Michael
Faithfully / Journey
Fins / Jimmy Buffet
Fly Me To The Moon / Frank Sinatra
Friends In Low Places / Garth Brooks
Footloose / Kenny Loggins
Forget You / Cee Lo Green
Get Down Tonight / KC & The Sunshine Band
Get Ready / Temptations
Good Lovin’ / Young Rascals
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) / Greenday
Good Times / Chic
Hang On Sloopy / The McCoys
Heaven / Los Lonely Boys
Have I Told You Lately / Van Morrison
Hey Ya / Outkast
Hey Jealousy / Gin Blossoms
Hey Soul Sister / Train
Hit Me With Your Best Shot / Pat Benatar
Honky Tonk Women / Rolling Stones
The Humpty Dance / Digital Underground
Hurts So Good / John Mellencamp
Ice Ice Baby / Vanilla Ice
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) / Four Tops
I’ll Be / Edwin McCain
I’m A Believer / Smashmouth
I Cross My Heart / George Strait
Inside Out / Eve 6
In The Midnight Hour / Wilson Pickett
I Can’t Get Next To You / The Temptations
I Feel Fine / Beatles
I Gotta Feeling / Black Eyed Peas
I Like To Move It / Crazy Frogg
I Love Rock And Roll / Joan Jett
I Melt With You / Modern English
I’m Yours / Jason Mraz
In The Mood / Glenn Miller
I Want You Back / Jackson 5
I Want You To Want Me / Cheap Trick
I Will Survive / Gloria Gaynor
I Saw Her Standing There / Beatles
Island In The Sun / Weezer
Jack & Diane / John Mellencamp
Jailhouse Rock / Elvis Presley
Jessie’s Girl / Rick Springfield
The Joker / Steve Miller
Jump Around / House Of Pain
Jump In The Line / Harry Belafonte
Just A Girl / No Doubt
Just Dance / Lady GaGa
Just Like Heaven / The Cure
Keep Your Hands To Yourself / Georgia Satellites
La Bamba / Los Lobos
Laid / James
Landslide / Stevie Nicks
Le Freak / Chic
Life Is A Highway / Tom Cochrane
Let’s Get It Started / Black Eyed Peas
Let’s Groove / Earth, Wind & Fire
Let’s Twist Again / Chubby Checker
Livin’ On A Prayer / Bon Jovi
Loser / Beck
Love & Memories / O.A.R.
Love Shack / The B-52’s
Mambo No. 5 / Lou Bega
Man, I Feel Like A Woman / Shania Twain
Mary Jane’s Last Dance / Tom Petty
Margaritaville / Jimmy Buffet
Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard / Paul Simon
My Prerogative / Bobby Brown
Moves Like Jagger / Maroon 5
Mustang Sally / Wilson Pickett
My Girl / Temptations
My Own Worst Enemy / Lit
One Love / Bob Marley
Only Wanna Be With You / Hootie & The Blowfish
Our Lips Are Sealed / The Go Go’s
Party Rock Anthem / LMFAO
Peppermint Twist / Joey D.
Play That Funky Music/ Wild Cherry
Pokerface / Lady GaGa
Pour Some Sugar On Me / Def Leppard
Pretty Woman / Roy Orbison
Proud Mary / CCR
Raise Your Glass / Pink
Rapper’s Delight / Sugar Hill Gang
Ring Of Fire / Johnny Cash
Roadhouse Blues / The Doors
Rock And Roll All Night / Kiss
R.O.C.K. In The USA / John Mellencamp
Rolling In The Deep / Adele
Santeria / Sublime
Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy / Big & Rich
Save Tonight / Eagle Eye Cherry
Say Hey (I Love You) / Michael Franti & Spearhead
Semi-Charmed Life / Third Eye Blind
Send Me On My Way / Rusted Root
Sex On Fire / Kings Of Leon
Sexy Back / Justin Timberlake
Shake It / Metro Station
Shake Shake Shake / KC & The Sunshine Band
Short Skirt Long Jacket / Cake
Should I Stay / The Clash
Slide / Goo Goo Dolls
Smooth / Santana
Somebody Told Me / The Killers
Still The Night / The BoDeans
Surfin’ U.S.A. / Beach Boys
Some Kinda Wonderful / Grand Funk
Starships/ Nicki Minaj
Stuck In The Middle With You/ Stealers Wheel
Summer Of 69 / Bryan Adams
Suspicious Minds / Elvis Presley
Sweet Caroline / Neil Diamond
Sweet Home Alabama / Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Chicago / Blues Brothers
Tainted Love / Soft Cell
That’s The Way I LIke It/ KC & The Sunshine Band
Tik Tok/ Ke$ha
Take My Breath Away / Berlin
Talk Dirty To Me / Poison
Toes / Zac Brown Band
Twist & Shout / The Beatles
Tubthumping / Chumbawumba
Unforgettable / Natalie Cole
Use Somebody / Kings Of Leon
Vehicle / Ides Of March
Volcano / Jimmy Buffet
Wagon Wheel/ Darius Rucker
Walk This Way / Run DMC
Wanted Dead Or Alive/ Bon Jovi
The Way You Look Tonight / Frank Sinatra
We Are Family / Sister Sledge
We Found Love / Rihanna
What I Got / Sublime
What I Like About You / The Romantics
When You Say Nothing At All / Ronan Keating
Wonderful Tonight / Eric Clapton
Wonderwall / Oasis
Word Up / Cameo
Your Love / The Outfield
867-5309 (Jenny) / Tommy Tutone
3 A.M. / Matchbox 20