Live Music Is Better.
- Neil Young
Watch / Listen

The Essentials

We do Soul, R&B, and Funk. Because live music feels good.

Craft

We're talented professional players with music degrees and a lot of chemistry. We've been successful for a long time, and it's because we're serious about work ethic and professionalism.

Passion

We do this because it's what we love and because we're addicted. You watch Neil sing and tell me that's not love.

Magic

Live music is special because of the interaction between the audience and artists. We feed off our crowd's energy and as a result, each performance turns out unique and often unexpected.

"You bring the moves, we'll throw sound at ya." -Neil

Media

We're not in the studio or in front of cameras much these days (we'd rather be performing), but here's some stuff for your eyes and ears.

Videos

Us on the YouTubes and such

Something To Give

Album

The Essentials

Album

Live at the OCF

Album

About

The Essentials are a 9-piece soul band, performing around the Pacific Northwest and beyond since 2004.



We're going on 12 years strong now, and we feel incredibly lucky to be doing what we're doing. ...and of course luck favors the prepared.

  • 2004

    Where it all started

    Motown, Stax, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye...this is some of America's greatest music, yet the genre and ethos seem a little neglected these days.


    With an idea to pursue a love and passion for authentic American Soul music, in 2004 elite members of the Oregon Athletic bands, Gospel Choir, and Jazz Ensembles join forces to form an all-star Soul, Funk, and R&B powerhouse.

  • 2005-2008

    Building a band

    The group continues to hone not only their live performance, but also the business and logistics end. To keep costs down for clients, the band adopts a DIY mentality, handling all booking internally, doing their own musical arranging and studio recording, and running live sound and lighting.

  • 2009

    Local and national acclaim

    Wowing audiences show after show, word of mouth spreads. The Register Gard names The Essentials the best band the in area, Gigmasters.com rates them the best dance band on the west coast, and their debut self-titled album is slotted #1 on CD Baby for both Soul and Funk. The band starts to get air play on radio stations in the UK, Japan, and around the U.S.

  • 2016

    Summer of love 2016!

    Last year we were all over the Pacific NW again performing at events in Central Oregon, the Columbia Gorge, Idaho, Washington, and elsewhere. Some highlights include a headline performance at the 2016 US Olympic Trials in Eugene, another show at last year's Harley Davidson Lighthouse Run in Coos Bay, and even a New Years Eve wedding at the Portland Art Museum. These are a few of the finest musicians on the west coast, but also a some of the kindest, warmest souls you'll ever meet. ...another summer in the gorgeous PNW, meeting wonderful people, and making music with friends!

  • Be Part
    Of Our
    Story!

Social

Come join the family.

Booking Info

We do all kinds of shows: weddings, festivals, corporate parties, etc. Drop us a line!

"[Thank you] for making the party on Saturday. I can't count how many times people came up to us and complimented the music, and as you saw, you could have kept them dancing all through the night! We were just over the moon with how wonderful the music was..."