Yellowknife (Feb 17/06) - German lyrical poet Henrich Heine (1797-1856) wrote that music played at weddings reminded him of sounds that accompanied soldiers marching into battle.

We've come a long way, baby.

The Leslie Bader Band pitches diverse live sets that stretch from classical to acoustic funk and electric hard rock - a danceable mix that promises to shake up any wedding party.

"I love all sorts of stuff, but I definitely love music that has an edge to it and bass that is really groovy," said lead singer Leslie Bader.

The band covers Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Bif Naked and just about everything in between. They also have a full set of originals that they're recording on a demo in the Spiritwalker Productions studio this month.

Bader formed her hardworking combo last year, playing inaugural gigs at the Tsunami relief benefit concert and the Bushed Music Festival, at which they'll appear again this month.

She shares the stage with bassist Al Udell, drummer Sean Best and guitarist Pete Harding, whom she married last August in Toronto.

"We thought about changing our band name, because I'm in the process of changing my name (to Harding)," she said. "But, it's a lot of work and energy to change a name, whether it's for your band or personally."

The Bader name is already recognized in the NWT and in the south, as well.

Bader, who was born in New York and grew up in Toronto, played throughout Vancouver and Tofino on Vancouver Island in the 1990s, jamming with Sarah McLaughlin in a pub and opening for guitar legend Don Ross.

A classically-trained flutist, Bader also played at the wedding of U.S. Senator (and Jane Fonda's ex) Tom Hayden.

Her classical background brings a discipline and attention to rhythm and dynamics not often found among bands that play wedding gigs.

"It's actually very unusual to see someone who's classically trained be able to just jam," Udell said. "It's quite amazing to see Leslie come up and play Chopin on the flute and all of a sudden turn it into Jethro Tull and go crazy for 10 minutes."

Udell is also part of Yellowknife's Rough Touch. In the past, he's played with Yellowknife groups like Jet 30, Stars of Track and Field, Maggie Skeeter and Anodyne.

Best, originally from a Newfoundland outport, drums with Northern Skies and the NWT Pipe Band when he's not backing up Bader.

"Everybody who knows me, knows me as the drum slut, - and that's exactly what I am," he said. "I'll play with anybody, anytime, anywhere. I'm easy that way."

Harding was born in Yellowknife. He was a closet guitarist and "garage-basement-sludge rock" jammer for years before joining Best in Northern Skies briefly in 2004.

All combinations of brides and grooms-to-be can checkout the Leslie Bader Band's upcoming gigs at the Bushed Music Festival at Sam's Monkey Tree on Feb. 26 and at the Folk on the Rocks spring fundraiser at the Elk's Hall on March 4.

The band is also available to play bars, festivals, picnics, conferences and just about any other special event.