Merlot Embargo
Overview
We're not your typical event band. Scarlet and Geoff are working songwriters who also happen to throw a great party, and they bring that same love for music to every event they play. The result feels a little less like hired entertainment, and a little more like you just got lucky and your friends happen to be really talented.
We cover everything from intimate acoustic duo sets and classy jazz combos to the full band experience — horns, subwoofer-equipped PA, and stage lighting included. We'll dial in the right configuration and vibe for your event. We love helping make your important moments fun and memorable!
Reviews
5 reviews
Athena H.
December 18, 2022Totally amazing
Merlot embargo crushed my boyfriend’s birthday party. They were professional, prepared and sounded incredible. Non stop compliments!! These performers are next level great! Thank you so much.
Hired as: Acoustic Band, Indie Band
Merlot Embargo
Thanks so much for having us out Athena - we had a blast! Happy Birthday to Loren!
Robert
August 15, 2022Fantastic band for any occasion
When I was reviewing bands on Gigsalad, I watched the demo videos and was impressed by Merlot Embargo. I had four people all having birthdays within a few days of each other including a 21st, 30th, 67th and 73rd. So how do you find a band that has the range of music appealing to guests from such a broad age range? Answer: Merlot Embargo. The entire band is quite talented and knows how to dial in their songs to get people up and dancing. During dinner... the music featured more mellow songs allowing people to talk without screaming over the music. They have such a great sense of their audience and playing music that appeals. Be sure to ask them to play a number of their original songs which are all great. The guests all complimented our choice of band and really appreciated the extra touch live music brings to an event. I will most certainly hire them again.
Hired as: Indie Band
Jennifer K. T.
December 9, 202550th Birthday Bash
Merlot Embargo played a two-hour set in my backyard for about 35 people in celebration of my 50th. I chose them for their fun and diverse set list; they met the moment with energetic magic! Geoff was very professional and pleasant to coordinate with. Scarlett is lovely. Great people. Loved them, and so did my guests!
Hired as: Party Band
Damon R.
June 2, 2024Excellent band
Easy to book. Great people! You won’t be disappointed. Very professional.
Hired as: Party Band
Erin B.
March 6, 2019Book Them!
Merlot Embargo played at a Wine Tasting event at our private clubhouse. During the planning process, they were so helpful and really wanted to make sure they understood what we wanted. They asked about song selection, attire and more to make sure it suited the event and audience. The event itself went over wonderfully with our members - it's been a few weeks and people are still talking about it! They played for two hours straight (bless them!). Even though we had heard videos of Scarlet's voice online, it did not compare to how beautiful she sounds in person. And Geoff sure played a mean guitar! Thanks a million to this adorable duo for a night to remember.
Hired as: Acoustic Band, Indie Band
Booking information
Price range: $400 and up
Languages: English, German
Gig length: 30 - 300 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - We can provide liability insurance for events on an as-needed basis. If your team/event/venue requires this, please reach out to discuss!
What to expect
We bring something special to every celebration: a genuine connection that makes your event feel intimate, authentic, and unforgettable.
Led by songwriter Scarlet and her guitarist husband, Geoff, we're artists who happen to love playing great music for great people. That creative partnership is at the heart of everything we do; it brings a unique energy, warmth, and authenticity to our performances. When you book us, you're getting performers who actually *create* music, not just recreate it, and that artistic sensibility shapes how we approach your event.
We specialize in celebrations where the music should feel personal and meaningful. Whether it's a wedding that reflects your actual taste, a corporate event with personality and style, or a private celebration where you want your guests engaged and connected, we bring musicianship, professionalism, and something genuinely special: the feeling that this performance was meant for your room, your guests, your moment.
Our versatility is your advantage. Need acoustic ceremony music? An intimate cocktail hour set? High-energy dance music that gets people moving? We scale easily to whatever your event requires, from stripped-down duo performances to full-band energy. Being songwriters first, we can create musical moments tailored specifically to your event, personalized touches that make your celebration truly one-of-a-kind.
If you want musicians who will make your event feel special, memorable, and authentically you, then we may be the band for you.
When you book us, you can expect several practical things:
- First and foremost, great music. That's why we're all here, right? But also, expect a stage show that's engaging and not overhyped. Since we perform in various configurations and styles, we normally like to have a quick chat over phone/email/zoom in the planning stage to learn exactly what you'd like for your event.
- We often provide the PA system, and we can comfortably cover up to around ~250-300 people, depending on the venue. For larger events where you might want to hire a big sound system, we can work with whatever is there.
- We often bring a small lighting rig as well - we've found that this little addition is a nice touch for smaller functions and venues that may not have their own lighting. Of course, if you're having a big event and hiring out your own lighting, all the better!
- The guests will see a tight, energetic band having a great time performing, and probably occasionally acting a little goofy on stage. They'll be itching to hit the dance floor when the time comes.
About
Merlot Embargo started with a nearly fatal car accident: an all-night drive halfway across the US, and a high-speed highway crash near San Antonio that sent us (Scarlet and Geoff) scrambling out the pulverized rear window of our little Toyota Yaris. We miraculously walked away injury-free, and spent the next week contemplating what our regrets would have been if we'd been killed. The answer was clear: we wanted to share our music with the world. It's remarkable how a brush with death can clarify things.
Some might consider us an unlikely duo: a seat-of-the-pants, abstractly creative singer-songwriter, paired with a music school nerd and engineer-by-day. But the blending of our different approaches to music (and life) creates a unique chemistry, both on stage and off. We love performing and celebrating with people, and we like to think our slight goofiness brings a bit of charm to each event. Most of all, we just love making music together. We've been doing it for a good while now, which usually means fewer awkward silences and more moments that actually feel like a show, the kind that helps an audience relax and enjoy themselves.
Beyond performing at events, we write and record original music out of our home studio in Downey — you can find us on Spotify and all the major platforms. We're also parents to Joanna (9) and Jack (1), which means we're well-practiced at turning chaos into something that sounds intentional.
Additional booking notes
For private parties and events, we can provide the sound system, including our own microphones, monitors, and PA speakers, with coverage for up to 300-400 people. We can also provide a small lighting rig for the stage. The only thing we really need are electrical outlets in the vicinity.
For performance spaces where a PA is provided, we are flexible and will work with what's there!
The acoustic duo is very portable and can even perform without a PA for one-off events. (We've done wedding proposals in the middle of a field, for example.)
Past booked events
December 2025
06
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Huntington Beach, CA
August 2025
16
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Playa Del Rey, CA
June 2024
01
Saturday
House Party
12:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Pacific Palisades, CA
December 2023
15
Friday
Christmas Party
5:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Irvine, CA
December 2022
17
Saturday
Birthday Party
12:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
August 2022
13
Saturday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
April 2022
30
Saturday
Birthday Party
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Santa Barbara, CA
February 2019
15
Friday
Nonprofit Event
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Lake Forest, CA
Team
Set list
We can perform songs from the list below as needed - Typically, we'll tailor the song selection to whatever is best for the event in question. Below is our full song list, although we are always adding to it. We can also take a few requests, given enough notice.
2000s~Current:
Ain't No Rest for the Wicked (Cage The Elephant)
Anti-Hero (Taylor Swift)
Are You Gonna Be My Girl (Jet)
As It Was (Harry Styles)
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)
Beautiful Day (U2)
Blinding Lights (The Weeknd)
The Book of Love (Peter Gabriel)
Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)
Can't Stop The Feeling (Justin Timberlake)
Count On Me (Bruno Mars)
Counting Stars (One Republic)
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
Doubting Thomas (Nickel Creek)
Espresso (Sabrina Carpenter)
Feel it Still (Portugal. the Man)
Fidelity (Regina Spektor)
Float On (Modest Mouse)
Flowers (Miley Cyrus)
High Hopes (Panic! at the Disco)
I Won't Give Up (Jason Mraz)
Into the Dark (Death Cab for Cutie)
Levitating (Dua Lipa)
Left and Right (Charlie Puth)
King of Anything (Sara Barielles)
The Man (Taylor Swift)
Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
Mushabloom (Bjork)
My Future (Billie Eilish)
Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart (Chris Cornell)
Party in the USA (Miley Cyrus)
Pumped Up Kicks (Foster the People)
Riptide (Vance Joy)
Rehab (Amy Winehouse)
Rolling in the Deep (Adele)
Royals (Lorde)
Shut Up and Dance (Walk The Moon)
Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye)
Something Just Like This (Coldplay/Chainsmokers)
Sucker (The Jonas Brothers)
Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand)
Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
Umbrella (Rihanna)
Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars, Marc Ronson)
Use Somebody (Kings of Leon)
Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer)
Watermelon Sugar (Harry Styles)
Yellow (Coldplay)
You Are the Best Thing (Ray Lamontagne)
You've Got The Love (Florence + the Machine)
80-90s
1999 - Prince
Africa (Toto)
Beat It (Michael Jackson)
Beautiful Day (U2)
The Best (Tina Turner)
Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden)
Call Me (Blondie)
Cruel Summer (Bananarama)
Every Day is a Winding Road (Cheryl Crow)
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac)
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)
Here With Me (Dido)
High and Dry (Radiohead)
Holiday (Weezer)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston)
I'll Be There for You (The Rembrandts)
Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode)
La Isla Bonita (Madonna)
Livin' On a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
Kiss Me (Sixpence None The Richer)
Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
Nine to Five (Dolly Parton)
No Scrubs (TLC)
Pour Some Sugar on Me (Depeche Mode)
The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News)
Purple Rain (Prince)
Red Red Wine (UB40)
Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac)
Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush)
Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry)
Stacy's Mom (Fountains of Wayne)
Spiderwebs (No Doubt)
Take On Me (A-ha)
Time After Time (Cindy Lauper)
The Sign (Ace of Base)
Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)
The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby)
What's Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner)
Wrapped Around Your Finger (The Police)
Wonderwall (Oasis)
70s/Disco/Funk/Rock:
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (Paul Simon)
Ain't Nobody (Chaka Kahn)
Bell Bottom Blues (Derek and the Dominoes)
Changes (David Bowie)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)
Dancin' in the Moonlight (King Harvest)
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
Don't Stop Me Now (Queen)
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
I Want You to Want Me (Cheap Trick)
Heart of Gold (Neil Young)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
Hold The Line (Toto)
Jolene (Dolly Parton)
Lean on Me (Bill Withers)
Let's Dance (David Bowie)
Modern Love (David Bowie)
My Sharona (The Knack)
Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry)
Proud Mary (Tina Turner)
Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
Wild World (Cat Stevens)
Country:
Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)
I Walk the Line (Johnny Cash)
In the Blood (John Mayer)
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (Jimmy Buffett)
The Fireman (George Strait)
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
Honky Tonk Man (Dwight Yoakam)
Life is a Highway (Rascal Flatts)
Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffett)
Willow (Taylor Swift)
Jazz Standards:
All of Me
All the Things You Are
At Last (Etta James)
Autumn Leaves
Besame Mucho
Blue Moon
Blue Skies
Cheek to Cheek
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Fly Me To The Moon
Georgia
How High The Moon (Ella Fitzgerald)
It's Only A Paper Moon
Like Someone In Love
My Baby Cares Just for Me (Nina Simone)
Route 66
Someday My Prince Will Come
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Straighten Up and Fly Right
Tangerine
The Girl From Ipanema
The Nearness of You
There Will Never Be Another You
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
What a Wonderful World (Louie Armstrong)
When I Fall In Love
Originals:
Head Above the Water
We All Fall Down
How to Survive an Apocalypse
Freaks on a Train
Storms
All Who Are Lost
In The End
These Are The Best Days of Our Lives
Billy The Kid
One Day
She
Most of Us
Don't Cry
Sticking Around
Not Gonna
It Could Be Worse
Inside My Head
I Am Not Ok
Paper Thin
All Wrong
Alone
I Can't
I'm Fine
Influences and inspiration
Sara Barielles
Bradi Carlile
John Mayer
Adele
Setup requirements
Electrical Outlet