Postmodern Jukebox in Concert
The secret origin of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox — arguably the world's greatest cover band — extends back to the bandleader's New Jersey childhood. The young pianist would amuse his elders by playing current Top 40 hits as though they were from his grandparents' day.
Bradlee introduced the Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ) concept in 2011 with the video "A Motown tribute to Nickelback," filmed in his Queens, New York, apartment. The formerly struggling jazz musician has since expanded his party trick into a robust touring company and historical tour de force devoted to making new songs sound old and old songs sound new.
In 2018 alone, PMJ released five new albums, produced 32 new videos for a YouTube channel boasting 3.7 million subscribers, hit one billion total YouTube views, performed 217 shows around the world, and launched a spinoff kids' channel — Postmodern Juicebox.
Audiences are guaranteed a unique experience no matter which of PMJ's two touring companies comes to town. Glamorous and dapper "cast members" in glittering gowns and houndstooth suits perform original ragtime, jazz, swing, gospel, soul, and Motown arrangements of songs by Lady Gaga, The Strokes, Katy Perry, White Stripes, Britney Spears, Notorious B.I.G., Lorde, David Bowie, and countless other hitmakers.
Where else are you going to hear a Dixieland version of Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself"? Or a stunningly dramatic rendition of Radiohead's "Creep"? Every PMJ show also contains a series of a cappella performances guaranteed to bring down the house. And smart PMJ audiences join in the fun by showing up dressed to the nines in barrel curls, suits, and fedoras.
More than 70 musicians have appeared on PMJ stages and in videos. These include numerous American Idol finalists like Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis, Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart, and Vonzell Solomon. Since 2014, Bradlee has kept the company in top form with annual #PMJSearch contests to find new musical talent.
Other PMJ hits include bassist Kate Davis' bravado cover of Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" and Nicole Atkins' version of David Bowie's "Heroes," a benefit for the Cancer Research Institute. But no PMJ performance can ever be as exciting as seeing the company live and onstage. Variety, humor, nostalgia, and old-fashioned show-biz pizzazz — Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox has it all.
