Musical collective Postmodern Jukebox, the brainchild of pianist Scott Bradlee, continues to rack up viral success with their unashamedly retro reimaginations of pop hits. But their archive of YouTube videos does not capture the thrill and exhilaration of their live sets, which combine musical virtuosity, spectacle, and eccentricity in equal measure – and mind-boggling tap dancing courtesy of Jabu Greybeal.
Their current UK tour, including a stop at London’s Royal Festival Hall, is an absolute knockout, with a setlist including Cee Lo Green’s ‘Forget You’, the Spice Girl’s ‘Wannabe’ (I assume included for British fans), and Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ (their signature cover).
Do all the interpretations equally excite? No. I can’t say I loved the performance of Kate Bush’s ‘Running up That Hill’ – an ’80s evergreen whose popularity has been propelled by its inclusion in the Netflix series Stranger Things – done as a country western number. But you can’t fault the ambition and execution.
Furthermore, the PMJ franchise consistently deploys excellent vocalists in service of their repertoire. Emceeing the evening with ineffable charm and bedazzled blazers, LaVance Colley brought his gospel-honed chops and supersonic falsetto to an uptempo, swinging rendition of Sam Smith’s ‘I’m Not the Only One’, transforming this break-up lament into a snappy rebuke to an unfaithful lover.
Effie Passero, a former American Idol finalist with a multi-octave range and operatic textures, was impressive enough on Kiss’ ‘I Was Made for Loving You’. But then she performed a grand, ever-soaring version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ that (deservedly) brought audience members to their feet.
The sumptuously-voiced Tia Simone delivered Metallica’s rock power ballad ‘Nothing Else Matters’ as a soulful dirge, squaring off against terrific trombonist Jay P Floyd. She tip-toed delicately around the opening verse of the White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army, accompanied with just double bass, before letting rip on the chorus as the band kicked in. Nashville-based Sweet Megg was also in strong voice on a 1920s-styled rendition of Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’.
Before an encore of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’, the whole ensemble took to the stage to perform Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’, led by Colley. Listening to this archetypal ’90s power ballad be convincingly spun into ’50s doo-wop, I had to simply sit back, laugh, and enjoy the madness.
