The Genre-Bending Sensation Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox Returns to Erie

Contributed

Catch the YouTube, genre-defying sensation of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox as they return to Mercyhurst University for one night only as part of MIAC Live's Greatest Hits performances.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11

In many respects, Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ) could only exist today with a perfectly-matched blend of elements coming into harmony over the past decade. The performers are at the heart of that, though quite a number of them can claim at least adjunct membership in the project these days. The sounds those players make aren't limited to one style – PMJ's set lists vary wildly across genres, from western swing to traditional jazz to big band to '60s soul.

Video, though! That's the way in which the group has truly grown, with a consistent output to YouTube capturing millions of views. As of press time, the project (via Wikipedia: "a rotating musical collective founded by New York based pianist Scott Bradlee in 2011") had released over 400 videos on YouTube alone, with over 6-million subscribers on that service. The Thursday video release on YouTube routinely scores PMJ hundreds of thousands of hits, with songs that top the million-view mark regularly.

At the heart of the PMJ project is musician and arranger Bradlee, who is frequently featured in the group's videos, which highlight hits from across the decades, almost always done in a retro style that both defies and complements the original song. With guest vocalists the rule, Postmodern Jukebox is able to update tracks from the past handful of decades, across a wide variety of styles. Over recent months, the band covered The Cure, Miley Cyrus, Morgan Wallen, Billy Joel, The Weeknd, and The Bee Gees. In each case, the original version of the song was matched with an approach that would surely surprise fans of the original. A great example of this is KISS's "I Was Made for Loving You," played by PMJ in a spaghetti western soundtrack style, with Effie Passero on lead vocals.

During a stretch of autumn 2023 video releases, Chloe Feoranzo returned to the PMJ fold. She's been featured in the band as both a live, touring player and as a guest vocalist on videos. And it was in October 2023 that she covered the Depeche Mode classic "Enjoy the Silence," giving the song a 1920's jazz age sheen. It racked up about a half-million views within the first two weeks of airing.

Not unlike some of the barnstorming troupes of the mid-20th century, Feoranzo said that the Postmodern Jukebox machinery is so well-honed that "they have one, or even two tours happening at once here in the U.S. and overseas. Each of these tours can involve a cast and crew of about 15 members, or about as many people as you can fit on a bus."

You can catch one show of PMJ's tour for one night only in Erie at the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University. This performance returns as part of Mercyhurst Institute of Arts and Culture's Greatest Hits schedule, having wowed audiences in 2018, 2019, and 2022 – grab your tickets, pick out your funkiest vintage outfit, and "expect a dazzling, inspiring trip through the PMJ universe." 

7:30 p.m. // Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, 501 E. 38th St. // $25-$50 // For tickets and info: miac.mercyhurst.edu