You never know who's going to show up for a Postmodern Jukebox gig - and that's among the entertainers, not audience.
In the seven years since founder Scott Bradlee began shooting music videos with four friends in his basement apartment in Queens, N.Y., Postmodern Jukebox's roster of singers and instrumentalists has grown to 135 musicians. Among them are "American Idol" alumni Casey Abrams, Haley Reinhart, Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis, Thia Megia and Clark Beckham.
If you go
› What: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox› Where: Track 29, 1400 Market St.› When: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 29› Admission: $30 in advance, $35 day of show. Anyone 13 to 17 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian age 21 or older; ages 18 and older must provide valid photo ID to enter.› For more information: 423-521-2929
But audiences never know if they'll see one of those TV celebs perform because no two shows are ever alike. Bradlee subs singers and instrumentalists in and out of every performance so you never know who's going to be onstage or which songs they'll perform.
"Our tour is a little unconventional," says Matt Telford, Jukebox road manager. "Instead of touring like a normal band, we tour like a huge collective. We have different people in and out at each tour. Scott hand-picks who he thinks will be good for that show and that venue. It's a nice surprise because it's always a different show than audiences have seen before."
The other allure of Postmodern Jukebox is that it's not just who's singing, but what they're singing.
Bradlee's format is to take current pop songs and "re-imagine them" as if they were written in decades past. It's a mash-up of modern hits put to the musical styles of the Roaring '20s, the '60s, '70s, jazz or swing.
For example, the Jukebox's first hit was a vaudevillian spin on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop," which reached more than a million YouTube views within a week of being posted. They've done a doo-wop version of Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" and a '70s soul take on Maroon 5's "Maps."
It is, as Bradlee describes it, "pop music in a time machine."
Telford says Bradlee writes all the arrangements and selects all singers and instrumentalists.
"We work out of our studio. We have all the people come in and he decides who he wants to send out on tour or for videos. We are always integrating new talent with those we already have. Our shows are doing well and getting a massive audience response," says Telford.
He concedes having an "Idol" alum unexpectedly pop up in a show is a draw, "but once the audience immerses themselves in the show, they see the talent we have onstage. There is no auto-tune. It is raw talent and it is a very high caliber of talent."
The show at Track 29 is open to ages 13 and older. Telford says it's not uncommon to see three-generation families in their audiences.
"The grandparents and parents recognize the style of music, while the younger ones recognize the current song."
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.