Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
11.18.16

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting a seated show at the Paramount Theater for Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox performance. If you have seen their videos or heard their songs, they were made for dancing. However, when I saw the throwback stage setup, complete with podiums for the instrumentalists, it all made sense. This would be a night at the theater rather than a standard general admission concert.

The show started off with the immensely charismatic Mykal Kilgore, who was the night’s MC. He had boundless amounts of energy, kept the night moving, showed genuine appreciation, and sang a few tunes himself. The show itself was part stand-up comedy, part musical theater, and part tap-dance exhibition. A true feast for the senses and soul.

The PMJ All-Stars are a diverse bunch, each with their own style and charm. A few highlights:

Aubrey Logan – “Give It Away” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the style of Austin Powers-esque Bossa Nova rock. Hailing from Snohomish, WA, Logan was the spitfire of the group. She had a voice that could change from 20’s jazz songstress to straight up punk rocker. With personality for days, she handled this rock classic like a pro and added in some one-handed cartwheels for good measure.

Sarah Niemietz – A classic beauty, Niemietz had the chops to take on the iconic “I Will Survive,” by Gloria Gaynor, in double time swing. Donning a flowing, canary yellow dress, she belted out the disco anthem while her band worked in overdrive behind her. When she wasn’t singing and swinging, Niemietz showed off her affable personality, winning smile, and nifty dance moves.

Casey Abrams – A caveman with charm, Abrams, with his flowing locks and bushy beard, began with an intro of “Minnie The Moocher” before heading into the Guns & Roses classic “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” A raw and powerful force, this cover was in the style of the delta blues, which lent well to his baritone Robert Plant-ish voice.

Maiya Sykes – Easily the most powerful voice in the line-up, she got the entire sold-out crowd to shine their cell-phone flashlights during her soul ballad cover of “Creep” by Radiohead. To say she left it all on stage is an understatement. Every note stirred the souls of the crowd and by the end of it, you could see the cathartic release in her face as tribute to the standing ovation she received.

Blake Lewis – “Radioactive” by the Imagine Dragons. Kilgore described Lewis as having the “cool of Sinatra with the swag of Timberlake” and he did not disappoint. During this rendition, he brought us into a smoky lounge where nefarious characters come together to engage in equally nefarious dealings. The man is a double threat as his voice can soar with the best of them and in one move, he can bring his beat boxing prowess. Pure entertainer.

Mykal Kilgore – The MC extraordinaire spun a couple of musical yarns as well. The one that stood out was iconic 90’s track, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, covered doo-wop style. With Logan and Sykes as back-up singers, Kilgore’s voice was perfect for this genre. He brought the stage charisma of Jackie Wilson and a falsetto for the ages.

Ariana Savalas – The sultry vixen of the All-Stars. She casually came out on stage in a red winter coat, sheepishly looked out to the crowd, and then unleashed pure sex appeal with a burlesque version of “Pony” by Ginuwine. Minimizing her wardrobe to a bustier, black shorts, and fishnets, she pulled a gentleman from the audience to be the lucky recipient of a personal performance, while she reveled in the engagement from the crowd.

PMJ is a collective of mad musical scientists. They have re-purposed some of the most popular songs of the modern time and have introduced a new generation to both those songs and to new sounds. Finally, remakes that people are actually in favor of.

Review and photos by Phillip Johnson

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox