PostModern Jukebox at Edmonton’s Winspear

Our writer attended the highly anticipated Postmodern Jukebox performance at the Edmonton Winspear. The audience was left spellbound with reimagined hits and vintage flair. Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ) is known for their genre-bending arrangements. They delivered a show that was a musical journey. It was also a theatrical spectacle.

PMJ performance at the Winspear March 10th. Photos were taken by Dylanna Fisher

Enthralling. Engaging. Entertaining. And simply excellent.

From those leaning forward in the seats enthralled by the vocals of some of PMJ‘s finest, to the couples swing dancing in the aisles to the versatile instruments. This performance had a captured audience. Watching the Post Modern Jukebox ensemble perform felt like you were the only person in the auditorium.

The performance itself was unlike any concert I’ve ever been to. Post Modern Jukebox, otherwise known as PMJ, is a musical collective of music covers. Specifically, they are known for recreating the iconic music styles of the ’20s. Swing, Jazz, and other vintage genres are how they recreate songs to be uniquely PMJ.

The concert was full of cover songs, which is right up Switching Styles Alley. The vocalists bringing new life to the old classics included Cunio, Dani Armstrong, David Simmons Jr., and the original PMJ voice, Robyn Adele Anderson.

But the music wasn’t‘ the only jazzy feel to the performance. Sarah Reich, a tap dancer, creates an amazing accompaniment with her dancing shoes. She adds energy to the stage that both the audience and her peers feed off of. It’s an amazing thing to see.

A standing ovation awaited the end of the performance.

This is their “Welcome to the Twenties 2.0 Tour”. Do you see what they did there? It’s a play on words to usher in a new decade for the 2020s. Postmodern Jukebox creator Scott Bradlee hopes this new decade will see a revival of art and culture like the 20s decade of the 1900s.

“Last time around the ‘Twenties gave us Jazz, America’s one true art form. Who knows what is possible in the 2020s?” says Bradlee in an interview with DRW Entertainment, “One thing that is for sure is that there are a lot of folks that are tired of the click-bait headlines, mindless reality TV, and smartphone addiction that has only served to divide people in the last decade. We’re using our small corner of the pop culture space to tell people to forget their troubles, and come join us for a night of celebrating true musical talent and timeless style — live and in real life.”

Check out PMJ and let me know what you think in the comments below!!