“Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Today’s Hits Yesterday”
Fisher Theatre
Detroit, Mich.
July 22, 2025
It’s a bit of a head trip to hear a familiar song yet not quite place it. The lyrics come effortlessly out of your mouth but you can’t immediately remember who originally sang them or what the song is called. That’s a bit of the experience at “Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Today’s Hits Yesterday,” a traveling concert formed in 2011 that takes modern songs and performs them in different styles from the past. The touring show made a Detroit stop with an all-star team of performers including vocalists, a live band and a tap dancer, all of whom were top-of-their-game powerhouses.
In an ode to the Motor City, the concert opened with a Motown-style version of The Romantics' “What I Like About You” (with a bit of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”). A jazz version of Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” continued the set, followed by a series of pop and rock hits performed in a nostalgic style that was largely big band, jazz, soul and '60s.
My favorites included a cover of the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” sung in the style of the Andrews Sisters, as well as a Four Seasons-style version of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”
Some of the memorable rock covers included a 1960s-style version of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” a New Orleans jazzy version of Guns ‘N Roses’ “Sweet Child O Mine,” and Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” sounding like a Stevie Wonder song.
In addition to the fabulous singers, the band itself got its own time to shine with featured solos for each of the musicians, including the grand finale of Meghan Trainor’s “All About that Bass,” which opened with a spotlight on the upright bass before an elaborate jazzy group number.
Arguably the largest solo standing ovation of the evening was for tap dancer Jabu Graybeal, whose intricate, mile-a-minute footwork never missed a beat, or rather, a minute fraction of a beat. As a tapper myself, I was blown away by his talent. Performed solo with the band, his dancing added impeccable rhythm to songs you didn’t even know needed more percussion, with a mix ranging from Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” to “Rent’s” “Season of Love” to the theme song from “The Office.”
The whole evening was electrified performed in front of an enthusiastic audience who couldn’t get enough. Many seemed like long-term fans, some of whom dressed in 1920s costumes, which was fun to see. While I personally had never heard of Postmodern Jukebox before attending the event, I loved the concept when I learned about it, and the execution delivered.
