Live Review: Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox

It seemed like a regular Sunday night at the Thebarton Theatre, but there was something different about this pop music performance.

The audience was sent back in time, with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox at the controls. Present day music as we know it was warped and fused with the ragtime and swing of a bygone era.

With style changes within style changes and a revolving door of music and musicians, the energy displayed on stage lifted the audience's spirits in a way no other band could. From exuberant renditions of Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe and Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, to a minimalist and emotional version of Radiohead's No Surprises, no song was off limits to Postmodern Jukebox. They even played their fair share of Australian hits, from Jet's Are You Gonna Be My Girl, to the more recent Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye.

Each player had a moment in the spotlight and any attempt to differentiate talent in the band was rendered pointless. The singers shone as they soloed, but together traversed three-part harmonies as the notes they hit got higher and higher. It wasn't just a performance, but a show. Like the genres they drew from, the music formed a larger story, like a cabaret or a musical. Personalities filled the stage with every member fully engaged at all times.

But it wasn't just all about the music. Tap dancer Sarah Reich stole the show on more than one occasion, and was even challenged to a tap off by threatened drummer Dave Tedeschi. Of course, his rudiments were no match for Sarah's tapped calypso rhythms.

From Charleston to Dixieland, half-time to double-time, staccato to sustained notes, there was nothing the performers couldn't handle. At points, there was a disconnect between the modern lyrics and old styles, but the cohesiveness of the band meant you never got lost on the journey. The essence of every song remained true as they slowly loosened up the crowd until they got off their feet.

The theme of the night was joy, and the energy formed between the artists and the audiences made it an experience you just won't find at a modern pop concert. After an extended version of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off, the audience didn't wait long before the night reached its peak with the encore, The Postal Service's Such Great Heights.