We’ve all had those late-night, exploratory rabbit-hole dives into YouTube where we stumble upon the coolest videos, music, and general craziness. I remember finding a band that was unlike most others today. I came across a video of a 1920s-inspired group performing their own version of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” From that moment on, I began exploring the rest of their uploads—modern pop, rock, and R&B hits all transformed with their signature fusion of jazz, big band, soul, and a dash of rock and roll.
Postmodern Jukebox made a recent stop in Atlanta at the beautiful Atlanta Symphony Hall, and the moment I walked through the doors, I was transported back to an era of dimly lit speakeasies and evenings when listening and dancing to live music was a formal affair. Everywhere I looked, patrons were dressed to the nines in their finest attire. As fans began to fill the hall, you could feel the excitement building, everyone waiting for those first notes to drop.
The lights dimmed, the energy swelled, and the band began to take their places on stage. LaVance Colley—both a dynamic performer and the night’s charismatic MC—stepped forward to welcome the crowd before introducing the first vocalist, Tia Simone. She stunned the audience with powerhouse performances of “What I Like About You” and “Proud Mary,” moving across the stage with the fire and presence of Tina Turner herself. Her vocal range was limitless, leaving the room in awe.
Next up was April Varner, who delivered a jazz-infused take on “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” with playful shifts into big band tempos that kept the audience guessing what might come next. Just when I thought the bar couldn’t be raised any higher, Kyndle Wylde took the stage with a completely reimagined version of the Guns N’ Roses classic “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” As if that wasn’t enough, she was joined by tap-dancing sensation Demi Remick, whose rhythms brought even more electricity to the performance.
The night rolled on with fresh, time-warped renditions of “The House of the Rising Sun,” “Seven Nation Army,” “Wannabe,” “Black Hole Sun,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Lovefool,” and a jaw-dropping performance of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” With each song, the crowd roared, clapped along to the beat, and danced right in their seats. Postmodern Jukebox reminded us that music doesn’t need massive stage props or over-the-top production—it’s about the connection you feel when a sequence of notes strikes the soul and moves you.
The evening closed with one of their most popular arrangements, Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass.” By then, no one was sitting; the entire hall was up and dancing. We hated for the night to end, but I can guarantee that when Postmodern Jukebox returns to Atlanta, I’ll be there—maybe with my dancing shoes on and my camera put away, ready to join the fun.
GALLERY: Postmodern Jukebox at Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia (August 10, 2025)
