Blazin' Pianos Light Up Stage
Samm Sack
Staff Writer
I was wrapped up in chills all night long; music poured out like a blanket and lulled me into a dreamy state time and time again. That is, when I wasn’t laughing my head off at insanely humorous and embarrassingly interactive jokes.
It might have just been my hair, but the cleverly named Blazin’ Pianos engulfed the Southeast Community College stage with fiery beats and feisty jokes that I wouldn’t have missed for the world.
The performance was a mix of dueling pianos (the pianos themselves don’t actually fight, for clarification) and snide comments. It wasn’t even the cheesy stand up stuff that sometimes makes me want to gag. For example, among the beautiful pieces that my grandmother listened to as a child and the pop songs controlling radios today was a comedy show fit for Comedy Central.
In every show, the players made sure that the performance was personal for everyone by only playing songs that the audience members requested. I had walked into the room with a previously picked song that was sure to stump the two on stage, but they only flexed their knuckles and quickly ran their fingers over the keys of the piano. Soon my song was streaming over the whole entire audience, who smiled together and snapped to the catchy tune.
Another feature that kept it interactive was that they took people from the audience and forced them by the pianos to do embarrassing things. The group that I went with were all my best friends; so when the piano players pulled up one of the guys to dance inappropriately to “It’s Raining Men” by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer, it was a riot. Even watching complete strangers make a fool of themselves often surprised a giggle out of me.
Some of the jokes and stunts were marginally provocative, so I wouldn’t recommend taking a seven-year-old niece to it, but for any mature (or immature) student, it was perfect.
Music lovers could also appreciate beautiful playing and comforting voices. It blew my mind that the piano players knew every song that was requested, regardless of era. Not only did they memorize the lyrics, they had to know all of the random songs on the piano without hardly messing up.
Some shows only preview in late-night bars, but if you ever get the opportunity, I would check it out. Try and gather up a group of friends (who aren’t afraid of getting made fun of) and head to the nearest showing. Your night will sure to be filled with genuine laughs and good memories.
