Scott Bradlee and the Postmodern Jukebox electrified the audience May 19 at The Orange Peel in downtown Asheville.

The brash young ensemble, which got its start thanks to YouTube, plays retro versions of relatively current pop music hits in reiminaged ways. The performance drew about 800 fans on a weeknight with an unusual mix of both young and old audience members.

In a nutshell, PMJ breaks the rules — and unites generations — by performing pop hits of today in the style of pop hits of the past. For the audience, it’s a fun musical potpourri — and often funny, too.

The singers, accompanied by a talented backup band that included a pianist (Bradlee), a guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, a trombonist and a clarinetist, featured dazzling rearrangements of songs, along with stunning vocals, choreography and costumes. 

A recurring theme echoed by PMJ’s emcee throughout the show was: “If you don’t like what’s on the radio... change the channel.” His reference was to Postmodern Jukebox’s efforts to provide an alternative “channel” via more innovative arrangements of contemporary songs that are auto-tune heavy. “Remember, you’ve got the power” to change the direction of music, he told the fired-up Asheville audience.

Among PMJ’s songs are Iggy Azalea’s standard “Fancy” and Kesha’s “Timber,” changed into a doo-wop delight. The eclectic group also weaves in 1970s soul along with Jewish Klezmer music. 

Among the memorable vocalists were Von Smith, swinging and swaying like a teen idol from the early 1960s as he sang Taylor Swift hits, and Ariana Savalas, who channels the spirit of Marilyn Monroe in her singing, choreography and repartée with the crowd.

Other standouts among the vocalists were Morgan James and Maiya Sykes.

An unexpected extra in the show was tap-dancer extraordinaire Sarah Reich.

For the encore, the group delighted the crowd with its big-band cover of last year’s top hit of the summer, “All About the Bass” by Meagan Trainor.

Just before the intermission, Bradlee addressed the crowd, noting enthusiastically, “We’ve got a packed house” — and it was PMJ’s first performance in Asheville and North Carolina.

He then told how he started the ensemble with an idea of breaking the rules by rearranging today’s pop music and offering it on a YouTube channel — all from a humble basement in New York City. Bradlee also told the crowd that it was they who enabled PMJ to experience rousing success.

“Because of you guys, we’re able to make Postmodern Jukebox an international touring act... So though this may be our first time in Asheville, it won’t be our last time in Asheville!” He then took a selfie of himself from the stage with the cheering crowd in the background.

Prior to singing “No Diggity,” Savalas was all sass, playfully noting that she had heard that “Asheville is a very conservative town.”

As the crowd laughed, Savalas also said that she learned during her visit to the city that the National Weather Service’s Data Center was based in Asheville. She then quipped, “With the men in the first row, it’s cloudy with a chance of biceps.”

In remarks directed to these same men, she added with a sultry look, “If you show me a good time, I might let you show me your ‘thunder from down under.’”

Later, before singing “Blank Space,” Savalas appeared on stage in a black micro-minidress with sequins. As the crowd cheered, she teased, “Sorry, please reserve your applause for when my dress comes off.”

In a reference to her scanty dress, she joked, “I would have been out here earlier, but I couldn’t find the other half of my dress.”