When most people think of Elvis Presley, they picture him in his famous Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee – a symbol of opulence and prestige. It may come as a surprise, however, that the “King” wasn’t born into the wealthy lifestyle that was virtually synonymous with his fame.
The historic streets of Boston, Massachusetts, may not seem like the ideal performing venue for a man in a bear costume playing the keytar. And yet, this is where visitors and locals will find “Keytar Bear.” A busker who can play anything from Smash Mouth to Prince to Rick James to Metallica, this Boston legend is known for being both entertaining and getting into his fair share of altercations.
In today’s digital world, where different instruments and sounds can be added to a song in just a push of a few buttons, one Ukrainian music band stands out for its persistence in using actual instruments. Brunettes Shoot Blondes, an indie rock band from Kiev, has transformed a broken 19th-century grand piano into a versatile musical machine that is capable of playing 20 different instruments.
As the birthplace of jazz music, New Orleans, Louisiana, has no shortage of music venues. Amid the eclectic street performers on Frenchmen Street and numerous jazz halls dotting the city, one institution stands out for its legacy of preserving, protecting and perpetuating traditional New Orleans Jazz, the aptly named “Preservation Hall.”
There’s a new phenomenon in the music world: performing underwater. Although traditional instruments would be destroyed in these conditions and most musicians wouldn’t be able to hold their breath long enough to deliver a song, the Between Music band is far from ordinary.
