Vintage Live! Gregory Charles

So much fun!!!
I got tickets from Unilocal and attended this show on Friday, not really knowing what to expect. I had way more fun that I expected. Really, really, awesome show, and I’m considering going back before they leave on May 2. Gregory Charles and his band are amazing! I have no idea how they can possibly know soooo many songs — music and lyrics! I can’t even remember what I wore yesterday. Not only do they know the words and the music, but they are really good!!! Any song, any genre, any decade!
It’s an interactive show so you can request songs throughout the show, and if you’re lucky yours will get picked. You also put in a vote before the show starts and they pick the paper requests during the third set.
I was sad to see that it wasn’t a sold out show, and it really should have been! I feel like they didn’t advertise enough, and people just don’t know what they’re missing. Do yourself a favor and check it out! The only thing you might regret is going all the way to 12^th Ave, but it’s totally worth the schlep!

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had an awesome time! I love how you can use the app to request songs and he’s knows everything! Some group of girls request a foreign language sing and he knew that too. Totally amazing! :)

The size and scope of Gregory Charles’ repertoire of music is truly impressive, spanning not only decades, but across languages and even countries.
Even someone who doesn’t appreciate music (does such a person really exist though?) has to be amazed at the band’s musical prowess and how flawlessly they work together.
I highly recommend filling out the 2-​minute online survey before the show starts because that will determine what gets played in the first half. Plus you get to participate in the live chat, and possibly have your name and message displayed on the big screen!
Please, please, PLEASE do yourself a favor and see this show before it leaves New York in May, particularly if The Beatles, MJ, or 80’s music means anything to you. I took 2 buy-​on-​get-​one offers when I left so I can come back with friends. Trust me when I say this is a show you can see again and again (and again!)

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this show, and I’m pleased to report that this is a really original, fun show that anyone would enjoy! I had a fantastic time, and I’m a little surprised this past Saturday’s show wasn’t completely sold out. (Thank you for the tix Unilocal!) Before you make the schlep to 12^th Avenue, here are some useful tips to get you ready for the show.
1. As soon as you enter, you’ll be asked to write down the name of song that will stump Gregory Charles. Also include the band or singer that performed it. If you stump him, you’ll win a free private performance at your home! I chose a popular 90’s New Zealand singer that’s very obscurely known in the States. Unfortunately, my song choice by her wasn’t drawn from the box.
2. Download the app! It will ask you to fill out a quick survey about your musical preferences and will let you directly interact with Gregory Charles during the concert. You can request a song, ask him questions, make suggestions, etc. You can also order drinks to be delivered to your table through the app.
3. Use the bathroom before you arrive! Le Qube is a temporary facility and does not have bathroom facilities inside. They have a fancy port-​o-​potty set up just outside the building. The ladies restroom was okay but they were almost out of toilet paper at the end of the night. I heard the men’s bathroom was clean, and I did notice a handicap accessible port-​o-​potty as well. Because of the location, it’s pretty cold and windy waiting to use the restroom. Definitely not ideal!
4. The drinks are incredibly expensive! I’m used to paying more for drinks in the city but the plastic cups were really small and my Jack and Coke was absolutely drowned in ice ($ 13). If you’re on a budget, you may want to pre-​game or wait until after the show. They also had some snacks — popcorn and boxed candy (like at a movie theater).
5. The seating is lounge-​style and not theater seating. They have little round tables with 4 chairs to a table. If you’re on a date, you may want to be aware of this because you may be seated with another couple, etc.
Overall, I really enjoyed the show, and I think other music fans would have a fantastic time as well! (How does he not have his own show in Vegas yet?)
Also, it would have been nice to hear him remix some 90’s or more contemporary music during the show that I saw but I understand that most of the audience whom I attended the Saturday evening show with requested 70’s and 80’s music. Gregory Charles knew this thanks again to that oh so clever app!

This modern build pop up venue, was extremely well thought out by the architect.
The bar is located right at the entry and the super clean brand new restrooms are just outside next to the venue.
I was very impressed with the especially assigned traffic warden who guarded you safely over 12^th avenue and pointed you into the right direction.
The live show was pretty good, Gregory Charles, his band and the gorgeous female singer did everything in their power to kick arse…
Am not sure how much the tickets were, but possibly more on the pricy side, as they could have done with a bigger audience.
At entry you could write down your favorite song and if Gregory doesn’t know it you win a live concert in your house. The audience can log into the site order drinks and communicate with Gregory.
The light show was mind blowing, it boosted the show to its maximum.
During half time a comedian entertained us.
This event is unique and modern I could see in future events being created more interactive.
If you love live music, karaōke without singing yourself, music from Frank Sinatra to Beoynce and everything in between, and playing with your I-​phone or Android, than that’s an event for you.
This is a good event for groups friends, office outings and birthday parties.

Interesting concept. I’ve never been to a show quite like this. The show’s concept is based on Gregory Charles and his band, basically playing songs from audience requests. These requests are made right before/​during the show. Its sort of like an improv/​variety/​karaōke show.
We were told to fill out the back of our ticket, before the show, and/​or complete a questionnaire online, during the show, that asks questions about our favorite song, favorite musical icon, favorite musical time period, and favorite beatles band. During the show Gregory would pick songs from the answers and sing them. Kinda cool.
I particularly enjoyed the female vocalist Kim Richardson with some of the female solo songs and the musical medleys that Gregory mixed together, almost like a hodge podge of lyrics from several songs sang together in one song. The band’s talent was awesome. As Gregory conducted the band, to accommodate for audience song requests on the spot, the band was able to follow these cues rather quickly and played really nice renditions of the requested songs.
Thanks, Unilocal and Ruggy for the tickets. I had a great time!

Amazing — the energy they have is absolutely astounding. This was an EXTREMELY entertaining show and very, very innovative. I couldn’t help but get up and dance. Highly recmomended!

As a blogger, I am invited to a lot of events. Of the ones I attend, they are not always great, but usually I can at least go home with a couple glasses of some good wine and some hors d’ouevres in my stomach. But last night, I went to an INCREDIBLE show and had one of the best times I’ve had in a long while. Bonus… I got to bring a friend along for the ride.
The premise of Vintage Live is similar to a «piano man» kind of show where you can request songs and the pianist will play and sing them… or try to. This specific show is currently playing at Le Qube – a unique take on a cabaret set on Pier 97 in the Hudson River (@57^th Street). The location alone is pretty breathtaking, especially with the gorgeous weather we’ve been getting blessed with lately.
Upon arriving, you fill out the back of your ticket with a song request, and I spent a good long time trying to figure out something unique enough that might stump him, but not embarrassing enough for other people to have to listen to. I went with «I Want You» by Savage Garden aka: the chika cherry cola song (hey! I’m a 90s girl!).
You then use your smartphone to go to log onto their online system and take a brief quiz about your music preferences and even order drinks – how very 2015!
When the band came out, I was impressed. Not only was Gregory Charles (the aforementioned pianist) going to roll off the cuff all night, but so were a drummer, guitarist, bassist, female singer, keyboardist, and a 3-​man wind section.
The first half was a good mix of classic rock (Scorpions’ Rock You Like a Hurricane and U2’s Beautiful Day) and modern tunes (Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk). He even did an amazing job mashing up random but surprisingly complementary songs so that the audience would hear a maximum variety. You could chat with him and make requests using the app, and while my friend had 2 of her songs chosen, sadly none of mine made the cut.
The second half of the show was devoted to everyone’s hand-​written requests, which Charles arbitrarily picked out of a box. The first was a 1931 classic called Minnie the Moocher, which we all were dumbfounded with at first but soon realized we all know it (think, hidy hidy hidy ho). The gentleman who requested it was sitting right behind us and LOVED every minute of Charles’ and the band’s rendition).
We were also super impressed when one of the selections was Muse’s Supermassive Black Hole, which no one except Charles knew. He proceeded to basically teach the song to his amazingly talented band in about 3 minutes. I have no idea if the performance was accurate, but it was incredible to watch.
They ended the show with medley’s chosen by the audience responses – Queen and then a 70s mix. Everyone was up and dancing in the aisles and having the best time. The last song was Celebration by Kool & the Gang, which is the best song to end any party if you ask any bar mitzvah kid.
You can catch Vintage Live every night through May 2 at Le Qube, and I highly recommend that you do. To get BOGO tickets, use the code VINT2F1. If you miss them this time around, they travel the world, but definitely find a way to catch one of their shows. Be prepared to have the BEST time. The only person who wouldn’t like this show is someone who doesn’t like music, and let’s face it, you don’t want to be friends with that person anyway.

I’m quite excited that this is my 100^th review! The venue is very clean and sleek with one bar in the front when you walk in and another bar further inside where the performance is. It’s easy to find (just look for the ginormous bottle of wine) as you’re walking along the pier. I think the only drawback to this venue is that there are no restrooms inside. Fancy temporary restrooms are located in trailers right outside.
Thanks to a Unilocal event I was able to sit up in the front where you can see all of the action. The interactions between the band and Gregory are hilarious. Gregory Charles is the piano player and also lead male vocalist, Kim is the female vocalist (with some pretty great dance moves), there’s a drummer, a bassist, a guitarist, a horn player, a trombone player, and a saxophone player who can also play the flute, and last but not least, a keyboard player. The horn, trombone, and sax players are adorable because they will synchronize their movements as they play.
Before you enter the performance space you’re asked to fill out a ticket with a song and artist. The point of this is to try to stump the band; as another Unilocaler pointed out, if you succeed in stumping them they will come to your house for a free show. Get creative and dig deep because it’s not easy. At one point Gregory pulled out a ticket that requested Rendez-​Vous by Ukrainian band Okean Elzy. It took him a few minutes but he rattled around in his brain and found the melody to play. Once he gave the band some musical cues everyone else picked up quickly. It was pretty impressive. As a self-​proclaimed music nerd he certainly lives up to his reputation.
I highly recommend signing in to their website before the show starts. They have free Wi-​Fi yay! When you sign into their website —
— you’ll be asked 5 or 6 questions (what’s your favorite Beatles album, what is your favorite musical period, who is your musical icon, etc.). That part is fun because Gregory is able to see the answers to the audience’s questions on his magical piano when the show starts. The answers are also tallied so he’ll let you know what percentage of the audience liked a certain period of music or a band, etc. This way the performance is guided by the majority vote.
Another great reason to sign into the website is that you can order your drinks from your table. You pick what you’d like, complete the order and within a few minutes a server comes by with your drinks and an iPad for payment. There is no credit card minimum and of course you can always pay cash.
In my opinion though the best reason to sign in is that you can «chat» with Gregory as the show is going on. Make a request! Tell him he’s awesome. Ask them to tell you you’re beautiful (someone actually did this and Gregory complied — hahahah).
It’s a fantastic experience because it’s unique to each audience.
I found that the music during the show was varied in time period but geared more towards jazzy bluesy tunes. There are also some fun mashups. He mixed in some Beyonce, Gnarls Barkley, Queen, U2, Hoobastank, various songs from The Sound of Music, Frank Sinatra, and there was even a guitar solo from Stairway to Heaven. I was ecstatic that my song At Last by Etta James was chosen but I think the most interesting song request of the night was someone who asked for Creep by Radiohead — in a jazz version. It was performed amazingly well.
There is a midway break at which point a comedian comes out and tells a few jokes. Most people took this opportunity to use the restrooms though I did catch the tail end of his set and he was pretty funny.
Expect to have a wonderful time, especially if you’re a music lover. It’s funny, it’s energetic, it’s unpredictable, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. My date and I had a blast!

Wow this is like a human juke box or reverse karaōke. The entire show is freestyle and it all relies on the audience’s participation and involvement. Shout out to Ruggy and Unilocal for hooking me up with free tickets.
When I arrived, I was told to write my song of preference for the band to play. I wish I did my homework for this because I would’ve chose a better song.
Please note that this show isn’t for everyone, they mostly play tunes from the 60s to 80s. Hence the name, Vintage Live! the genre of music is mostly jazz and oldies. Think Frank Sinatra, Queen, Creedence Clearwater, Etta James, Led Zeppelin, Gnarls Barkley, U2 and Billy Joel.
If this isn’t your kind of jam, I’d avoid coming here. But this is a live juke box, shouldn’t they play everything and anything? Not exactly, even though I wrote my chosen song «Thinking Outloud» it didn’t fit in the genre or time period.
When I went inside I was given the link to choose songs and genres to play. Some of the selection I saw was Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Coldplay. The show definitely leans towards a certain mood and theme.
Even then, there’s still endless possibilities. There’s so much to cover in just the genre itself.
During half time Rachid Badouri entertained us with some of his jokes.
In the first half, Gregory played tunes based off the live chat, for the second half he read them off from the box.
Some examples of the second half of the show include: Chuck Berry, Footloose, Hoobastank, Uptown Girl, and Sound of music.
For the finale we listened to Final Countdown, Twisted Sister, Bruce Springsteen, Journey, Bryan Adams and Bonnie Tyler.
The whole show took about 2.5 hours.
Overall I’d say this is a hit or miss. It all depends on your music taste. Very cool concept though. I do give them a lot of credit for the preparation and research done by this. It truly takes a real musician and singer to live and breathe music. I can’t imagine how much work it took to remember all the songs that could possibly be requested. I was surprised at first how Kim Richardson and Gregory Charles knew the lyrics of any requested song right off the bat. No one was reading off screens or anything. They really know it by heart and for that I commend them a lot of respect.
P. S. They have a promise that if they get stumped by someone’s request they will personally learn the song and travel to you no matter where you are and perform the song for you even if it’s in your living room.
Now that’s gotta mean they know everything and anything!