The Piano Guys to Play Fox Theatre, 10/18

AEG Live & Nine Network presents THE PIANO GUYS on Saturday, October 18 at 8PM Live at The Fox Theatre. Tickets are $103, $47.50, $42.50, $32.50. On-Sale Information: Tickets go on sale Friday, April 4 at 10AM online at metrotix.com, by calling 314-534-1111, or in person at the Fox Theatre Box Office.

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They've made over 35 since joining forces in early 2011, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that has brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks on October 2nd, 2012.

In the last few months, The Piano Guys have performed on everywhere from "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," to "The Today Show" and "Katie." Their most recent video "Mission Impossible" featuring YouTube violin sensation Lindsey Stirling, continues to build momentum with over 1.5M views in a month. It finds the band and Stirling in a spy thriller as covert operatives while playing their unique take on this famous musical theme.

The album features more of the imaginative mash-up arrangements that The Piano Guys are already famous for, including sources ranging from Michael Jackson to Mozart, The Bourne Identity to David Guetta. It also includes an original song and innovative takes on hits by One Direction, Adele and Christina Perri.

But just who are The Piano Guys? Actually, there's only one piano player, Jon Schmidt, and one other instrumentalist, Steven Sharp Nelson, on cello. Yet the other two - Paul Anderson, and Al van der Beek - are equally significant members of the group. The Piano Guys' name comes from Anderson's piano store in St. George, Utah, which was called The Piano Guys. Looking for an alternative to low-yield conventional advertising, Anderson devised a Facebook promotional page and YouTube channel featuring the most famous pianist he could find - local pianist, Jon Schmidt. A self-described "New Age Classical" player, Schmidt was indeed well-established locally, thanks to eight albums and seven piano books of his song transcriptions. He also performed concerts throughout Utah, one of which featured a young guest artist, Steven Sharp Nelson, who adventurously combined traditional cello playing with percussion effects. "I was 15 when I met Jon and started playing with him," Nelson recalls. "I had to get a ride to shows! But we've had a great brotherhood that's now lasted 20 years."

To post a comment, you must register and login.