I am a singer and pianist at a very famous piano bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. AMA

The last time my wife made me go to Pat O's it was full of Tulane frat/sorority annoying fuckers.

Please ban these types from your establishment.

Thx.

i love you

Not a question but I see you're at Pat Os. Thanks dude you and your coworkers have made some of my worst nights amazing and made me cry on my best. I've requested. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and "Proud To Be An American" around 150 times each as of the half decade I've lived in New Orleans. I miss home a lot and you can put me back on Long Island in 2002 with my family with just a couple notes. I also abuse my "Rocket Man" privileges but you all never seem to mind. Thank you :-), I love you and your fellow musicians at Pat Os more than you know.

thanks so much man - you just made my day;)

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anything by One Direction

Because you're not a good enough musician?

yeah its too advanced. harder to play than steely dan / joni mitchell combined

Could you please please please please a million times please do a rendition of Tom Waits's Alice?

On a sidenote, I'm an aspiring piano player myself, which not so hard songs would you recommend me play to get myself starting on learning jazz piano? I'm listening the likes of Brad Mehldau, and it isn't quite the easiest of material. Anyway, keep up the good work, you've got a dream job right there.

damn you guys are too damn hip for me with these awesome requests :-\ i can play "down in the hole" or another tom waits for ya but i haven't learned "alice" yet (but what a great tune)..

although i'm not trained in jazz, i've found that listening and copying the greats has always helped me develop my style. don't be afraid to steal licks, make them your own. James Booker "spiders on the keys" is one of my all time favorites and biggest influences

I'm down with anything from Tom Waits. Do your favorite song. Also, what a nice album from James Booker that is.

http://youtu.be/ksulr4mcZ0M hope you like it!

What songs are requested the most? I'll bet the tips are pretty good from all of the drunk tourists.

1. sweet caroline
2. piano man
3. tiny dancer
4. don't stop believing
5. brown eyed girl

these are the most by far. i've played "sweet caroline" more times than neil diamond himself, guaranteed (he's never had to play it 5 times in a night lol)

How in the hell do you guys remember so many songs? Do you just sit around learning random tunes that drunks might think of?

i have lyrics and chords on the iPad they let us bring on stage. if a song i dont know gets requested a lot, i'm losing money by not knowing it, so i learn it. but sometimes, if i really love a song, i learn it. the last song i learned bc i liked it was "Diane Young" (from the new vampire weekend record). sounds fucking great on piano too

Can you upload a video of you playing Diane Young?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49_Ts3LPsso

did all of these 1 take.. some are sort of terrible but whateva lol

Is this your dream job, or are you working on something? Ever dream about taking your show on the road?

Am I correct that you play the piano? I'm mulling over a request. "Piano man" seems so cliche. But it is a great song.

i just turned 30 a month ago, but i don't plan on working on bourbon street my whole life. i record a lot and write a lot, and try to stay creative & busy. always getting better.

Okay, how about the song How Come My Dog Don't Bark? Can you do that one?

i don't know that one actually, but i know dr john's "such a night" and "right place wrong time"

either one of those? i can play it now real quick if u want ;)

How about "such a night," haven't heard that one for a while. Thanks!

just recorded it, its uploading (give it a min and i'll post the link)

http://youtu.be/9q1quULFVog

How do you feel about Bob Breck's toupee?

partly askew with a chance of drizzle

Do you play any other instruments?

I consider myself "basically terrible" on guitar. I have been attempting to learn the cowbell, as well. Very difficult instrument

Question from the wife: what's the application process like?

Question from me: what's up with the dude with the tray full of coins? It's annoying.

1. the application process involved me calling the GM every day for like a month, telling him i'd play for free for a week, etc. i was pretty persistent (read: annoying) i initially didn't get the job, and had to move to pennsylvania for a few years bc of hurricane katrina. when i got back, the GM called me to play, so i found a replacement piano player for the casino gig i was at, & drove straight there from mississippi. been there ever since.

2. thats alvin - he's a great guy, and good friend. been working there 42 years;)

Any stories about brawls? What exactly do you mean by "drunk shenanigans." Are the slutty girls not tourists? Are these "working girls"? Or just working girls.

without sounding cocky or anything, the truth is that i get hit on a lot by women. phone numbers, hotel room keys, etc. (being able to play piano & control a room is a pretty powerful thing)

If you want to get laid there are a couple steps you've got to do. 1. Learn to play an instrument or one song really well. 2. Play it in front of drunk women. 3. Get laid. -Guy Code

its sort of like having a super power, or being super handsome. but yeah, man, years and years of practice (at piano and performing, not getting laid lol)

we've had some pretty big fights but 99% of the time it's a fun atmosphere- ppl drinking and singing along with us. the fights are usually Alabama football v LSU fans

Two questions... Who would be your dream partner to play with? If the table was turned, what's one song you would request?

1. elton john (or the ghost of james brown)
2. "gimme shelter" by the rolling stones or "badfish" by sublime

What's the biggest tip you've received, most famous patron?

$1500 to play American Pie. Apparently the guy had just won a whole lot of money at the casino, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time. You better believe I played every damn verse of that song. There's at least 483 verses, fyi.

C-Can I request it?? Full version please, I hate it when the radio skips verses, as I know the whole song by heart. I love that song... I understand it's a bit long and understand if you say no.^_^

apparently the going rate for the full song is around $1500

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started at 4 and a half years old. had classical piano lessons up until college, majored in piano performance at Tulane... parents really cracked the whip, made me practice hours a day. really hated it then, but i thank them every day now.

ps fuck the jets.

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absolutely... i've also gotten requests for: "Sweet Balls of Fire,"
"Big Balls on Fire" "Great Ball of Fire," (the lance armstrong edition) etc etc etc..

Are you ever unable to play something because it simply wouldn't work on piano?

if i try hard enough i can do a rendition of anything on the piano. even lil wayne

Is Lafitte's haunted? And do you know a man with the last name Spence?

1. not sure but theres some crazy juju in that place. i've played there before and its really fun
   
2. doesnt ring a bell

Where did you live when you were in Pennsylvania and what did you do there?

I would loooove if you could do a Steely Dan song for me. "Kid Charlemagne" if you know it. Never saw someone able to play it on the piano.

woof.... i'd rather not try and embarass myself trying to rock out some steely dan on the piano. shit is written for 12-string and is crazy. musically brilliant, but cray. lived in bethlehem, pennsylvania and finished my bachelors in music performance degree at Lehigh University (was at Tulane)

Heyyyy, I've given you my hard earned money before. Keep on keepin' on!

thanks buddy ;) will do

Uhmm, if you may could you pour your talent into some Johnny Cash, maybe "God's gonna cut you down"? Thank you so much. You're the best!

ok i've never heard the song before but i am going to challenge myself to learn it real quick and give you a video. no bullshit. give me 5-10 min

thanks. i give myself a B minus for accuracy, but an A for effort

Lucky Dogs. Best drunk food ever or the worst drunk food ever?

gross. made from dire wolf meat and broken dreams

What song do you love to play that people don't request enough?

michael jackson "the way you make me feel" --love it

I'd like to see a recording of this one!

http://youtu.be/JBY3r4mSJTE there ya go

sure i'll post one- gimme a sec

Did you work Mardi Gras night this year? I think I got to see you play.

there's only 2 male players there, so its likely

Got any good stories of famous people coming in?

Funny celeb story, zac brown was in the piano bar like 3 months ago, and i was sort of nervous because everyone was requesting zac brown songs. its nerve-racking playing someones song in front of them. i mean, fuck that. seriously. anyways, i played "colder weather" and it went OK and then i noticed the guy had signed "Thanks for the music. -Zach" on the napkin. he was totally NOT fucking zac brown (theres no "H" in his name), he was just a hillbilly with a trucker hat and a grizzly adams beard drinking bud light and signing autographs, hitting on girls. dude fooled the entire place for 2 hours, taking pictures, etc. in retrospect, it was pretty hilarious.

michael buble came in after a show here in new orleans and was super nice to everyone, taking pictures etc. apparently he requested one of his own songs "save the last dance." During the superbowl in Feb, we had a ton of celebs come through. jerry rice, jason bateman (hero), billionaire jerry jones (great tipper ;), got to meet michael phelps, everyone was super nice. andy roddick and brooklyn decker came awhile back, she requested "don't stop believing." (i DEFINITELY didn't smell the napkin after she handed it to me like a creeper. promise.). the crossbow dude from "the walking dead" comes in every year for new orleans comicon, super nice guy. and last, but certainly not least, Lance Bass.

That's awesome! Also you'll get a lot of /r/thewalkingdead fans talking about Norman Reedus, or "The crossbow dude" haha

norman is a cool dude. came in with the boondock saints cast (minus willem dafoe) and requested "rocket man"

I'm in the UK here, so don't really know New Orleans. Can you tell us a bit about the famous piano bar and Bourbon Street in general. Thanks.

without going into specifics about my particular place of work, a piano bar is a place where people can sit a table with their friends, write down song requests on a napkin or paper, and hand it to the players (sometimes with tips, sometimes not). then they get served a strong mixed drink concoction, and enjoy hearing their favorite songs live. it's like a concert where you determine the playlist, and everyone, including the patrons, can sing along and interact with the show. if you want to know about bourbon street in general, i dont know where to begin.... it's a place where bad decisions are made, the original "boulevard of broken dreams."

Do you play at lafitte's? :)

no but i have played there before. awesome spot, and the owner, Joe, is a great guy

That's awesome... Was trying to guess by the background... One last guess, then I will stop.... Pat O'brien's? :)

Can't really confirm or deny. But you're pretty much narrowed it down ;) i'll say this- its the BEST piano bar in the world. That should be enough of a hint

Best random sit in guest?

in the history of the piano bar, i'd have to say either willie nelson or kenny rodgers, though this was before my time. we do get a fair amount of celebs but i havent had any notable sit-ins, unfortunately...

What are your favorite and least favorite events in NOLA? Like Mardi Gras, Bayou Classic, Jazzfest, etc.

i guess bayou classic only because its the most dangerous weekend of the year. also, never to wear a pink tie during "southern decadence" weekend. huge mistake, though the crowd is actually really fun and they are good tippers.

Craziest Bourbon Street/bar story?

one friday night about a year ago, i was singing "hotel california" to the piano bar full of people (i think it was around superbowl time. totally packed). anyways, i get to the line in the song "they stab it full of steely knives, but they just cant kill the BEAST." As soon as I say the word "Beast," all of the lights in the room go out. Pitch darkness.

Everyone starts to freak out, yelling, spilling drinks, trying to head for the exit but theres no light, glass everywhere.

turns out it was a result of a black out in the entire french quarter. Everyone had to leave, because power wouldn't be restored for hours.

Apart from that, Mario Lopez was in the piano bar last night, so i guess that's just as crazy (AC Slater requesting "tiny dancer"). I got douche chills..

Do you play "at the gangbang"?

nope. sounds like a beautiful song though

Horny Gators. Hand Grenades. Daiquiri Shops. Absinthe. What's your favorite drink to get that may be overlooked or unknown to a visitor on Bourbon Street?

Try a Gin Fizz at Tujague's, or an Old Fashioned at the Ritz

as far as bourbon st goes, i wouldnt recommend any novelty drinks whatsoever unless you want a hangover. but that's my personal preference bc i hate sugary drinks. some of my girl friends love the "190 octane" daiquiris (they are deceptively strong too)

Any Beginner tips for a young pianoman looking to start somewhere?

three tips i wish someone had taught me when i started performing full-time:

1. don't be afraid to make mistakes. my immediate reaction when i hit a wrong note or can't reach a high vocal parts is to smile. we're not performing brain surgery over here. if you stress out over it, the audience can tell. have fun and enjoy it. shake it off, homie.
2. you will learn SO MUCH MORE from bad gigs than from good ones. and you WILL have some awful gigs, starting out. learn from them. (i still have bad nights all the time)
3. don't underestimate the power of a good business card. with design/printing, they may cost you 150-200 bucks, BUT the'll last you for years. makes you look professional. also, always overdress for gigs.

lastly, i'd recommend going to a nursing home that has a piano sometime and play for the elderly. not only is it good karma, but they are the easiest audience you'll ever have. it will be the highlight of their day, even if you sound terrible:)

good luck, and feel free to email me if u have any more questions: mageezbeats at gmail

are you singing or just playing?

No questions, just wanted to tell you how much I love Pat O's, and that you wreck it. Loved your Thrift Shop rendition.

thanks man!

For God's sake, do you know "Football's coming home"?

Piano bars just aren't the same across the pond!

What's your favorite piano bar song that doesn't seem to get enough love?

Billy Joel - Vienna is one of my favorite piano songs that we rarely get requests for

Wayne and I want to know what your favorite winged mythological creature is.

dragons, mostly

Silly question but what the heck, have you ever met lil wayne or birdman?

was hired to interview birdman for YRB magazine a few years back, unrelated to the piano bar (i'm not a journalist by any means but a friend needed a favor). he was wearing an all gucci tracksuit and showed up in a stretch PT cruiser. true story.

Ever play with Mark Weliky? Old friend whom I played with back I the day. He's a regular at baccanal

dont think so

Have you ever covered any music by jam bands like the grateful dead or phish? I plan on going to New Orleans in the next year when I turn 21 and I would be so happy to hear some good ol dead.

casey jones, scarlet begonias, & a couple more i can't remember

Question: How long have you been playing? Do you have any formal qualifications/training/grading/boss level victories? How many hours per week do you play, practice included?

Request: Tom Waits - All the world is green

Statement: You're cool.

thanks man, i am on stage performing at least 20 hours a week. besides that, i am always learning new songs, writing songs, thinking about music. just finished a music video for a new music project. i also do a considerable amount of session work, where people hire me to play piano in the studio for hip hop/country/liturgical/anything... helps to be versatile.

Kind of a weird question, but I always thought Bourbon street had nothing on Frenchmen street (less authentic, more touristy/tacky, just my opinion, though, please understand). What makes you love Bourbon so much?

i don't love bourbon street. actually, i havent gone out on bourbon street in years. frenchman has a lot more new orleans authentic jazz groups and a more laid back / less touristy atmosphere by far. when i have a night off, i usually just watch netflix

As a fellow pianist, I think your job is amazing. This would be a dream job for me except I cant sing :(. What kind of piano education do you have? When did you start playing? Knowing so many songs, is there a trick you use to remember them or is it just remembering the chord progression?

its hard to explain, but because i mainly am playing by ear for work, i just have to be familiar enough with a song, the general "vibe" or rhythmic feeling it has, and its not that hard. i have the ipad at work mainly for the lyrics. ALSO, i am pretty terrible at remembering peoples names/faces. i have the suspicion that all that space in my memory is being used up by shitty jimmy buffett songs

Do people ever request New Orleans jazz music or is it just rock/pop?

everything from scott joplin to (shudder) carly rae jepsen

Son could you play me a melody? I'm not really sure how it goes but it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete when I wore a younger man's clothes.

dont know any. sorry.

A few months ago I drunkenly asked you or one of your colleagues to play a Kate Bush song. I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

forgiveable. better than asking for a song by the band bush.

Did I just see a fuckin' shuriken made out of money?!

definitely still have the shuriken. its worth far more than the $2 it was constructed with

one of my all-time favorite songs to play live - http://youtu.be/JBY3r4mSJTE "the way you make me feel" - mj

I know its cliche', but I love "Piano Man" :D Such a good song! ^_^ I hope you're not entirely sick of it!!!

i'm not entirely sick of piano man, per se.. sometimes i catch myself on auto-pilot, however.

what are some of your favorite bars to go to in nola, sidenote i'm from louisiana also

dba/blue nile on frenchman, delachaise uptown. honestly i'm at a bar so much at work i dont do too much bar-hopping when i have a night off. in the french quarter, i like finnegans, sometimes bmc