If there was ever such a thing as a human jukebox, Brian Burn and Jamie Mahn would probably be it.
The Canadian duo goes by the name Burn ‘N’ Mahn and has captivated audiences for years with their interactive all-request piano shows.
“We work with the room by the minute,” said Mahn, from Calgary.
“We’ll even change songs or bail out of songs and move into something else on the spot to accommodate what’s going on in the room.”
The duo covers every style of music from 1920s tunes to current top 40 hits and uses a variety of instruments, including guitars, a saxophone, and accordion, but their instrument of choice is the piano.
Both men have been playing piano for decades either for their own band or as a back-up band for other artists.
To stay on top of the latest and greatest songs, the pair listens to satellite radio while driving from gig to gig.
“We basically learn songs on the road and get familiar with them enough so that if people ask for them we can play them,” said Mahn, adding on average the duo drives 8,000 km a month.
Before beginning the show they introduce themselves to the audience and pass out pieces of paper for song requests.
Mahn said the top three requests are “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.
“People often ask us to play what we like best and really it’s whatever is going to light up the room, so I don’t have a particular choice of what I want to play other than whatever is going to work best,” he said.
“It sounds like a cliché answer, but that’s what I’m going for. I like to please the room not myself.”
In addition to putting together a unique show, the band is also on a different frequency than others—literally.
Most modern music is tuned to A440 Hz, which is the universal frequency or note that all instruments are tuned to.
According to Mahn, studies have found this pitch is disharmonious with nature and may generate negative effects on human behaviour and consciousness.
To counteract that, the duo tunes its instruments to A432 Hz, which studies suggest is mathematically consistent with the patterns of the universe, explained Mahn.
“Since we started using it people are just locked into the music. We’ve had people cry and have real heavy emotional reactions and we’ve just noticed that the crowd seems to stay longer than they did before,” said Mahn, adding it also seems easier to sing in that key.
Burn ‘N’ Mahn will be at the Jasper Legion Nov. 12.
Tickets are available at the door for $15. The show starts at 9 p.m. and is open to all ages.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
