March 29, 2024

Dueling Pianos, Party! Party! to rock Newton Thursday night

It is not every day one can see a group of 250 Jasper County residents holding hands and forming a giant circle and singing in Maytag Park. In fact, it only happens once a year thanks to the outgoing and entertaining personalities of Andy Anderson and Mike Leeds.

For three years, the dueling pianos duo has brought music, laughter, entertainment and even hand holding to hundreds as part of the Summer Concert Series hosted by Newton Parks and Grounds Division. The duo will return with their pianos and senses of humor at 7 p.m. Thursday at Maytag Park.

“This show is all about you, the audience. It’s your show, not our show,” said Anderson, who has been performing with Leeds since 2008. “It’s all about just letting go and seeing a concert that is meant for you to just laugh, sing, dance, cry and learn something just a little more awkward about the people you bring with you. So, we’re sort of like FarmersOnly.com that way.”

City of Newton Parks Administrative Superintendent Nathan Unsworth, who planned the concert series, said he looks forward to the group’s performance annually because of their sense of humor and high energy.

“We have invited the dueling pianos because they are a fun group with a lot of energy,” he said. “They are such a fun group that everyone leaves with a smile on their face. They are, by far, the most popular act each year.”

Unsworth is not the only one looking forward to the performance. Anderson said the band is ready to return to Newton for its unique venue and “great” crowd.

“Mike and I have had the honor of playing almost all the major concert venues in the state of Iowa, and the Maytag Bowl has this unique feel to it when we play there, this excitement that makes us want to step up our game a bit,” he said. “On top of that, the crowd is always adorable. Literally. I love those moments in front of the Newton crowd where literally everyone in the audience has this huge child-like smile on their face or is laughing hysterically. It’s this bond that we form with them through the whole night.”

Joining Anderson and Leeds on stage is “Party! Party! The Ultimate Karaoke Band.” The group, which includes Nick Borror (bass and lead vocals), Joe Kiplinger (guitar) and Josh Ickowitz (drums), will be making their Newton debut Thursday after a 2014 performance was rained out.

“People should expect to get involved and enjoy themselves. If they don’t, Mike and Andy will pull it out them,” Borror said. “They’ll be dancing, laughing, singing, games. Anything goes.”

The combination of dueling pianos and a band is something Anderson said will take the show to the next level and offer something new to audience members who have seen the dueling pianos before.

“(It will be) the same amount of energy and crowd craziness as years past, just with a bit more drive and energy of a full band,” said Anderson, who said the two groups have performed together since 2013. “The band really brings a heightened excitement and energy on top of what we already do with just two pianos.”

Anderson is inviting everyone, no matter how old, to join him and his bandmates at Thursday’s show, as long as those attending are prepared for a good time.

“The show is meant for all ages, young and old,” he said. “A common misconception about dueling pianos is that it’s two guys sitting there and very boringly playing Beethoven and Mozart, which if you came to hear that, you are screwed. Dueling pianos is comedy, singing, crazy crowd participation — all of it.”