BEACH INSIDER

For dueling pianos, audience fun is key

Sing-alongs rock Spinnaker Beach Club

Tony Simmons
tsimmons@pcnh.com
The 'Dueling Pianos' show at Spinnaker encourages audience interaction and sing-alongs. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS]

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A crumpled sheet of paper beside the keyboard showed that some "South Carolina girls" wanted to hear "Brown-Eyed Girl," the Van Morrison classic, on a recent evening at Spinnaker Beach Club.

"Older people are really responding to it, and families," said Bryan Whitley, director of Entertainment for both Spinnaker and Schooners in Panama City Beach. "We started in April, working nonstop to build momentum as we reached 'season' mode. It's been so popular that we plan to extend it into the fall."

Whitley was referring to the "Dueling Pianos" show that fills the club's indoor bar stage with songs and dancing each Friday and Saturday from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Now in its second year, the show has caught on with the all-ages crowd Spinnaker is cultivating. The club is located at 8795 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach.

"What we're trying to do is to build a local following," said pianist and show host Ed Lee. "We would like to see it continue year-round."

Two piano shells face each other on a corner stage with a drummer situated between them. The indoor area where the piano stage stands used to known as the club's "Groove Room" or dance floor. It still is when a late-night DJ holds sway. Now the space also has some tables for diners sampling the recently revamped menu of "Southern coastal cuisine" from Chef Konrad Jochum.

"Some of these shows can be R-rated," Whitley said. "Ours is not. It's definitely family-friendly."

The pianists take requests, encourage joking and interaction with the audience, and compete against each other to wow the listeners. College fight songs are common in the mix; a recent weekend saw a group of college cheerleaders line the stage to lead the audience in an impromptu pep rally.

"People come early and they stay all evening. That's how entertaining it is," Whitley said.

The idea to feature a piano show came from Spinnaker and Schooners guiding light Sparky Sparkman, Whitley said: "He had the idea to do something as an alternative to cover bands or so forth, and add drums."

They started scouting similar acts in the region nearly two years ago, Whitley said, in places like the Florabama and Howl at the Moon — finding out what worked and what they could do to improve the show. When they moved into the current location, the bar added lighting and speakers to enhance the new stage.

"It's a very fun show," Whitley said.

ACTIVE IMPROVISING

Along with Lee, the show features drummer Eric Griffith and a rotating roster of guest pianists each weekend. (This weekend's guest pianist is "the other" James Taylor, Griffith said.)

Lee said each show is so different that he's learned not to try to make a plan, a schedule or play list. He's been playing piano since age 13 (he's now 46), and doing dueling piano shows for the past five years in Pensacola, Orange Beach and New Orleans before coming to Panama City Beach.

"You just have to know a lot of songs, and be able to play without looking at your hands," Lee said. "Your mind has to be on the crowd at all times. ... You leave the show in the crowd's hands and at least allow them to think they're in charge. The crowd keeps me on my toes."

Every audience will ask for most of the same songs, Lee said, but it's good to be able to throw in novelty songs, TV themes and college fight songs. He also encourages the audience by calling to the stage those with birthdays or anniversaries and then "roasting them." Spontaneity is key.

"You try to get the people engaged," Lee said, describing a recent evening where a man pretended to pole dance to uproarious applause. "Capitalize on the situation that presents itself."

Lee will often cut off the instruments and extend a microphone to the audience to encourage the sing-along fun, Whitley said: "The sing-along aspect is what it's all about."

"It's funny to watch the drummer," Whitley added. "Songs start and stop, they may speed up or stop completely to get audience reaction, and he's constantly looking at each player to keep pace. he really has to pay attention."

Griffith, originally from Texas and a regular drummer for bands in New Orleans, said he's been playing like that since childhood.

"I grew up playing at churches, where they might slow down a song or interrupt," he said. "It's one of the cool things about this show — it's all improv. ... You've got to really be on your toes. I'm pretty wiped by the end of a show."

Whitley noted that most band leaders are out in front of the drummer, often holding a guitar or as a lead singer. When that person wants to change tempo, he'll often give a hand sign or a swing of the guitar neck to signal.

"But when he's a piano player, his hands are busy," Whitley said. "He might make a face at you, and you have to decide what that means."

The songs covered depend on the crowd, the men said, but any night will find a few old faithfuls by piano men like Billy Joel or Elton John, whose "Piano Man" and "Bennie and the Jets" are regular requests. Others often covered include Journey, Jimmy Buffett and Bon Jovi. The players know "hundreds of tunes," Whitley said, and Griffith added that the only one he's been stumped by recently was a request for "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan — which didn't stump Lee.

"It's more like a cruise ship lounge area, a party atmosphere," Griffith said, "but we keep it classy and comfortable for everybody."

What: Family-friendly interactive piano entertainment

Where: Spinnaker Beach Club, 8795 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach

When: 7:30-10:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through the autumn

Details: SpinnakerBeachClub.com or 850-234-7892

Dueling Pianos