Yes, we actually play the instruments at EMEAPP – they’re not just here for show!
Check out these videos of live performances within our walls, created for an audience who has an interest in vintage and unique musical instruments. Do you like what you’re seeing? We encourage you to follow these unique artists and share them with the world.
MANTICORE
NUT ROCKER Emerson, Lake and Palmer
The guys in Manticore came in and threw down a holiday classic made famous by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Check them out playing NUT ROCKER. Don’t mind the cannon!
ELECTRIC DIAMOND
Performance with a live audience
Check out this live performance of Electric Diamond in the big room at EMEAPP. The band features electronic wind instrumentalist Stuart Diamond with keyboardist Don Slepian, and features violinist Karen Bentley Pollick.
PETE FAVILLA
Bohemian Rhapsody Queen
We asked Piano Pete Favilla to whip out a popular song everyone knew and he shot Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody out of the cannon. We love capturing performances like this because they are challenging and unexpected, enjoy!
KEITH TURNER
Fugue Keith Emerson
Keith Turner performs Keith Emerson’s Fugue from the album Trilogy on Keith Emerson’s personal Steinway Model D grand piano. This was released as part of Keith Emerson’s 80th birthday celebration, make sure you check out the others!
MIKE IAN
Close to Home Keith Emerson
Such a beautiful composition! Here is Mike Ian of the ELP tribute band, TARKUS, delivering a wonderful rendition of Keith Emerson’s song “Closer To Home” from the ELP album Black Moon. We released this as a part of our Keith Emerson 80th birthday celebration, make certain to check out the other videos!
PETE FAVILLA
Prelude to a Hope Keith Emerson
Here is a beautiful performance of Keith Emerson’s Prelude To a Hope by Peter Favilla. This was released as a part of our Keith Emerson 80th birthday celebration, make sure you check out the others!
ROBY DEATON
Jeremy Bender Keith Emerson
Here is our good friend Roby Deaton performing “Jeremy Bender” as part of our Keith Emerson 80th birthday celebration. You’re right, this one was NOT shot at EMEAPP, but it was a perfect fit!
PETE FAVILLA
Piano Suite No. 1 “Ghosts” Part 6 Pete Favilla
This is the third piece that Pete Favilla performed on a recent trip to EMEAPP. This is an original composition called Ghosts, Part 6 of his Piano Suite No. 1, performed on Keith Emerson’s Steinway Model D grand piano.
PETE FAVILLA
Ocean Etude Opus 25, No. 12 Transcription Frédéric Chopin
Our second Pete Favilla episode brings a firey transcription of Chopin’s Ocean Etude Opus 25 no 12 performed on Keith Emerson’s Steinway Model D.
DAVE HARTL
Across The Universe The Beatles
John Lennon wrote this beautiful song back in 1967, it was included on The Beatles’ album, Let It Be. Here is Dave Hartl this gem on KEITH EMERSON’s Steinway Model D grand piano. Enjoy!
STEPHEN WEISS
Electric Six-String Violin Improvisation
Here is the second video from violinist STEPHEN WEISS from a recent visit to EMEAPP. We were so lucky that he could visit in between his Trans Siberian Orchestra gigs! In this video, Stephen is freestyling with his electric six-string violin running through his effects board and into his amp. It’s kinna trippy, enjoy!
PETE FAVILLA
Clair De Lune Claude Debussy
Pianist Pete Favilla is a regular here at EMEAPP. We were finally able to lock him in for a session and the results were fantastic! Here is Pete performing Claude Debussy’s beloved Clair De Lune on Keith Emerson’s Steinway Model D grand piano, enjoy!
DAVE HARTL
Black Napkins Frank Zappa
Speaking of Frank Zappa, here’s DAVE HARTL with a tasty arrangement of BLACK NAPKINS from his album “Zoot Allures”. As always, we shot this video with Dave performing on Keith Emerson’s 1972 Steinway Model D grand piano. Enjoy!
DAVE HARTL
Betcha By Golly, Wow The Stylisticts
This one is for the Philly folks! The Stylistics dropped this tune on their eponymous debut album back in 1971. DAVE HARTL put together this tasty arrangement and performed it here on Keith Emerson’s Steinway Model D grand piano. While you’re here, please subscribe!
STEPHEN WEISS
Freestyle Acoustic Violin Looping
Time to get your fiddlin’ on! We were lucky to nab Stephen between gigs to create some cool vids. Here he is tearing up his acoustic violin connected to a digital looping rig. Make sure to check out his video (further up the page) that features his wing-shaped electric 6 string, it’s really cool!
DAVE HARTL
Peaches En Regalia Frank Zappa
If only Frank Zappa was around to hear this! Pianist/arranger DAVE HARTL came into EMEAPP with this outstanding arrangement of Zappa’s Peaches En Regalia from the album HOT RATS. Even better, Dave performed it on Keith Emerson’s Steinway Model D grand piano, we’re sure Keith would’ve loved it! Don’t forget to subscribe so you can see more great stuff. You’ll love it, it’s a way of liiiife. 😉
DAVID MEI
Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No.2 Frédéric Chopin
The third video in a series of three features Philadelphia-based concert pianist David Mei performing Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin. Again, Mei is seated at Keith Emerson’s 1972 Steinway Model D concert grand piano. David Mei is a concert pianist studying under Elena Galynina. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Music. Currently, he’s the founder of Legato Pianos, a music education startup building piano labs/curriculums in schools and developing fun and easy music education apps.
DAVID MEI
Transcendental Étude No. 12 (Chasse-Neige) Franz Liszt
The second video in a series of three features Philadelphia-based concert pianist David Mei performing Transcendental Étude No. 12 (Chasse-Neige) by Franz Liszt. Releasing this performance during the holidays matches Liszt’s snowstorm-themed composition beautifully. Again, Mei is seated at Keith Emerson’s 1972 Steinway Model D concert grand piano. David Mei is a concert pianist studying under Elena Galynina. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Music. Currently, he’s the founder of Legato Pianos, a music education startup building piano labs/curriculums in schools and developing fun and easy music education apps.
DAVID MEI
Miroirs No. 3 “Une Barque sur l’Ocean” Maurice Ravel
Here for your listening and viewing pleasure is the first video in a series of three filmed recently with Philadelphia-based concert pianist David Mei. Seated at Keith Emerson’s 1972 Steinway Model D concert grand, David kicks off this series with a moving performance of Maurice Ravel’s Miroirs No. 3 “Une Barque sur l’Ocean”. David Mei is a concert pianist studying under Elena Galynina. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Music. Currently, he’s the founder of Legato Pianos, a music education startup building piano labs/curriculums in schools and developing fun and easy music education apps.
RON PONELLA & KEITH TURNER
Jerusalem Emerson, Lake and Palmer
50 years of Brain Salad Surgery? Yes! Here is Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s “Jerusalem”, performed by two talented members of the tribute bands MANTICORE and TARKUS. Keith Turner (Tarkus) is playing on Keith Emerson’s actual Moog modular synthesizer, split Minimoog and Goff-modified Hammond “Tarkus” C3 organ. Note the original Nate Bonilla painting of Emerson sitting atop Keith’s L100! Nate is the son of Keith Emerson Band vocalist/guitarist Marc Bonilla. Manticore’s vocalist/bassist, Ron Ponella, delivers a passionate performance on Neil Young’s vintage AKG C12A tube mic. It was great working with these two talented performers, keep your eyes open for more!
ROB SHEPARD of Manticore
Karn Evil 9, 2nd Impression Emerson, Lake and Palmer
The second part of our 50th Brain Salad Surgery celebration, we bring you a very cool interpretation of an epic Emerson, Lake and Palmer composition. Here is our good friend, Rob Shepard, of the ELP tribute band, MANTICORE, performing the second movement (impression) of KARN EVIL 9. Even better, Rob is performing on Keith Emerson’s personal 1972 Steinway Model D and Keith’s custom ‘split’ Moog Minimoog!
MIKE IAN of Tarkus
Still…You Turn Me On Emerson, Lake and Palmer
For the final installment of our Brain Salad Surgery 50th anniversary celebration, we bring you one of Greg Lake’s finest romantic ballads. Performed by Mike Ian of the ELP tribute band TARKUS, this beautiful song truly shows the ability of Greg Lake to create deeply moving compositions. To make this shoot even more authentic, we used two of Greg Lake’s personal Neumann KM84 microphones, which did the job beautifully. Now go spin Brain Salad Surgery end-to-end, you deserve it. 😉
SCHOOL OF ROCK HOUSE BAND 2023
Fort Washington, PA
It does our hearts good to see the younger generations take an interest in the classic tunes from decades past and add their own flair to them. Here for your eyes and ears is the house band from the Fort Washington, PA chapter of the School Of Rock, performing a quartet of 70s classics (Frankenstein by The Edgar Winter Group, Have A Cigar by Pink Floyd, Hydra by Toto and Stargazer by Rainbow). Our good friend and School Of Rock musical director Mike Kiker (check out his INSIDE THE MIX: Rick Wright video on our channel, link below) guided these kids through the setlist and it was an awesome experience to see them light up our vintage keys and synths, amps and drum kit which added an extra layer of sonic authenticity to their performances.
OMBIENT
With Live Audience
This was a fun night. On April 22, 2023 we held our first video shoot in our live studio space with an audience in attendance with Ombient and Electric Diamond on the bill. Ombient (Mike Hunter) was the opening performer on the bill and in the space of 30 minutes, he took the entire room on an electronic sonic journey complete with custom projections by PYXL8R. Armed with his custom Synthesizers.com modular system, Koma Elektronik Komplex Sequencer, Rhodes Chroma, Oberheim Matrix-6, ARP 2600 re-issue and a slew of effects, Ombient’s performance was ultimately a swirling, constantly evolving set reminiscent of artists such as Tangerine Dream and Ashra. A big thank you to Ombient (Mike Hunter), PXYL8R (Ken Palmer) Electric Diamon (Stuart Diamond, Don Slepian and Karen Bentley Pollick) and to all of our volunteers for helping to make this night a well-oiled and enjoyable experience for all.
BERNHARD WÖSTHEINRICH
A Strangely Beautiful Stream of Consciousness
We had a great time hosting a visit from Bernhard Wöstheinrich! Enjoy this long-form piece performed live with Ableton, a Push controller, a keyboard controller and a beautiful vintage Minimoog. Bernhard elicits meaning from abstraction in electronic music and painting. He has studied graphic design and has created an eclectic body of work in both graphics and music. Bernhard speaks in his own musical voice; the musical arc of his work often moves from the curiously beautiful to the beautifully curious.
JOE DIMATTIA
Storytime In Shadowland, Part III
Joe DiMattia came into EMEAPP and took some tasty instruments for an ambient ride, as he has been known to do. In Storytime In Shadowland, he uses a vintage Oberheim OB-Xa, a Roland D50 and a Roland JD-990 module controlled by another D50.
WOZ & CHRISTIE
The Bertha Suite
We love it when Paul and George come to visit because they always bring us the good stuff! Enjoy this live performance in our main studio by these two creative players and don’t forget to check out the rigs that they are playing, you’ll be amazed.
TARKUS
Trilogy Emerson Lake & Palmer
In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the release date of Emerson, Lake & palmer’s third studio album “Trilogy” (July 6, 2022), we turned to our camp of collaborators for their take on this extremely important record in the band’s timeline. The album’s dynamic range runs from soft acoustic guitar and piano based ballads to explosive whirlwinds of Moog synthesizer, snarling Hammond organ, machine gun drumming and thunderous bass. The title track of the record is a wonderful representation of the range of the band on this record and we wanted to capture some of the essence of it. Here are two of EMEAPP’s most frequent collaborators, Keith Turner (Keyboards) and Mike Ian (Guitar, Vox) who make up 2/3 of the New Jersey based ELP tribute group Tarkus (along with John M. Cassidy on Drums). Here is Keith and Mike’s beautiful rendition of the first movementof “Trilogy”, featuring Keith Emerson’s 1904 Steinway Model B beautifully played by Keith Turner and Mike Ian’s soulful vocals. The Members of Tarkus are a part of the EMEAPP family and are just as dedicated as we are in honoring the legacy of this important band.
MANTICORE
Hoedown Emerson Lake & Palmer
EMEAPP feels a deep responsibility to share our historically significant collection of rare, unusual and artist-used musical equipment with the world. As a part of this, we have opened up our doors to several tribute groups that are dedicated to recreating the music of great acts accurately and with the utmost respect to the source material. We are heavily involved in preserving the legacy of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and we do get behind those who share a similar mindset. The Long Island based group Manticore for example is one of the primary acts that is dedicated to paying tribute to the music of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and they have become a part of the EMEAPP fold. Here is the group (Rob Shepard on Keyboards, John Cristando on Drums and Ron Ponella on Bass) performing their high-energy rendition of “Hoedown” from ELP’s third studio album “Trilogy” (celebrating it’s 50th anniversary on July 6, 2022). The rig for this shoot prominently features Keith Emerson’s legendary Moog Modular Synthesizer and heavily modded Hammond/Goff C3 with dual Leslie 122 cabinets, as well as Greg Lake’s legendary stage used Persian carpet!
AARON EMERSON
Fanfare For The Common Man Aaron Copland
Recently Aaron Emerson, the son of Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, traveled all the way from the UK to pay us a visit. EMEAPP is the caretaker of many of Keith’s instruments throughout his career, from his famous Moog synthesizer to battle-scarred Hammond organs and everything else in between. Aaron wanted to come over and record some audio and video for an upcoming re-release of an ELP recording and to utilize several of his father’s instruments. During a break, we asked Aaron if he’d be willing to throw down on his father’s 1972 Steinway Model D, our most recently acquired piece of Keith’s gear. He graciously obliged our request and what resulted was an emotional and highly personal solo performance of his own arrangement of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare For The Common Man, recorded by ELP for their Works Vol. 1 album in 1977.
OMBIENT
ARP 2500 Éliane Radigue Tribute
Born in Paris in 1932, Éliane Radigue spent a large segment of her life concentrating on creating compositions exclusively on the legendary ARP 2500 modular synthesizer. Electronic musician, OMBIENT, shares an Éliane-influenced performance on our ARP 2500 from a recent visit.
ROBERT SHEPARD of Manticore
Trilogy Opening Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Robert Shepard graced us with a live performance of the opening segment of ELP’s TRILOGY. This was the final studio performance on Keith Emerson’s 1904 rosewood Steinway Model B grand piano now in retirement.
OLIVIA LIONETTI
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor Johann Sebastian Bach
Here is one of our favorites, OLIVIA LIONETTI, performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor Keith Emerson’s beautiful 1904 Steinway Model B grand piano. Another great performance from Olivia!
ROBY DEATON of DLP
Dragonfly
We love to give tours of EMEAPP, but sometimes our guests give us something in return. Here is Roby Deaton of the Deaton LeMay Project performing a segment of his piece, Dragonfly. Thanks, Roby!
OMBIENT
Performance on the ARP 2500, 2600 and Pro Soloist
Time to get your ARP on with this dynamic performance by electronic musician, OMBIENT. Includes some sexy artist-created graphics behind a colorful and unique soundstage of synthesizers. Enjoy!
WOZ
Angels In Tibet
We love it when WOZ comes to EMEAPP! Check out this eclectic solo performance on his truly unique electronic rig, we hope you love it as much as we do.
OLIVIA LIONETTI
Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
You might find that the Baldwin Electric Harpsichord sounds familiar, especially if you are a fan of The Beatles, The Monkees or The Partridge Family. Watch Olivia Lionetti light it up with Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor.
RACHEL FLOWERS
Tarkus -Performed on Keith Emerson’s Gear Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Are you a fan of Rachel Flowers? We sure are! Check her out performing Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s epic TARKUS on Keith Emerson’s Moog synth and Goff customized Hammond C3.