Arts & Entertainment
He Aims To Be A Modern Liberace. This Ocean County Piano Player Gets His 1st Shot In AC
Nicholas Blum of Brick has been chasing his dream of being the next Liberace since he was young. He's the main act at a Claridge show.
BRICK, NJ — Nicholas Blum has idolized famed pianist Liberace since he was young. He watched videos of Liberace's performances, studied his presence, and practiced his piano skills for hours on end.
His goal has been to become a modern Liberace, captivating audiences the way his idol did for so many years.
On Saturday, Blum will have the opportunity to put all those years of study and practice into action as he takes to the stage at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City for his first headlining performance.
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It's an opportunity Nicholas George Xavier Blum — his stage name is NGXB — hopes is the stepping stone to bigger things.
The Brick Township resident has been playing piano since he was 4 years older. He reached the finals of the Big Joe Jersey Talent Show in 2016, just after he graduated from Brick Memorial. Blum then went on to graduate in 2020 from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied instrumental performance with a concentration on jazz.
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As the coronavirus pandemic has eased, he has been performing at a variety of venues all over New Jersey, from weddings to corporate events to hotels and restaurants, to the point he has two events booked in a day at times.
When he's not performing, he is working to expand his repertoire of music for his shows, adding popular songs from genres including rock, pop, and more. He can go from Post Malone to Queen, Bruno Mars to Bruce Springsteen and much more.
On Saturday, he plans to put all of it on display. His performance at the Claridge Hotel is being filmed, and there are anticipated to be other industry professionals present who are interested in working with Blum. He has opened for other performers in Atlantic City, but this is his first time as the headliner.
"The show is something I’ve been dreaming and working toward my entire life," he said.
Tickets to the show are $10 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Blum has a solid fan base through his social media platforms. You can check out his performances through his website.
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