Between Passover and Easter, this weekend had everyone on the move, including 14-year-old guitar phenom Brandon “Taz” Niederauer.

In fact, I’m willing to bet Taz had a crazier weekend than you did.

His two-day marathon began on Saturday night, when he and his new band celebrated the legacy of Jimi Hendrix at Garcia’s in Port Chester, NY. The evening marked the 50th anniversary of Hendrix’s final studio album Electric Ladyland, and over a single set Taz put his own spin on the legend’s work. One highlight, which you can watch below, was a fiery version of the 1967 track “Spanish Castle Magic,” bolstered by Taz’s standby vocalist  Elise Testone. Throughout the set, Taz also welcomed guests like Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish and blues-rock guitarists Marcus Machado and Joe Stuby. 

On Easter Sunday, Niederauer headed downstate to New York City to perform on the live television broadcast of Jesus Christ Superstar. As the show began, Taz was the first cast member onscreen, playing the opening licks of show’s overture on his D’Angelico guitar. The show featured shock-rocker Alice Cooper as King Herod, singer Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene and soul-superstar John Legend in the titular role of Jesus Christ, and Taz’s electric guitar kept the plot moving, as he performed musical interludes between scenes. The guitarist looked pretty comfortable as a part of the house band, and thanks to his time starring in Broadway’s School of Rock musical, he had no problem playing to the audience or the camera. 

Presumably, after these two days of performing, it was back to school on Monday for the high school freshman. As Niederauer once told Jambands.com, “Music and school are definitely both priorities,” with neither one holding precedence over the other. 

Check out Taz and his band performing “Spanish Castle Magic” at Garcia’s, as well as the show’s full setlist and a few photos from Jesus Christ Superstar below. 

Brandon “Taz” Niederauer 
Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre 
March 31, 2018 

Tell Me Now, Can’t Live, I Just Need A Little, LYSBF, Crosstown Traffic, Fire, Gypsy Eyes, Spanish Castle Magic, Let The Good Times Roll, Voodoo Child Jam, Who Knows, Manic Depression, Axis Bold as Love, Voodoo Child, All Along The Watchtower