It's a big, cheesy and unashamedly pop. Classic commercial radio or American teen movie fodder.

But that's why the '30s hot jazz version of Stacy's Mom is arguably the most popular cover singer Casey Abrams has delivered for American music collective Postmodern Jukebox. And arguably the most challenging.

"It's fun to take something that's well known and skew it and give your perspective on it," Abrams said from Las Vegas where Postmodern Jukebox were performing a residency at the Mirage Hotel. "It's the challenge, but it's always a fun challenge.

"You can turn any song into a jazz song."

Since 2011 Postmodern Jukebox has been destroying old stereotypes by performing an array of modern pop hits in the style of 1930s and 1940s jazz, ragtime and swing and in the process has amassed more than one billion YouTube views and 3.5 million subscribers.

Abrams is a perfect fit for PMJ's stereotype-defying mission. The 28-year-old's wild hair and beard are more accustomed to roots or rock'n'roll than jazz, however, Abrams is a lifelong student of the genre.

He studied upright bass, jazz piano and clarinet, but arguably his most prized instrument is untrained. Abrams' husky and raw vocal and energetic performance style has become a favourite of PMJ fans since 2014.

Besides Stacy's Mom, the 2011 American Idol contestant has also performed Toto's Africa and Rhianna's Umbrella.

"It was kind of random how it started," he said. "I wanted to sing at a jazz recital and this person didn't make it, so I just sang.

"I got a couple of lessons here and there for my voice. I had a couple of years training for the upright bass and the piano, but I think the singing is whatever happens happens. It's a natural just-off-the-top-of-my-throat thing."

Abrams will serve as the Postmodern Jukebox's host and one of the vocalists on the upcoming Welcome to the Twenties 2.0 Australian Tour.

Other vocalists making the trip include Hannah Gill, who did a duet with Abrams on Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, and trombonist-singer Aubrey Logan, best known for her Austin Powers-inspired take on Red Hot Chili Peppers' classic Give It Away.

Abrams said the improvised nature of the performance kept it fun for both the band and the audience.

"What you see and what you hear is what you get," he said. "I can count a song faster or slower one night, as opposed to another night. It's really a present-moment thinking band, which is the best part."

Postmodern Jukebox returns to the Civic Theatre on October 4.