When I think about it, what is a keyboardist really supposed to do to enhance the performance, start headbanging or running around on stage? I think he's probably stuck in the confines of keyboard land and has a lot of notes to concentrate on. I mean, what can he really do to put on a good show? I don't think he's much of a key-tar guy.
I think he just likes to put on his leather jacket and try to look cool, knowing he's the most ripped keyboard player in the business.
You can do a lot to look engaged as a keyboardist. Derek himself used to have those stands where he'd play with the boards tipped with their backs angled at the ground; I always thought that was a cool look and comfortable for the wrists to boot. Wonder why he stopped doing that (just from what I've seen). JR has his awesome hifalutin swivel stand, I've seen Vikram Shankar of Redemption do the same. Vadim Pruzhanov (ex-Dragonforce) used to jump up and down behind his boards like a kid jacked up on sugar. Yeah you can't do sick guitar stunts or twirl your sticks but you can still engage Derek I think just likes to look serious and in the moment.
And even without the "gimmicks," there is still a lot. As Cram said:
And what could he do? Smile is the easy answer, but if that's too difficult to do while concentrating, then just don't look like you hate everything and everyone.
Even without a cool spinny, tilty keyboard stand, you can still smile and try to look like you're having a good time. Even without Jordan's specialized stand and his various mobile keyboards, he has always smiled. When he wasn't playing or wasn't playing a part that demanded absolute concentration on the keys, he would (and still does) turn to the audience and smile. When playing something that did require more concentration, he would smile. Between songs or between parts when there was nothing going on, he would do other things: nod at the audience, fit pump, clap, etc. Again, his look and demeanor never screamed out, "I wish I were anywhere but here!" as Derek's appears to. And I take Derek at his word that that isn't what he is intending. But when your business is entertaining, you need to be aware of how your audience perceives you. And the easy comparisons to some other projects he has done where he
has done those things to convey that he is engaged and glad to be there are do not help his case.