The much-maligned-and-mocked tribute band phenomenon remains alive and well and on full display.
But this was no ordinary tribute event on August 15—a warm summer night at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. Instead, concertgoers were treated to a two-for-one of sorts: Piano Men: Generations, featuring the amazing pop music of Elton John and Billy Joel.
Works for me.
This performance was unique in so many other ways. It featured a father-son combo from England by way of Phoenix with a rag-tag but talented back-up band. Neither performer looked or tried to look like Elton or Billy, with leader Terry Davies’ son Nick even joking about it: “My dad dresses like a mobster from Goodfellas.”
After stirring renditions of “I’m Still Standing” and “My Life” to kick off the set, more frivolity ensued with the pair trading barbs and polling the audience about our advanced ages. Apparently, there was a 13-year-old present with his parents (but don’t quote me).
Dueling pianists Terry and Nick traded off singing duties, and ironically lamented the prolific song catalog of Elton/Billy that made it impossible to play many of their songs. So, after a few more covers like “Uptown Girl” and “Rocket Man,” the seven-piece group dove into a fast-paced medley of classic hits that got the half-sold-out crowd energized.
In between, they told lots of stories, some light-hearted but one heavy one about a recent horrific vehicle crash on a late-night tour bus journey between California and Arizona that bonded the tight-knit band even more.
Terry and Nick constantly engaged the baby-boomer crowd. At one point Nick jumped up and moved through the theatre in search of a cell phone that kept ringing so he could call the person back. No luck but everyone there had fun with it.
Remember peeps, silencio por favor.
The funniest part of the show was the band’s very enthusiastic spikey-haired drummer Michael, a perfect doppelgänger for CC Deville of Poison. Apparently, he thought he was the real star of the show: standing, jumping and twirling his sticks ad nauseum. The audience liked it, but being a cranky old retired guy, my mantra for drummers is “just keep the beat and get outta the way.”
Still, this was ultimately a tribute gig whose purpose was paying homage to famous artists, so the two-hour concert needed less talk and more songs given the aforementioned prolific catalog of not one but two Hall of Fame musicians. They are clearly wonderful entertainers and performers; we just needed more of the musical performance aspect.
If you missed this show and need a tribute fix for one of your favorite artists, don’t fret: the Clark Center along with Siren in Morro Bay and Pour House in Paso Robles have several shows planned for the rest of 2024 and plenty more early next year. As we like to say, check your local listings.
Keep on rocking in the free world, Central Coast!
:: Colin Jones