Sure, the stage show was okay, but….

I wonder now if maybe I should have gone to “Movin’ Out” at Sangamon State last night. I’ve always been a big fan of Billy Joel’s music, but as a rule, I’m just not much for musicals, rock ballets, whatever you want to call them. Not saying anything bad about those that do like them; they’re just not usually my cup of tea. Mrs. Johann and her mom went, and the wife said it rocked! In telling me about the show, she said something about G-strings and pasties with tassels on them at one point. DAMN! And to think that if Mrs. Johann didn’t want to go, her mother would have offered the ticket to me. Drat da luck. Anyway, I heard the show was really, really good and I envy everyone that got to see it.

However, I definitely made up for missing the almost-naked titties great show and awesome music, because I went to see some awesome music myself when I went to Pizza Machine at Vinegar Hill Mall to see Springfield’s #1 Billy Joel Cover Band- Silly Joel!!!! For those unfamiliar, let me ’splain.

First, allow me to introduce the players: Captain Jack on vocals, Mr. Alan Towne on guitar, Downeaster Alexa on cello, Virginia on keyboards, and the effervescent Mr. Cacciatore on drums. They started promptly at… shortly after 11:00, taking the stage as different versions of our other Springfield icon, Abraham Lincoln. There was Abra-Ham Sandwich, Flav-R-Flav-raham Lincoln, Babe-raham Lincoln (nice rack, by the way, Virginia… don’t think I didn’t notice that two-handed “salute” you gave when you were introduced!), etc. The real reason for all the hoopla was that it was Mr. William Joel’s 59th birthday yesterday. Strangely enough, Billy never showed. Probably just had trouble getting a limo from Capital Airport or something. Anyhooze, they started the show by leading a chorus of “Happy Birthday” in Billy’s honor.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. This was my first live SJ performance. I’d seen the YouTube videos but have never actually been able to catch a live show. I gotta be completely honest here: I was a tad unsure how a guitar, a keyboard, a cello, and a drum kit would pull it off. I mean, some of Billy Joel’s songs are pretty hefty arrangements. But when they started, I have to say, I was very impressed.

First of all, let me say that I couldn’t believe how many kids were there. And I don’t just mean young’uns- KIDS. I mean, Pizza Machine is a family-friendly place and all, but holy crap- to quote the great philosopher Judge Smails, “don’t you have homes?!” I love my kids dearly, but I don’t think I’m going to keep them out at 11:00pm, especially in a place that has Vinegar Hill Mall’s… shall we say, reputation. But that’s another story. But there were lots and lots of kids (adults way younger than I, post-pubescents, etc.) there, and quite frankly, had I been an officer, I likely would have had an astronomical amount of underage-drinking busts. But yet again, I digress. The only reason I mentioned it at all was that it was freakin’ hilarious- and yet, sad at the same time- to see all these pups turn and look at each other and say, “Omigod, I, like, TOTALLY don’t know this song!” Ahhhh, da yutes of America.

ANYWAY, the band began, and they were incredible. They were rocking it from the very start. The whole set was great- from “Captain Jack” to “Allentown” to “You May Be Right”, “Still Rock and Roll to Me” to “The Stranger” to “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, “New York State of Mind” to “Just the Way You Are” to “My Life”, each song kept the integrity of Billy Joel firmly intact yet placed SJ’s own special stamp on it.

Special guest vocalist Mama Leone absolutely tore it up on “Only the Good Die Young”, and of course, the night wouldn’t have been complete without the other special guest vocalist dropping by for “Movin’ Out (Kermit’s Song)”. That little green dude is simply amazing. It was nice also getting to see Indiana Phones and Sgt. O’Leary in person.

They closed out with “Pressure”, with Virginia and Alexa working that rhythm section with style and finesse, and then “Big Shot”, one of my all-time favorite Billy songs. They played it faster than regular speed, but I think that is what made it all the more enjoyable, at least for me.

Finally, the chants of “Encore!!” and “One More Song!!” from the throngs and throngs of people crammed in the Pizza Machine were too much for the elusive quintet, and the hoards of adoring fans managed to entice the band to come out for a curtain call, upon which they broke into their reggae-country-opera-punk-Billy Joel fusion version of “Piano Man”.

One question, though… who was that imposter dressed as the Stranger?!! The way I heard it, the real Stranger didn’t make it.

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TRANSLATION: I probably sound like I’m their publicist or something, but I’m not. All truth be told, it was an extremely enjoyable show, one without all the same old crap songs that everyone else plays (that mostly aren’t worth hearing, and are usually so loud and garbled, you can’t hear them anyway). I will say that if I were Virginia, I would have probably been a little apprehensive playing keyboards in a tribute band for… well, the Piano Man. But she did an absolutely outstanding job, as they all did. Folks, if you just want to see some talented and charismatic musicians just simply playing good music, having fun doing so, and giving the crowd a good time as well, do yourselves a favor and check out Silly Joel. It’s a great time, you know all the songs, and there’s really no excuse for not supporting ANY local band, but especially one that’s just a little different from all the rest.

I also picked up a bitchin’ Silly Joel t-shirt last night. How friggin’ cool is THAT?!