Elio Pace - Monday 24th October - Wimbledon New Theatre

Brief review:  "Hits" show (The Billy Joel Songbook). I've seen the previous incarnation of the show which was good and this was equally as enjoyable.

Venue and View:  Stalls, a third of the way back on the left.

Setlist
Prelude / Angry Young Man
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
My Life
This Night
The Longest Time
Classical Intros 
Pressure
Say Goodbye to Hollywood
New York State of Mind
Root Beer Rag 
She's Always a Woman
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
+
Goodnight Saigon
Allentown
Captain Jack
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
An Innocent Man
She's Got a Way
Just the Way You Are
Don't Ask Me Why
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
We Didn't Start the Fire
The River of Dreams
Tell Her About It
Uptown Girl
+
You May Be Right
Piano Man

Elio Pace - Wednesday 12th October - Epsom Playhouse

Brief review:  The fact that this was an "albums" and not "hits" show was well advertised. Despite that, many had not got the memo! Whilst they may have left frustrated, I enjoyed hearing Elio and his talented band tackle 2 of Billy Joel's lesser albums. Sadly even Elio couldn't turn "Big Man on Mulberry Street" into a classic, but that one song aside, I really enjoyed the performance. I believe 2 more album shows are due for next year.

Venue and View:  Rear left, decent view

Setlist
[THE BRIDGE]
RUNNING ON ICE
THIS IS THE TIME
A MATTER OF TRUST
MODERN WOMAN
BABY GRAND
BIG MAN ON MULBERRY STREET
TEMPTATION
CODE OF SILENCE
GETTING CLOSER
+
[TURNSTILES]
SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD
SUMMER, HIGHLAND FALLS
ALL YOU WANNA DO IS DANCE
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
JAMES
PRELUDE / ANGRY YOUNG MAN
I'VE LOVED THESE DAYS
MIAMI 2017 (SEEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON BROADWAY)
+
[ENCORE]
SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Elio Pace - Wednesday 30th October - The Capitol, Horsham

Two Liner: Another Elio show where he plays 2 complete Billy Joel Albums - this time "Storm Front" and "The Stranger". Excellent as always apart from the over the top constant fawning towards the special guest guitarist - David Brown (ex-member of Billy's band) which verged on the embarrassing (including for David by the look of it).

Setlist
That's Not Her Style
We Didn't Start The Fire
Downeaster "Alexa"
I Go To Extremes
Shameless
Storm Front
Leningrad
State Of Grace
When In Rome
And So It Goes 
+
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
The Stranger
Just The Way You Are
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
Vienna
Only The Good Die Young
She's Always A Woman
Get It Right The First Time
Everybody Has A Dream
+
This Is The Time

Elio Pace & David Brown - Sunday 13th May - Leicester Square Theatre

Regular readers of this blog may recognise the name "Elio Pace" as the singer-songwriter who has been touring the last few years with his "Billy Joel Songbook" show, which I've seen a couple of times and can definitely recommend. Tonight is slightly different as he has persuaded David Brown - a member of Billy's band from the mid eighties to mid nineties to join him. The plan is to celebrate 2 of Billy's albums that David played on in their entirety - Glass Houses and An Innocent Man.

Presented with intros to the songs, anecdotes from both Elio and David plus a brief Q&A with the audience, the fantastic band breathed new life into the classic songs in a two and a half hour show. I remembered being impressed with David's playing at Wembley Arena in the early 90's, but it was a joy to see him play in such an intimate setting. Elio was clearing enjoying himself too and was on top vocal form. If they can arrange for this pairing to work again sometime soon then I will definitely be back.

Setlist
[Set 1: Glass Houses]
You May Be Right
Sometimes a Fantasy
Don't Ask Me Why
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
All for Leyna
I Don't Want to Be Alone
Sleeping with the Television On
C'était Toi (You Were the One)
Close to the Borderline

Through the Long Night

[Set 2: An Innocent Man]
Easy Money
An Innocent Man
The Longest Time
This Night
Tell Her About It
Uptown Girl
Careless Talk
Christie Lee
Leave a Tender Moment Alone
Keeping the Faith

[Encore]
Shameless

Elio Pace - Thursday 11th May - Epsom Playhouse

Elio Pace plays a local show at the Epsom Playhouse Theatre. This is the third time I've seen his interpretation of the Billy Joel songbook and as previously, the songs are performed with skill and passion plus some interesting background on how they were written and musical influences. It's obvious that Elio is a huge Billy Joel fan and his solid band (including current Queen touring bassist, Neil Fairclough) complement the excellent piano work nicely. Well worth the short trip.

Setlist
Prelude/Angry Young Man
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
My Life
This Night
The Longest Time
Vienna
And So It Goes
Leningrad
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
New York State of Mind
Root Beer Rag
She's Always A Woman
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
+
Goodnight Saigon
Allentown
Captain Jack
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Honesty
She's Got A Way
An Innocent Man
Just the Way You Are
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
We Didn't Start the Fire
The River of Dreams
Tell Her About It
Uptown Girl
+
You May Be Right
Piano Man

Elio Pace - Thursday 7th May - Epsom Playhouse

Having seen Elio previously in Sutton, we knew that Richard would enjoy his "Billy Joel Songbook" show and dragged him along to this. The show is a fine run-though of classic Billy Joel material, interspersed with stories about the songs and the musical make up of them. The band had changed a bit since our last viewing, but provided excellent backing to Elio's piano skills and fine voice.

We had decent seats and the only disappointment was that the venue wasn't fuller. Maybe the fact it was Election Night put people off?

If you are a fan of the Piano Man, you should do yourself a favour and check this out in a theatre near you.

http://www.eliopace.com/