Mona Lisas & Mad Passion: Early Elton

The trio played a 90-minute set of approximately 14 songs. They opened with Bad Side Of The Moon, the rocking B-side to 1970’s Border Song, which was played as part of the famous 17-11-70 set. They then went immediately into Take Me To The Pilot and Border Song. With Jeff Kazee on piano & vocals and John Conte on bass & vocals, the band has deep rich harmonies. And you can feel the exhuberance beaming from the stage. John & Rich play with Jimmy Vivino in the amazing Prisoners of Second Avenue…but we’ll save that for when Jimmy returns from the Left Coast.

Sure they gave us Levon and Burn Down The Mission, which was Jeff’s absolute finest moment of the evening. But they also gave us My Father’s Gun and Grey Seal. In a set that also gave us Son Of Your Father and Madman Across The Water, there was really little for the friends and enthusiasts in the audience to yell out for other than Tiny Dancer. And the best thing about the guys is just like the Fab Faux they share the vocals. In fact, sometimes they even switch off the lead on each verse as they did on Country Comfort.

And if you have never been to Rockwood Music Hall to see music in either of their two rooms you are missing out on a great venue. The sound is excellent, the spaces small & intimate (think The Bottom Line, but much smaller). The sets run on time and the staff is friendly. And the next time you hear Amoreena playing on some “Classic Cuts” type show on satellite radio and your hands start jamming the piano lines with the same enthusiasm that one might find for playing air guitar to Eddie’s Eruption, then you should “like” their FB fan page and make catching Early Elton a priority for 2011.

Here’s more photos from Marc…

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2 Responses

  1. have seen every EE show and urge all late 60’s and early 70’s music lovers to attend these shows… amazing musicianship guaranteed at an amazing bargain price at these great venues…. too low to publish the prices!!!

    peace and love

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