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Pop: Hot Ticket
By GINA VIVINETTO, Times Pop Music Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 12, 2002
Elton John, Billy Joel swing by again
Piano pop stars Elton John and Billy Joel return to our neck of the woods this weekend after canceling the second Tampa show of their tour a few months ago. Joel did a stint in rehab during the interim and is reportedly ready to rock again.
We say, bring it on, Billy. If this guy is half as dazzling as he was at that electrifying first show back in March, we're in for another night of magic and pop music masterpieces. Joel and John performed for more than three hours. Hits galore. When it comes to piano pop, these guys paved the way. Check out their individual catalogs of hits. They also play quite a few gems together at these shows, singing each other's hits, goofing around.
Both are restless artistically, with John writing music for Broadway and Joel releasing his first album of hoity toity piano works and, more recently, collaborating with famed choreographer Twyla Tharp on the musical Moving Out.
Billy Joel and Elton John perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $45-$175. (813) 223-1000.
Quite a Guy
Buddy Guy is a legend for his fierce guitar playing, rooted in Chicago blues and the sound of his idol, Muddy Waters. Like Waters, Guy's playing is filled with energy and finesse, buoying his vocals, which sound like a man tortured.
The Grammy-winning Guy has fans in all the right places. Eric Clapton and all his British guitar-slinging pals bow in reverence. (Hendrix loved him, too.) We regular folk should thank our lucky stars that 66-year-old Guy still has the goods and loves to share them in a live setting.
Buddy Guy performs 8 p.m. Saturday at Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St. $36.50. (727) 898-2100 or (813) 287-8844.
Smooth Latin crooner
Latin singing sensation Marc Anthony got his start writing songs for Menudo before breaking out on is own in the early 1990s. Since then Anthony, who was born to Puerto Rican parents in New York, became immersed with traditional Hispanic music after collaborating with the late, great Tito Puente.
So, what's wrong with this picture: Anthony specializes in smooth, mid-tempo love songs -- he's kind of a less hyper, more mainstream Ricky Martin. But, really, Anthony shines most when he gives us the blasts of salsa -- all viva! viva! -- and his singing is best when he's fiery. Anthony's got a heck of a voice. Can't we make him stop the sappy ballads? Tell him his Latin muse should steer his music?
Marc Anthony performs 7:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $36.25-$61.25. (813) 223-1000.
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