Big Shot Rocks & Rolls At Infinity Hall

Big Shot, the Billy Joel tribute band, visited CT this past weekend for two shows at Infinity Hall, one at the Norfolk location on Saturday, Dec. 26 and another at the Hartford venue on Sunday, Dec. 27. I was lucky enough to attend the Sunday night performance, and it was an amazing night. Led by Mike DelGuidice, who’s currently a member of The Piano Man’s touring band, the group rocked & rolled its way through an amazing set featuring fan favorites, album cuts and a couple of non Billy Joel surprises. Mike opened the show solo with a couple of his original songs, including the beautiful ballad “Days of Old.” Then he brought the full band out, who helped kick off the main event with an energetic version of “Angry Young Man.” What followed was a rollicking night of rock & roll, which included the expected classics such as “Piano Man,” and “Movin’ Out,” as well as deeper cuts like “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” and “Until the Night.” And of course, there were many more hits, like “Only The Good Die Young” and “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.”

But this wonderful night was not just about Billy Joel songs; the band also treated us to knockout versions of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love" and Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4.” These talented gentlemen treated the audience to a marvelous show filled with top notch playing & they enjoyed this show as much as the audience did. The band really captures the spirit of Billy Joel’s music. Mike’s vocals & keyboards are amazing & the rest of the group (featuring members of Billy’s band) are top notch; they’re all extraordinary musicians, and their love of this music comes through in every note. Depending on the night you see the group, there are some different players who sit in, but they’re all fantastic. If you have a chance to see Big Shot, don’t hesitate. Here’s a link to a promotional video for the band featuring some performance clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTj8SH8uFSk.