Almost The Real Deal

Tribute shows long have been a staple of Las Vegas' entertainment scene. But even the most avid fan of the form can sometimes suffer metaphorical whiplash from how abruptly genres -- rock to country to hip-hop to pop -- change in a multiperformer show.

That's why Michael John and Jeffrey Allen have a leg up on other tribute show performers: When they present "Face to Face," their tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John, at Cannery this weekend, they'll be re-creating a show that has its roots in reality.

Billy Joel and Elton John first performed together in concert in 1994 and have toured together sporadically since. And, like them, Michael John (who portrays Joel) and Allen (who portrays Elton John) have spent years performing separately and continue to do so even today.

Allen and Michael John met eight years ago through mutual acquaintances. And while this weekend's shows will see them backed by a band, their first combined shows had each performer on a piano, sans band or backing tracks.

It went over so well that they now perform both the combined shows and their own respective tribute shows.

This weekend, the performers will begin together. Solo sets, backed by the band, follow. Then, they team up again with the band's backing to perform several Joel and Elton John songs as a finale.

The goal, Michael John explains, is to replicate a performance by the stars "as closely as possible."

In fact, to keep things really authentic, Allen, as Elton John, will make several costume changes.

"We have so much fun," Allen says. "When I talk about (the show) I call it a sing-along, clap-along, dance-along with great costumes and a great band."

"It's been really exciting," Michael John agrees. "It's just a natural. And we've got really good chemistry onstage, which is always important. I think people see what we do and how much we enjoy each other, and I think that really is transparent to the audience.

"We're really good at engaging the audience and getting them involved, because the show is half-audience and half-performer, and each side boosts the other by the end of the night."

To Michael John, the goal isn't necessarily to offer an exact re-creation.

"This is a tribute, so I'm not really trying to be (Joel)," he explains. "I might dress similarly and I sing similarly, but it's more about celebrating the energy and the music, rather than trying to pretend to be someone else."

"I think we give respect to both," Allen agrees. Yet, he concedes that there might be purists in the audience who might quibble about, say, whether his Elton John costumes are accurate.

"You get some interesting comments, like, 'Well, you're taller than Elton John,' " Allen says, laughing.

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.