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REVIEW: Elton John, Billy Joel show revs up MOTR

Dustin Brayley and Kyle T. Martin perform the music of Billy Joel and Elton John in a tribute show through Sunday, June 19, at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown.

Flat Rock Playhouse veteran Dustin Brayley and newcomer Kyle T. Martin get MOTR revving with the hits of Billy Joel and Elton John in the latest tribute show through June 19 at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown.


Brayley, a fan favorite in the Music on the Rock (MOTR) concert series, has performed music of the Eagles, ABBA, Music of the ‘60s and the Bee Gees. He has traveled the world with Broadway national tours, symphonies and other concerts. Born outside of Washington, D.C., in northern Virginia, Dustin moved to NYC right out of college. He hit the ground running, spending the better part of the next five years touring internationally with RENT, Miss Saigon and Saturday Night Fever and performing in several New York productions.
New to the Playhouse, Martin is no stranger to the music of Billy Joel. Martin is a pianist, musician and singer from Sacramento, Calif., who played “The Piano Man” in the national tour of Broadway smash hit Movin’ Out. He is currently the lead singer for the West Coast Billy Joel tribute band JOEL.

But in a twist, it's Brayley who performs the Billy Joel canon while Martin sings Elton John's biggest hits.

After opening with Elton's "I'm Still Standing" and Joel's "Only the Good Die Young," the show hits its stride with "Rocket Man." Alternating between the two piano-playing songmasters, Brayley and Martin keep the pace running strong and the mood light. Their obvious rapport and mutual respect shines through — although they first met just two days before the tribute show opened.

Highlights of the show come when the two pros share the load on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "Piano Man." The show soars to a strong finish with "New York State of Mind," "Tiny Dancer," Brayley's rapid-fire "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting."
Sharing the stage with Brayley and Martin in the house band are Bill Altman, Charles Holland, Wes Parker, Will Moss and Jim Black on guitar, bass, saxophone, synthesizer and drums respectively. Moss also serves as music director.


Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.