Billy Joel’s boys came from New York bearing pizza, bagels and some fierce rock and roll.

The Lords of 52nd Street – featuring three members of Joel’s original band –inundated the Savannah Center on Friday with a New York State of mind.

“We’re from New York and we got a truck full of New York pizza, New York bagels and Billy Joel’s music,” said saxman Richie Cannata, who was blowing hot all night long.

“Billy always wanted to keep that New York vibe alive,” he added.
Cannata, along with guitarist Russell Javors and drummer Liberty DeVitto, played with Joel during the ’70s and ’80s, when “The Piano Man” sold over 100 million records.

Russell Javors is an original member of The Lords of 52nd Street band and played with Billy Joel in the 1970s and ’80s.

It was just like old times, except Joel was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was another rotund, bald piano man named David Clark. He looked like Joel, sounded like Joel and shared Billy’s burning passion for rock music.

Clark and the gang practically blew the roof of the Savannah Center for the last three songs of the concert. People were standing, clapping, yelling and singing.

That’s what happens when a Billy Joel band plays, back-to-back: “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Only The Good Die Young” and “You May Be Right.” What a finish!

All that was missing was Christie Brinkley – but that’s a Billy Joel story for another day.

David Clark plays like ‘The Piano Man’ Billy Joel with The Lords of 52nd Street band on Friday at the Savannah Center.

Clark played the Joel part to the hilt. He offered a jazzy, supper club mood on “New York State of Mind.” He was tender and delicate singing and playing “Just the Way You Are.” And he rocked on “The Stranger.”

Clark may be the kid in this band, but he fit right in.

“The first time I saw these guys with Billy Joel, I was 13,” Clark said.

DeVitto remembered playing on an early Joel album when he was 24. “But this year I’m going to be 69, and if some young kid tells me I’m too old to rock, then this is what I think.”

DeVitto then gave a New York salute that might best be described as half a peace sign.

Left: Drummer Liberty DeVitto, of Billy Joel’s original band, The Lords of 52nd Street, came up front to give the Savannah Center crowd some New York advice. Right: Saxophonist Richie Cannata says the band is still having a great time after playing together for 40 years.

The Lords of 52nd Street have an authentic connection to Billy Joel and it shows in their music and attitude.

“We are not a tribute band,” Cannata said.

They opened in upbeat Joel style, with three thumping numbers: “Movin’ Out,” “My Life” and “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.”

“We’ve heard a lot about The Villages and what a great place this is for music,” Cannata said.

The Lords went deep into the Billy Joel songbook. Clark played a classically sounding piano on “Summer, Highland Falls.” Then he picked up the pace with the speedy piano riff on “Angry Young Man.”

The band played Joel’s tribute to the Righteous Brothers with “Until The Night.” Then came a spiritually uplifting “Keeping the Faith.”

Guitarist Russell Javors accompanies David Clark with The Lords of 52nd Street band Friday during a show at the Savannah Center.

One of the most impressive numbers was an elongated version of Joel’s classic, “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.”

This was a night when Joel’s old band showed they had something new to offer his fans.

Cannata summed it up this way: “We’re the original Billy Joel band and we’ve been doing this for 40 years,” he said. “And we’re still having a great time.”

Tony Violanti is a veteran journalist and writes for Villages-News.com.