Big Shot Takes Downtown Sounds

“They had a hard time convincing me it wasn’t me. It’s uncanny,” Billy Joel said of Big Shot. 

It’s difficult to imagine a more relevant accolade than that kind of comment from the superstar whose work Big Shot performs on a regular basis.

Attendees at this week’s concert can judge for themselves when the band takes the stage at Village Square, this Friday night, beginning at 7:30 p.m.. 

Anchoring the band is Mike DelGuidice on piano and vocals. Rounding out the ensemble are: Ken Cino on guitar, Nick Dimichino on bass, Carmine Giglio on synthesizer, Mike Sorrentino on drums, John Scarpulla on sax.

The band members’ performing credits are literally too numerous to mention, having played with a dizzying array of artists from Donna Summer to Roger Daltrey of The Who, Tower of Power to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and, most appropriately, “Movin’ Out,” the smash hit Broadway singing and dancing tribute to Joel’s music, featuring the work of legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp. 

Among the standout Joel compositions the band will perform are “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “New York State of Mind,” and a number of medleys. DelGuidice emphasizes, however, that the band does not restrict itself just to Joel’s music.

“Actually our repertoire is not only Billy Joel anymore,” DelGuidice explains. “As a matter of fact from the inception of Big Shot back in 2000, we always performed songs from other artists. Our show can vary on any particular night, but 60 to 80 percent is Billy.”

The program this Friday will also include original compositions by DelGuidice.

“My new CD, entitled ‘My Street,’ is done and songs from the CD will be performed at the show,” he said. “The guys from Big Shot also performed on ‘My Street,’ which was recorded at Richie Cannata’s Cove City Sound Studio in Glen Cove.”

DelGuidice pointed out that the band’s ability to deliver a top-notch show with great variety is a result of musicianship and the members’ long-term association with the group.

“When you have seasoned players and years playing together – with 120 plus, shows a year – it gets us very tight and also very intuitive and comfortable with each other on stage. The effect is that we sound like Billy, but also that we sound like Big Shot and that on the original songs, I sound like me.  Having my own identity in the midst of being in a tribute band is no easy task, but it’s my mission.”

The Downtown Sounds concert series is a collaboration between the Glen Cove BID, the City of Glen Cove and a number of sponsors. The concerts in the heart of town at the Village Square are free.