In a show honoring Sir Elton John’s music and the inspiration it shared during hard times, “Tom’s Elton Tribute” by Tom Cridland and band rocked Kanab’s Redstone Theater on July 22.
Photos by Ty Gant.
The three-piece tribute band played many of Elton John’s highlight pieces, easing in with “Pinball Wizard” - a song not written, but adapted and performed by Elton John - before proceeding to add some extra soul with “Levon,” a bit of grit with “Rocket Man” and some call-and-response audience participation for “Bennie and the Jets.” Cridland performs and writes in a stage persona as “Sir Elton John,” exhibiting his own take on Elton John’s legendary kaleidoscopic stage presence. It’s not all showboating, however; says Cridland, “This accent isn’t just a gimmick, I’m actually a long way from home!” He went on to express his gratitude for the reception he’s received in the U.S. and in this area in specific, dedicating one of his songs to “Anglo-American relations” with a smile. Cridland elaborated on the inspiration he received from Elton John’s music, explaining his personal journey to sobriety which echoed John’s own; he explained how he learned piano during COVID lockdowns as a way to stay sober and how much this musical journey has meant to him.
Indeed, the performance was filled with energy and love for the art - by the end, audience members were out of their seats dancing and calling for an encore. All three members of the band were having an observably good time, and that energy translated to the audience.
The 2024 tour of “Tom’s Elton Tribute” began in Kanab on July 22, before heading westward for a series of shows in California, beginning with Vacaville and Thousand Oaks and on through the state before heading eastward again. Further tour venues and dates, along with blog posts and other information on “Tom’s Elton Tribute” and Sir Elton can be found at tomseltontribute.com
This show was the latest of a few similar tribute shows at Redstone Theater, including Johnny Cash and Fleetwood Mac; a full roster of the films and live shows coming up at the Redstone can be found at redstonetheater.com.
