Concert Reports

Mike Garson ( Bowies Piano Man ) and Luke Spiller ( The Struts vocalist ) returned to the Sun Rose stage together, featuring their powerhouse band with Shay Godwin on drums, Nando Raio on bass, Dave Wood and Nick Perri on guitar. Look for Spiller to drop his first Solo CD in January 2025.

All Photos: Ray Soto / Central Coast Rocks

MikeGarson.com         TheStruts.com

TheSunRose.com

“Few musicians naturally understand the movement and free thinking to hurl themselves into music. Mike does this with such enthusiasm that it makes my heart glad to be in the same room with him.” - David Bowie

Selling out their residency in record time at The Sun Rose of five special shows ( December 5-7 & 13-14 ) the pairing of Luke Spiller ( The Struts ) and Mike Garson ( David Bowie’s Piano Man ) seems somewhat unlikely at first, but to see these two together live is nothing short of magical as they truly have a unique chemistry

Spiller, although relatively young, channels old school voices such as Bowie and Freddie Mercury, not only in his own compositions but in the covers the pair perform at The Sun Rose, and somehow adds his own flair to them. Opening the December 14 set with Bowie’s “Changes,” & “Moonage Daydream,” the band ( Shay Godwin on drums, Nando Raio on bass, Dave Wood and Nick Perri on guitar ) then took a left turn into Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” followed by a hauntingly slow version of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel,” reminiscent of the late Billy Swan style.

Jackson Browne’s “Somebody’s Baby” followed before Spiller debuted one of his songs on his debut Solo CD ( Due January ‘25 ) “If This Isn’t Love” instantly pulls you in with self -reflecting lyrics and it’s haunting melody that builds to a near climax that leaves you wanting more.

More of Spiller’s upcoming solo tunes followed: “Devil in Me,” and I’m With Her,” which bookended a rousing version of Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel.” “She’s Just Like California,” likely the first single from Spiller’s solo CD followed, and upon hearing one cannot help but to assume this song will be a hit with it’s clever lyrics and phrasing describing a love interest

Queen’s “Love of My Life” reminded the crowd why Spiller is sometimes compared to Freddie Mercury, which the band followed up with Bowie’s “Aladdin Sane,’ and “Life On Mars.”

To close this amazing show, the band left the stage to leave Spiller & Garson with dimmed lights to give an incredible version of Leonard Cohen’s “Halleluja,” which Spiller had those in attendance hanging on every word as he seemed to be in another zone and blended perfectly with Garson’s brilliant piano virtuosity. The night then ended with a standing ovation.

Mike Garson

Mike is perhaps best known for his relationship with David Bowie, which began in 1972. He made his mark on numerous Bowie albums and has travelled thousands of miles on Bowie tours, including his 2003-04 “A Reality Tour,” Bowie’s first world tour in 20 years. In November 2006, Mike accompanied Bowie and Alicia Keys during a unique performance of “Changes” at an AIDS benefit in New York City which ended up being Bowie’s final public U.S. performance.

Universally respected for his impressive skills as a pianist, Mike Garson is a respected composer, performer and educator, as well. In his youth, Mike studied classical composition with Leonard Eisner of Juilliard and earned degrees in Music and Education from Brooklyn College. He also studied with Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Hal Overton, Robert Starer and Lennie Tristano. He has played with Stanley Clarke, Elvin Jones, Lee Konitz, Stan Getz and Freddie Hubbard.  MikeGarson.com

Luke Spiller / The Struts

Singer-songwriter Luke Spiller was raised in Bristol in a Christian family. His exposure to music was mainly limited to gospel music, until the age of seven, when he discovered Michael Jackson's Off the Wall. Inspired by Jackson, his first aspirations were to be a contemporary dancer, but by the age of 11, he was listening to Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, and Leonard Cohen, and in addition to pretending to be Jackson in front of a mirror, he was imitating Bon Scott and Freddie Mercury. He began playing in bands as a teenager, only starting to sing at age 16. Luke will release his first Solo CD in January 2025.

The Struts are a British rock band formed in Derby, Derbyshire in 2012. The band comprises lead vocalist Luke Spiller, guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott, and drummer Gethin Davies. Their latest Release Pretty Vicious was released in 2023  TheStruts.com

The Sun Rose

Built on the hollwed ground of the House of Blues, The Sun Rose is a upscale, seated 100-150 cap venue inside Pendry West Hollywood, located at the heart of The Sunset Strip. The Sun Rose was built with the intention of being a listening room with a strong focus of having the best sound in California.

Since it opened, they have already hosted some of the biggest artists in the world for residencies, public shows, private parties and surprise guest performances: T Pain, Raye, Adam Blackstone, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Chloe Bailey, Coco Jones, Beck, Bebe Rexha, Charlie Puth, Jack Harlow, Dave Chappelle, The Struts, Nicole Sherzinger, Jeff Goldblum, Betty Who, Jake Wesley Rogers, Free Nationals, T. Nava, Evan Rachel Wood, Mike Garson, etc.  TheSunRose.com

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