Joel has us feeling all right

Joel has us feeling all right
By Sarah Rodman
Wednesday, March 29, 2006

It’s not easy for a child to follow in a parent’s footsteps, especially when that parent is a superstar. So Alexa Ray Joel deserves a lot of credit for the manner in which she is choosing to navigate waters so thoroughly explored by her dad, Billy, the legendary ‘‘piano man.”

Instead of using her father’s name to land engagements in the white-hot spotlight of glitzy venues, Joel is paying her dues the old-fashioned way: playing weeknight gigs at small bars and clubs where her voice competes with that of patrons clustered around a television tuned to the Cartoon Network.

Which is exactly what she was doing Monday night when she slipped into Great Scott to perform in front of a sparse but mostly attentive crowd that responded supportively to 50 minutes of sparkling pop supplied by the singer, songwriter and pianist and her tight three-piece band.

There was a curious lack of boomer looky-loos in the group of 50 or so in front of the stage, which probably suited 20-year-old Joel just fine. (For the record, neither her father nor her mother, Christie Brinkley, were on hand.) However, when she does get around to releasing music, Dad’s fans should be pleased; Alexa Ray writes the kind of ear-catching songs that should appeal to all ages.

Betraying just a bit of shyness, Joel, who has Dad’s coloring and eyes with the model cheekbones of her mom, bantered a bit about her songs, making it clear that she writes them herself.

Slow-burn opener ‘‘Revolution Song” revealed a strong voice with a bluesy-soulful undercurrent and just a touch of a country lilt.

Other bright spots included the swaggering rocker ‘‘Make Me Your Own,” the dramatic Fiona Apple-esque ‘‘Resistance” and the destined-to-be-a-single ‘‘Jaded,” a crisp little pop zinger with bouncy piano lines.

Not surprisingly, Joel’s keyboard work and song structures were impeccable, conjuring everyone from Carole King to Joe Jackson to Chopin. She also displayed a knack for the elusive skill of writing a bridge or what is sometimes known as the middle eight. Her lyrics offered typical undergraduate observations about what a messy world we live in, wanting bad boys who hurt you and being in love with love.

At this early stage, Joel’s decision to go into the family business seems savvy. The girl’s got the goods to be a big shot. Dad can feel justifiably proud.