Billy Joel's daughter, Money perform at Taste of Syracuse

Billy Joel's daughter, Money perform at Taste of Syracuse
Syracuse Post Standard - Syracuse,NY,USA
... piece band fronted by Alexa Ray Joel. The daughter of "Piano Man" Billy Joel and model Christie Brinkley sings and also plays piano. ...

Thursday, April 20, 2006

By Mark Bialczak

Staff writer

A classic rocker with a bundle of hit songs and the daughter of one of America's sweetheart celebrity couples of the 1980s will headline this spring's Taste of Syracuse main-stage concert June 3. Eddie Money will sing his time-tested, sing-along hits "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Take Me Home Tonight" at around 9 p.m. Opening the show will be the four-piece band fronted by Alexa Ray Joel. The daughter of "Piano Man" Billy Joel and model Christie Brinkley sings and also plays piano.

The main stage for the two-day event will move to the parking lot that's bordered by South Franklin and West Water streets, west of the Federal Building. Admission to the event is free. The hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 2 and 3.

Jim Horsman, president of CenterStage Events, which produces Taste of Syracuse, says CenterStage officials are excited to showcase Joel's up-and-coming band. "This will be the first festival they'll play," he says.

Horsman says he became convinced of rocker Money's cross-generation appeal when CenterStage interns from Syracuse University told him "Take Me Home Tonight" is considered a must-play anthem at clubs they frequent in Armory Square.

Since the first Taste of Syracuse at Clinton Square, in 2002, dozens of Central New York restaurants set up booths selling their specialty dishes at sample-sized portions and prices. This year, instead of setting up those booths south along Clinton Street, as in the past, they'll wind from Clinton Square west on Water Street and then circle the parking lot bordered by Washington, Franklin and Water streets.

The parking lot to be used for the main stage is three times bigger than the one outside the Chase building at Clinton and Washington streets, says Horsman. Last year, that space was jammed when The Bacon Brothers headlined the event.

"There's a lot more elbow room for the main stage, a lot less imposition on street closings and a lot less imposition of existing downtown businesses," Horsman says.

The Syracuse Area Music Awards will be held on the main stage the night of June 2. Performers for the event that honors the musicians of Central New York will be announced later, as will the acts that will play on three other Taste of Syracuse stages.