Piano Men pack Park

Fans of Elton John, Billy Joel and good music in general were treated at Friday night’s Park Theater show.

A crowd of over 350 came to the historic theater, many making their first trip to 115 W. Main St., for The Piano Men - The Music of Elton John and Billy Joel. Piano players weren’t the only talent on display, however, as a nine-piece band brought the greatest hits of the two iconic showmen to life with three guitars, two background singers, a saxophone player and drummer in support of band co-founders Micah Snow and Chris Smallwood on keyboards and vocals.

The Nashville-based band took the crowd on a tour of the careers of John and Joel with a healthy mix of the pair’s legendary songs such as “Bennie and the Jets,” “My Life,” “Rocketman,” Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” “Levon,” “I’m Still Standing” and many more.

Adding a bit of local flair was friend of the band and McMinnville’s own Chip Greene joining the group on stage for “Movin‘ Out.”

“We were hearing from downtown restaurant owners that people were coming to enjoy a pre-show meal,” Park Theater Manager Joe Harvey said. “We ‘re happy to play a part in boosting tourism. And it was extra special to have a hometown boy and friend of the Park Chip Greene make another appearance on the Park stage.”

The emcee for the evening was Kim Phillips, owner of Somewhere Liquors.

The weekend of entertainment at the Park continues Saturday with the Diggery Digger’s Rock n‘ Roar Dino Show at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Park Theater website.