“Why sound like me when I can sound like everyone else,” mused Greg London during a recent performance of “ICONS” at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.
Sounds like a performer with a serious identity disorder, but in the case of London it’s not about dealing with multiple personalities, though he hears voices in his head. Rather, the award-winning entertainer has trained his mind to effectively channels over thirty pop and rock & roll voice impersonations. The result is a high-energy, one-hour tribute to music icons.
London’s vocal impressions travel across the stage faster than a ring of fire. The moment London dons a black duster and cowboy hat, his baritone voice implores, “Because you’re mine, I walk the line.”
The audience is advised not to take their eyes off of London, because they may be fooled into thinking it’s actually Tony Bennett crooning “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” or Wolfman Jack howling “Midnight Special” and even Bruce Springsteen balladering “Born to Run.” London’s voice impressions are as lifelike as Madame Tussaud’s wax figures.
London makes a first-class go at the more difficult-to-emulate voices: the gravelly, raspy voice of Rod Stewart in “Maggie May,” the vibrato of David Bowie in “Let’s Dance” or the hallmark nasality of Tina Turner in “Private Dancer.”
But it’s not just about the voice. London leverages body movements, costumes, and props to conjure up associations to the Real McCoy. For example, the spastic gyrations of Joe Cocker that recall his performance of “A Little Help from My Friends” at Woodstock or Ozzy Osbourne and Elvis adorned in their iconic fashions. A shiny trumpet and white hanky are sufficient enough to signal “Hello Dolly.” And speaking of Louis Armstrong, London has been practicing his trumpet chops since he was a boy and holds his own on the guitar, piano, harmonica, and percussion instruments.
Three shapely dancers, who whirl about in choreographed moves and era clothing, are delicious eye-candy, and the four-piece band provides superb covers and backup vocals for London’s singing impersonations. The base player even does funny sidekick shtick. When he’s not performing his music icons, London serves up whimsical anecdotes about his career. He did a gig at Capitol Records and one on a cruise ship jaunt.
London is a gracious, sincere, and engaging performer, who appreciates his audience and speaks tellingly about finding his dreams on the Las Vegas stage. Watching the energetic London, one is quietly reminded of the voice talent of the recently departed, vocal impressionist Danny Gans. He was a local favorite who appeared on a stage around the block from the Riviera.