Las Vegas Mixtape v57: Metal-Punk Forever, Charcoal Room, and Sally Steele’s 8th Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards — Track #4 (of 5): “The Phil Collins Story” @Resorts World

Track #4 (of 5): “The Phil Collins Story” @Resorts World

Seth Eliser confidently steps into Phil Collins’ shoes and suit. (Image: Vegas 411)

Tonight House of Magic 5:00 PM · Silver Sevens Get tickets

These days the demand keeps growing for tribute concerts celebrating the music of iconic artists who’ve retired from the road or passed away. No surprise since the modern music world has arguably not produced contemporary artists with the same level of virtuosity and magic of innovators like Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Prince.  

British legend Phil Collins may have retired from the road a few years ago, but not to worry. There’s the touring production of the “The Phil Collins Story,” which rolled into Resorts World as part of a 55-city North American tour that debuted this past February.  Meanwhile, the real Collins will be inducted as a solo artist into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 14 (he was first inducted in 2010 as a member of Genesis). 

Seth Eliser is up there “In The Air Tonight.” (Image: Vegas 411)

Described as a “a live docu-concert,” “The Phil Collins Story” checked a lot of boxes—outstanding musicianship, dazzling lighting, and arty film projections—and the soaring voice of Louisiana-raised Seth Eliser. He startlingly replicates Collins’ signature high tenor on hits from his time in Genesis (including “Invisible Touch” and “Follow You, Follow Me”) and then as a solo artist (the opener “Sussudio,” the encore “In The Air Tonight,” and more). Eliser is also the show’s narrator, guiding the audience, in between songs, through Collins’ award-winning career and giving it context.

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There will always be, of course, some purists who look down on tribute concerts. But judging by tonight’s enthusiastic crowd, it’s easy to surmise that tribute tours will only continue to multiply and attract audiences—if the shows are creatively staged. A buddy of mine, rock author Lonn Friend, recently joked that one day, in a dystopian world, there will only be tribute artists to go out and see.