David Saffert and Jillian Snow

Liberace & Liza: Pier Pressure (A Tribute)

Feinstein’s at the Nikko, San Francisco, CA, July 18, 2025

Reviewed by Steve Murray

Tribute shows can give audiences an opportunity to experience acts they may never get to see, which could bring up positive memories. There are tribute bands galore from Pink Floyd (Brit Floyd) to a reggae Led Zeppelin (Dredd Zeppelin) and the Russian-based Leonid and Friends, whose recreation of the band Chicago is astonishingly accomplished. Then there are the multitude of drag performers who channel such icons as Judy Garland, Cher, and Dolly Parton.

Liberace & Liza: Pier Pressure (A Tribute), which rolled back into Feinstein’s at the Nikko for a return engagement, is one of the finest acts of this genre. It featured two extraordinary performers who combined their talents to bring Liberace and Liza Minnelli to life. While those two icons knew each other, they never performed together. David Saffert and Jillian Snow have devised a cabaret act that took camp to a new level while it also interjected some serious musical skills that elevated the show beyond just comic mimicry.

Saffert has played piano professionally for more than 25 years and is the current principal accompanist for the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Snow has an enormous vocal range (A3-E5) and may be the finest Minnelli impersonator around. She also channeled Janis Joplin in the Off-Broadway production 27 Heaven. Together they have created a hilarious, highly entertaining evening full of smart showbiz talk, great camaraderie between the two, and plenty of local references.

Saffert’s Liberace was sweet and genuine with that nasal speaking voice, exaggerated hand movements, costume changes, and a ton of schmaltz. He introduced his dear mother from the audience (a random audience member) and excellently accompanied Liza on her numbers. He played two solos: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and a lovely boogie-woogie take on Bizet’s “Habanera” aria from Carmen.

Snow delivered some absolute knock-out Liza numbers, including “Cabaret,” “Theme from New York, New York,” and her Pet Shop Boys version of “Losing My Mind,” all delivered with highly stylized Minnelli mannerisms, such as giggling during songs, starting her own applause, and exaggerating her breathy voice. Their duets were charming and hilarious and were intermingled with witty banter and ridiculous anecdotes. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” was a show highlight, as was turning “Making Love Alone” into a masturbation exercise.

There were some brilliant bits that Saffert and Snow have honed over the years of their collaboration, which included Liza telling a story about her famous mom Judy Garland that was hilariously unintelligible (Liberace casually quipped that a transcript was required). Their improv skills were constantly in play, and their musicianship was unmatched. GenXers and millennials may not have had the frame of reference to fully enjoy this show, but it was prime material for those of us of a “certain age” who would find this show totally enjoyable.

Liberace & Liza: Pier Pressure (A Tribute) continues July 25 and 26. Tickets are available at www.feinsteinssf.com/events.