Review: Jerry Lee Lewis remains a musical firebrand at 83 during dynamic performance in Cerritos

Jerry Lee Lewis is often tagged “The Last Man Standing” these days, a reference to his status among the core group of musicians who helped ignite the big bang of rock ’n’ roll of the 1950s. Another time, after a fan shouted something unintelligible, he shot back in no uncertain terms, “Do you want the microphone, or do you want to shut up?” The set encompassed such cornerstones of his live set as “Don’t Put No Headstone on My Grave,” “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee” and “See See Rider” before concluding with de rigueur versions of his two biggest hits, “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On.” For the latter, he stood at the song’s end and, once again, defiantly kicked over the piano bench before exiting the stage to a standing ovation. “You couldn’t beat Gene Autry,” Lewis said backstage shortly after the set ended, sharing the story of being captivated by Autry’s rendering of the song for the first time when the 1939 film by that title played at his hometown movie theater years later. The opening act, Ohio-bred pianist-singer-songwriter Jacob Tolliver, channeled Lewis’ spirit honorably — no great surprise given his history portraying Lewis in the Las Vegas production of the musical “Million Dollar Quartet.” His enthusiastic performance was that much more impressive seeing that he was playing with his right ring and pinkie fingers encased in a cast from a recent accident.