Ottawa

by: David Peter Herle

Ottawa

I just saw the Elton show in Ottawa last night (Nov 7) which brings my Elton total to 15 (not including the Joel abomination). As usual, it was a remarkable experience, parts of which will stay with me for a long time. The set list was as has been reported by others - including the unspeakably disappointing absence of We All Fall In Love Sometimes / Curtains. I will be seeing the tour twice more (Montreal and Memphis) and plan to provide a more reflective analysis after the tours completion. However, following are my immediate post concert thoughts.

  1. Elton's voice sounds great throughout - even though he said he had a cold.
  2. Trudell does a pretty good job on the vocals. I really miss the girls from the Reg and Sleeping tours, though.
  3. There is way too much Babylon. I didn't pay to hear this guy. Most songs he is the dominant instrument. How we got to the point where Davey is buried in the mix is beyond me. The band is so talented but most of the night you can't really hear them.
  4. Elton is really cooking on the piano. A searing solo on I Don't Wanna got the whole stadium up and moving and was probably my favourite point of the night.
  5. I couldn't make out any of the lyrics to Sand And Water. Sounded nice though.
  6. Elton has put on quite a bit of weight. I think this is the biggest he's been.
  7. I think the Furnishes came down from Toronto for the show. Elton acknowledged some friends and family from TO.
  8. The song selection from The Big Picture is a bit mystifying to me. If The River sounded great - super rendition and good concert song. However, I haven't heard too many people say that Loves Got A Lot is the best ballad on the album. And given that either Recover or Wicked Dreams are certain to be the next single and that both (esp. Wicked) would sound great live, why isn't he playing them.
  9. The crowd reacted very enthusiastically to the show rising to their feet on many occasions and remaining standing and dancing from Philadelphia Freedom to the end.
  10. Elton seems to be a happier more outgoing person, certainly than he appeared on the late 80's tours.
  11. There is a strangely staccato feeling to some of the fast songs - like they aren't flowing properly. I found it most noticeable on Honky Cat. It's like it rocks but it doesn't roll. I don't know what the problem is or even how quite to describe it. Maybe other, more musically literate, people can respond.
  12. One of the local papers has a full colour shot of Elton across the front page today under the heading "Elton Rules". I agree.

PERSONAL NOTE TO ELTON JOHN OR DAVEY JOHNSTONE, MUSICAL DIRECTOR (in the one in a hundred chance they are reading):
I HAVE LOVED CURTAINS FOR 22 YEARS - IT IS AN ABSOLUTE CAREER PEAK. I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING IT. NOW THAT I KNOW HOW LOUDLY YOU HAVE THE DRUMS MIKED, IT IS EVEN MORE OF A SHAME THAT YOU AREN'T PLAYING IT. PLEASE RETURN IT TO THE SET FOR MONTREAL OR MEMPHIS. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

"And just like us, you must have had a once upon a time" - Bernie Taupin, 1975

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