On Friday night Nov 14, 1997 at 8 pm Birmingham, Alabama was treated to a great treat, Elton Hercules John! This was Elton's first ever concert in Birmingham. He last played Alabama in 1976 in Tuscaloosa. The radio stations and newspapers have been promoting the show like crazy ever since it was first announced back in early September. The tickets sold out in 42 minutes back when they went on sale. They even released an extra 300 tickets Friday morning which were gone before anyone could blink.
They started letting people in the civic center at 6:45. My fiancee and I went directly to the shirt stand and got two shirts, both of the album cover, and picked up our program. As we headed to our seat I saw John Jorgeson talking to some friends right next our seats (we were near the side tunnel on the floor). I approached him and told him that I had really enjoyed his web site and that I was looking forward to the show. He said that he appreciated me visiting his site and carried on to sign my program on his band picture. He seemed to be very nice.
The show started at 8:05 and the stage looked wonderful! The sound struggled until after Grey Seal. It sounded really distorted. I had no problem understanding the lyrics, because I know everyone of them, but my father (his first rock concert at 54!) had trouble he said understanding the words until GYBR. Elton seemed in a great mood. He did all the usual things- signing autographs, etc. One of the funniest moments came after The One (which I wish he would do only solo, the band destroys it!), Davey starting playing Sweet Home Alabama. The "good 'ol boys" at the show starting screaming like Lynard Skynard had joined EJ on stage. Elton got a big kick out of Davey doing that, he laughed all through the intro to Grey Seal.
Here is the set list - No major changes except SSTBTHW in, Levon out. (Comments given where they are needed.)
Simple Life The One (would be best solo during the encore) Grey Seal (great to hear this one) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Honky Cat (got the crowd on it's feet) Can You Feel The Love Tonight Tiny Dancer I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues If The River Can Bend (loved it live. it became a beer run for most "fans" however) I Don't Wanna Go On With You... (1 of my favs from the evening, crowd on it's feet) Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (solo) The Last Song (solo) Daniel (solo) Love's Got A Lot To Answer For (Guy's screeching keyboard work during the piano solo almost killed the song) Take Me To The Pilot (the intro is great, but let's drop the song already) Something About The Way You Look Tonight Made In England (oh yeah, the first piano bench kick away of the night!) band introduction Believe Someone Saved My Life Tonight (the best sounding song of the evening, my fav) Philadelphia Freedom (crowd never sat dow after this one started, rocking) Bennie And The Jets (oh yeah, the second piano bench kick away of the night!) Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) Encores Sand And Water (could not understand 95% of the song, maybe he'll record it through sound board and we'll get it on a b-side. WAKE UP PAUL YOU ARE DREAMING!) The Bitch Is Back (neat ending) Your Song (keep the band off the stage, they almost ruined it by being too loud)
Very disapointed that he dropped Long Way From Happiness.
Idiots were calling the radio stations after the show saying he did not even play Crocodile Rock. They were probably the so called "fans" who got front row seats!
Anyway, great show. 41/2 stars out of five.
Paul Lilly
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