First of all, I'd like to tell everyone who's sent a concert story to the Row how much I've enjoyed all the details and observations you've written. I had the pleasure of seeing Elton in concert last night at Gund Arena in Cleveland. Elton was in very good voice, and featured his piano extensively on quite a few of the songs. (most enjoyable)
I was sitting in the lower tier, about nine rows back from the floor, facing stage right, (Elton's side). That's rather far away. . . but the view is unobstructed, and with my binoculars, I actually could see his facial expressions quite clearly. ( There were 2 large screens as well. . .which is great just because his expressions are priceless when he's really into the keyboard, and knows it's going over superbly, or when he's sharing some private joke with the band)
Elton wore a blue and white plaid suit with a silver sequined pattern around his mid-section. I believe it was the same Versace border that adorns pieces of the set and Davey's T's as well. I wasn't close enough to see his shoes clearly! He started out with some dark blue framed glasses, and then changed to a pair with amber lenses.
The lights went down at exactly 8:00 p.m. and Elton was onstage within 5-10 minutes. He was a little subdued at first, as was the crowd. . . but everybody warmed up after the first couple of songs.
There was a very sweet couple on the floor just in front of my section. The lady was in a simple black floor length dress and the gentleman in dark slacks and a white shirt. They danced beautifully throughout the concert behind the last row of floor seats. . . slowly through the ballads and more actively during the rockers, but always alone together in their own world throughout the song. At the conclusion of each number, they would turn to the stage to acknowledge Elton's performance, but then turned right back to each other. It was very emotional . . . touching . . . almost beyond words to see two people so thoroughly enjoying the moment and each other and Elton.
Elton opened with Circle of Life, with featured cartoon videos from The Lion King.
One of the friends I was with just loves this song above all others that Elton does, so it was a highlight for her.
The second song was Grey Seal followed by Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road. This is where the crowd started to get into it. The floor section was by now mostly on it's feet. During Honky Cat Elton asked everyone to sing along and he really "pianoed out". ( I love the guys in Elton's band, but my favorite portions of the concert are always when the piano dominates with a bit of percussion on the side.) The next number was Tiny Dancer, followed by Levon. ( another great trip up and down the keyboard with Elton.) After this, he spent several minutes signing shirts and programs and little stuffed animals, and accepting flowers and touching dozens of extended hands. The man behind me just could not believe that Elton was doing that. . . taking so much time to touch the crowd, and let them touch him. He also pointed and bowed to folks sitting in the middle and upper tiers.
Following that he sang I'm Gonna Be a Teenage Idol, and I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, followed by I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That. This was another terrific piano piece. The man just knocks your socks off!! Then there was more time to sign autographs and reach out to the fans. Elton virtually made love to the piano during a fantastic introduction to Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me. It was a real highlight of the evening for me, and it seemed, for most of the audience, too. People just went crazy during this number. . . the lighters were whipped out, and the noise level went up. . . it was great. The best sound as yet that evening.
EJ followed with Daniel, and Rocket Man, slipping into a very jazzy rendition, which did not go on long enough in my opinion. We were then treated to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, followed be Crocodile Rock.
Elton then got very mellow and sweet and thanked the fans for the love and patience and kindness he'd been shown over the years and told us that this was Your Song!!!! A perennial crowd pleaser. . . with even more autograghs and touching. The looks on the faces of the fans whom he touched. . . . Sigh!! Elton kept things low key with an excellent rendition of Recover Your Soul. ( I truly wish he would record it just like this. I was glorious, and simple, and the sound was true and breathtaking.) He began Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters in the same way, joined slowly by Davey and the rest of the band to finish, after which they launched into Philadelphia Freedom, at the close of which he ( you guessed it!!) signed more shirts, CDs, and programs.
The next set included Simple Life, The One, and Sad Songs. Then Elton comically "introduced" the band. If you didn't already know who they were, of course, you wouldn't after his introductions either. . . because he didn't use any real names! (Cute, of course! The band gets a kick out of it!) Elton's vocals on Something About the Way you Look Tonight were extraordinary. He sounded better than ever here, and it was delightful. . .
We were treated to a rockin' version of The Bitch is Back. . . a real crowd pleaser that had pretty much everyone on his or her respective feet!
And once again. . . autograghs, autograghs, autograghs. . .
The first encore included Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and Great Balls of Fire. The latter is now Elton's. He owns it!! No one can play like he does. . . no one. And usually, I don't think that another artist should do somebody's signature song. . . but in this case. . . WOW!!!! You need to hear him perform this live!!
Before the 2nd encore, Elton changed to blue shorts and shirt with the silver Versace logo on the back. It was now time for Bennie and the Jets and all those crowd pleasing piano antics. . . never fails. . .
But then Elton left. . . for good. . . 3 hrs of enchantment over. . . only the memory dust left behind. Does anyone else just hate it when they turn the house lights up and you see the empty stage? I would like to just file out in sort of half light. . . savoring the evening with my friends. . . Oh, we still savored . . . all the way home. . . and into the next day. . . and until I see him again. . . Don't stay away too long, Elton. . .
Thanks, Jim, for providing the forum, and thanks Rowers for reading.
Love, Cheryl
Return to the concert details.