Well, not having seen Elton for over 2 years, it was certainly a treat to see him once again. I guess the only thing that I can really say that was negative is I wish Pennsylvania would quit being under construction when I go to visit. I would love to come there more, but wow, the traffic just sucks!
With that said, the Sovereign Center is a rather intimate venue. There are no real nosebleed seats there, so it has a rather personal feel to it. I will also add that I think for me this was the loudest show I have ever been to! The vibrations in the arena were incredible! For those of us lucky enough to have 1-3 rows, making it to the stage was not a problem. Naturally, the majority did not have those seats and I was one. I got tickets from EJ.com and mine were 8th row left, (yes, I was very happy with them!) in front of the piano. They were rather amazing, view wise!
This was a high energy show! The crowd was on it's feet for most of the concert which was really nice. I don't think that I heard one "sit down" while I was there. I was able to move a little closer (about 4th row) toward the end of the show. A woman who was dressed in business clothing thought that she was going to get in front of the group that was standing. (actually, I think she thought that she was going to the front) She started trying to mow her way through many of us standing. She did not get far and was rather perturbed when the "Event Nazis" would not allow her access. She went back from whence she came.
Elton was just in fantastic shape tonight:) I still don't like the new duds, but I have to say he looks stunning in blue. It does a lot for him. He had a black jacket with studded rhinestones, a blue "nightshirt" (that's what it looks like to me) and black pants. Laura was at the stage and she said his shoes were fantastic! I can't vouch for that, but she saw them, I will take her at her word:) Elton was very charged up tonight. Lots of leaning in on the piano bench, standing on the bench, walking the stage and doing his antics of putting his foot on the piano. He flapped the top of the piano to the point you could hear it. I think he was thrilled to play to an audience that was as excited as this one. The band equally sounded fabulous. Guy (Mr. Columbia!) was looking really fantastic! I just couldn't help but notice him! Nigel was having fun, doing a lot of smiling:) Davey and Bob looked great as did John. This was really a fun show, due in part that the band as well as the audience was really having fun. The only thing that was not fun was not being able to move:(
To all those fans I met tonight, Denice, Jean and some that I didn't get to introduce myself to, it was fun and I REALLY hope one of these times we can all get together! I was trying to get your attention Jean to come up with us, but I didn't have any luck:( I didn't see where Denice ran off to, but as I say, great to put a face with a name:) To Laura and Shira... as usual a fun time was had by all! (have we ever NOT had fun?) Had a great time afterwards and I can't wait until we can do it again:)
The set list has been posted. I want to say for myself that my favorite song FFAF/LLB was just unreal! I don't think I have ever heard such a great version of the song! If ANYONE out there made a DAT of the show please email me because I would SO love a copy! It brought tears to my eyes...honestly!
It looked to me as if I'm Still Standing was the song to move on, but since it was only the first 3 rows at this show, I would hardly say there was a stage rush.
Items to buy:
Best of luck to those going tomorrow night. If he rocks HALF of what he did tonight, you are in for quite a show:) I hopefully will have pictures and/or MPEG video up on my site when I recover some. If you have any other questions, post and I will try to answer. I am pretty pooped out, but I did want to let all the "Inquiring" minds here at the newsgroup know what they are in for should they being going to this round of shows. Thanks for listening:)
-- THE IslandGirl...Sharon My Elton page
CWS shared this review from the Reading Eagle newspaper:
Pop icon Elton John opened his new U.S. tour in Reading Friday night to a sold-out audience which was treated to a retrospective of his nearly 40-year career.
Walking on stage in a black-sequined jacket, royal blue shirt and black pants, dark glasses firmly in place, Sir Elton made the Sovereign Center roar as he opened with Benny and the Jets (sic) and The Bitch Is Back.
Backed by longtime band members, guitarist Davey Johnstone and drummer Nigel Olsen (sic), along with percussionist John Mahon, keyboardist Guy Babylon and bassist Bob Birch, John's concert was infused with energy.
He spent the 2 1/2 hour concert at a grand piano, but after every song he acknowledged the audience, seated on all sides of the stage, with a wave and a bow. He also signed autographs and took flowers from fans at the front of the stage.
"Thank you so much," he said early in the show. "It's great to be here."
And he never made that statement seem like a cliche.
Every song, whether 30 years or 2 years old, remained fresh.
Levon and Daniel from the early '70s sounded just as vibrant as Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes and I Want Love from his 2001 album, Songs From the West Coast.
He dedicated Someone Saved My Life Tonight to all the men and women, the troops in Iraq.
Philadelphia Freedom and Rocket Man gave way to I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues.
Huge applause greeted Tiny Dancer and Take Me To the Pilot, then he slowed the pace with Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.
The band left John alone on the stage for Nikita and the Marilyn Monroe-inspired Candle in the Wind.
"This next song is a favorite of mine," he said before playing Original Sin, off ?Songs from the West Coast.
The band returned for a thrilling rendition of Love Lies Bleeding, as John took a short break during the orchestral overture.
John added a hard beat to All The Girls Love Alice and had the audience up and singing for I'm Still Standing and Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting.
He ended the set with Crocodile Rock, then encored with Pinball Wizard, and Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
He left the stage again only to return in a sweatsuit and sneakers.
He played Don't let the Sun Go Down On Me, then took several minutes to sign autographs at the front of the stage.
"What an amazing crowd you are," he said. "Thank you. I love this country so much."
Then he thanked everyone for their loyalty and ended the night with Your Song.
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