Elton John and Billy Joel, Face 2 Face tour, Key Arena
Last May, I posted a kvetch when I discovered that Elton and Billy were touring together and would be appearing in Seattle. I kvetched mainly because I didn't have the money to buy tickets and I was afraid that this opportunity wouldn't come along again. tbclone47 picked up a gauntlet I hadn't meant to throw down, and made it possible for both of us, as it happened, to get tickets after all. The show was tonight. I will be forever grateful. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen--two masters in top form, clearly having a good time.
The lights went down, and two pianos--face to face--rose onto the stage from below. The crowd goes wild. Billy entered to the strains of "Yankee Doodle," Elton to "God Save the Queen." Billy wore his performance blacks--black pants, tee shirt, and jacket. Elton wore black pants, a red shirt, and a pair of tails on the back of which was a design topped by the words "Island Girl." They met in the center like boxers preparing for a fight--but very good-natured and obviously ready to play. Anyway, they launched the night with four songs together alternating verses, then Elton did a set of 11 songs, Billy did a set of 11ish, and then they came together and did another seven. I should note for the record that the sound at the Key was terrific--crystal clear and powerful.
Because I'm that kind of dork, I wrote down the set list which you can find beneath the cut, with notes.
Your Song
Just the Way You Are
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me 1
Beethoven's Ode to Joy/My Life
--Lights go down. When they come up, Billy's piano, and Billy, are gone. It's Elton's show now.--
Funeral for a Friend
Love Lies Bleeding
Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting2
Levon
Madman Across the Water
Tiny Dancer3
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Daniel
Rocket Man4
Philadelphia Freedom
I'm Still Standing
Crocodile Rock
--Lights go down. When they come up, Elton's piano has been replaced by Billy's, Elton is gone and Billy appears. Billy's piano is on a turntable, and turns periodically throughout his set.--
Angry Young Man5
Anthony's Song (Movin' Out)6
Allentown
Zanzibar
Don't Ask Me Why
Always a Woman
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
River of Dreams7
Foxy Lady8
We Didn't Start the Fire9
Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me10
Only the Good Die Young
--Lights go down. When they come up, both pianos are on stage again.--
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Uptown Girl11
The Bitch is Back
You May Be Right12
Bennie and the Jets13
Candle in the Wind14
Piano Man
1. It was at this point in the show that I realized the light show was going to be great. There were screens, banks of lights, and animations that were just great.
2. At the end of this tune, Elton pronounces "Madman Across the Water" a particular favorite of all the albums he's recorded and announces he's going to sing a few songs from it, to much applause.
3. "This one's for the ladies."
4. Longest and best version of "Rocket Man" I've ever heard. It was the highlight of Elton's set, better even than "Funeral for a Friend"; just amazing.
5. Billy's still got all the speed and power in his hands that he ever did.
6. Billy banters with the crowd after this song a bit, as he usually does during his shows, and which Elton didn't do at all during his set. He welcomed everyone in the house, waved at those of us "out in Spokane" (at the far end of the arena and up in the sky-high seats), thanked us for coming even though the show had to be rescheduled because of illness. Very gracious, very Billy.
7. During the song's break Billy broke into "When the Saints Go Marching In."
8. Billy gets up, says "And now for something completely different," and grabs a guitar. I've seen him play guitar on stage before. The piano was lowered off stage, and then there was this scream of static. Next thing we know, Billy's belting out "Foxy Lady." For those of you who aren't Billy Joel fans, the guy is famous as a remarkable mimic. It was really something to hear him channel Jimi Hendrix. Apparently, at Wednesday night's show, he sang "Purple Haze."
9. During the song, images of the historical people and things being mentioned were flashed across the screen. When Billy sang "England's got a new queen," the screen showed Elton, which made me laugh.
10. He was still on his feet during this song, and twirled the mic stand like a baton in front of him. All I kept thinking was how nervous that move must make everyone from the roadies to the producers. After this song, the piano was returned to the stage.
11. During "You May Be Right" Billy's piano rotated 360 degrees a couple of times. He may be crazy. Right.
12. Billy channels Frankie Valli an Elvis Presley. Elton pretty much stays Elton. I sensed this wasn't a favorite of his.
13. Extended version. Bass beat is so loud and deep that Patrick and I can feel it in our breastbones. Billy plays an extended solo, quoting from all sorts of songs. Patrick is sure he heard a little Gershwin.
14. Beautiful harmonies during the last bars of the song; these men sound wonderful together.
I noticed things as the night went on that I promised I'd note for myself for later consideration:
I had a grand time tonight. Patrick clearly enjoyed himself as well. I'm so grateful and happy that I could go to this concert. I had a fabulous time. I'm still buzzing. Don't know how I'll ever get to sleep!
ETA: Here's the review for Wednesday night' show from the Seattle Times. Air piano. Heh. Guilty as charged.
The lights went down, and two pianos--face to face--rose onto the stage from below. The crowd goes wild. Billy entered to the strains of "Yankee Doodle," Elton to "God Save the Queen." Billy wore his performance blacks--black pants, tee shirt, and jacket. Elton wore black pants, a red shirt, and a pair of tails on the back of which was a design topped by the words "Island Girl." They met in the center like boxers preparing for a fight--but very good-natured and obviously ready to play. Anyway, they launched the night with four songs together alternating verses, then Elton did a set of 11 songs, Billy did a set of 11ish, and then they came together and did another seven. I should note for the record that the sound at the Key was terrific--crystal clear and powerful.
Because I'm that kind of dork, I wrote down the set list which you can find beneath the cut, with notes.
Your Song
Just the Way You Are
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me 1
Beethoven's Ode to Joy/My Life
--Lights go down. When they come up, Billy's piano, and Billy, are gone. It's Elton's show now.--
Funeral for a Friend
Love Lies Bleeding
Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting2
Levon
Madman Across the Water
Tiny Dancer3
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Daniel
Rocket Man4
Philadelphia Freedom
I'm Still Standing
Crocodile Rock
--Lights go down. When they come up, Elton's piano has been replaced by Billy's, Elton is gone and Billy appears. Billy's piano is on a turntable, and turns periodically throughout his set.--
Angry Young Man5
Anthony's Song (Movin' Out)6
Allentown
Zanzibar
Don't Ask Me Why
Always a Woman
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
River of Dreams7
Foxy Lady8
We Didn't Start the Fire9
Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me10
Only the Good Die Young
--Lights go down. When they come up, both pianos are on stage again.--
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Uptown Girl11
The Bitch is Back
You May Be Right12
Bennie and the Jets13
Candle in the Wind14
Piano Man
1. It was at this point in the show that I realized the light show was going to be great. There were screens, banks of lights, and animations that were just great.
2. At the end of this tune, Elton pronounces "Madman Across the Water" a particular favorite of all the albums he's recorded and announces he's going to sing a few songs from it, to much applause.
3. "This one's for the ladies."
4. Longest and best version of "Rocket Man" I've ever heard. It was the highlight of Elton's set, better even than "Funeral for a Friend"; just amazing.
5. Billy's still got all the speed and power in his hands that he ever did.
6. Billy banters with the crowd after this song a bit, as he usually does during his shows, and which Elton didn't do at all during his set. He welcomed everyone in the house, waved at those of us "out in Spokane" (at the far end of the arena and up in the sky-high seats), thanked us for coming even though the show had to be rescheduled because of illness. Very gracious, very Billy.
7. During the song's break Billy broke into "When the Saints Go Marching In."
8. Billy gets up, says "And now for something completely different," and grabs a guitar. I've seen him play guitar on stage before. The piano was lowered off stage, and then there was this scream of static. Next thing we know, Billy's belting out "Foxy Lady." For those of you who aren't Billy Joel fans, the guy is famous as a remarkable mimic. It was really something to hear him channel Jimi Hendrix. Apparently, at Wednesday night's show, he sang "Purple Haze."
9. During the song, images of the historical people and things being mentioned were flashed across the screen. When Billy sang "England's got a new queen," the screen showed Elton, which made me laugh.
10. He was still on his feet during this song, and twirled the mic stand like a baton in front of him. All I kept thinking was how nervous that move must make everyone from the roadies to the producers. After this song, the piano was returned to the stage.
11. During "You May Be Right" Billy's piano rotated 360 degrees a couple of times. He may be crazy. Right.
12. Billy channels Frankie Valli an Elvis Presley. Elton pretty much stays Elton. I sensed this wasn't a favorite of his.
13. Extended version. Bass beat is so loud and deep that Patrick and I can feel it in our breastbones. Billy plays an extended solo, quoting from all sorts of songs. Patrick is sure he heard a little Gershwin.
14. Beautiful harmonies during the last bars of the song; these men sound wonderful together.
I noticed things as the night went on that I promised I'd note for myself for later consideration:
- I noticed how differently some of Billy's lyrics impacted me tonight, decades after I first heard them, especially songs like "Allentown" and "Italian Restaurant." Age changes your perspective, and a song like "Allentown" with its themes of unemployment and disappointment resonates for me in a way it never has before. Facing my 30th high school reunion later this year makes "Italian Restaurant" a little...scary....
- I noticed that Elton's band was very guitar heavy and that Billy's was much more brass-oriented, with a much stronger jazz and big band influence.
- Billy made a point to introduce his band--which Elton didn't.
- And Billy could not sit still--which I knew he wouldn't. I've never seen him in concert but that he'd get up, run around, pull crazy stunts like jumping off his piano (didn't do that tonight and, frankly, I didn't expect him to). He was just much more in touch with the audience, I think, than Elton was.
- Both men's voices have aged well. Elton doesn't have his higher notes, though; Billy still does. When he modulated up an octave on "Piano Man" he may have fought for the higher register, but Elton fought harder for it.
- I really wanted a souvenir of the night--a tee shirt, a program book, something. The tees were $40, the program books $25. What you're reading right now? This is my souvenir.
- Under the heading of "In My Dreams," I really wanted to see Billy and Elton sing "Baby Grand" together, but that was too much to hope for. It's a beautiful song, which Billy wrote specifically to sing with Ray Charles, but not nearly as well known as Billy's other work. And "Piano Man" was clearly the right song for the two of them to close with. Here's a video of Billy and Elton singing it together several years ago (starts with them talking about the first time they ever met), to give you a taste.
I had a grand time tonight. Patrick clearly enjoyed himself as well. I'm so grateful and happy that I could go to this concert. I had a fabulous time. I'm still buzzing. Don't know how I'll ever get to sleep!
ETA: Here's the review for Wednesday night' show from the Seattle Times. Air piano. Heh. Guilty as charged.