Billy Joel came on stage at about 8:15 Wednesday night. Actually, he ascended from beneath the stage, sitting in front of his baby grand. For the next 2 hours and 20 minutes, he played one song after another. No breaks, just songs. He's still the consumate performer.
(The only bad part of the night was that I didn't bring my camera. Why didn't I? Well, the tickets said no cameras allowed. I even called the GEC before the concert, and they said absolutely no cameras. When we got there, every third person had a camera. Yeah. They obviously don't enforce that rule.)
He led off with my second favorite song, Angry Young Man. He hasn't lost a thing when it comes to working the ivories. He played all the hits. And he threw in a few obscure songs. Stop in Nevada was great. He said they hadn't played that song in concert anywhere since the early 70's. Everybody Loves You Now had the same energy it had back in the 70's. He played The Entertainer and the audience responded like it was a #1. Before playing Zanzibar, he said, "We can't play hits all night. We gotta' play <bleep> we wanna' hear every now and then!" Root Beer Rag, while never released on radio, brought down the house. And the cool thing about most of these seldom-heard songs was that he put them in at the last minute. They'd start to do one song, then he'd say something like "nah, let's do this one."
One of the funnier parts of the night came when Billy announced that they were going to do their own version of Nashville Star. He brought out a 25-year roadie vet named "Chainsaw" who treated the crowd to a little AC/DC. This guy actually sounded alot like Bon Scott.
The band was incredible. I was disappointed that Liberty Divito, original drummer for the band, is no longer touring, but his replacement didn't disappoint. The horn section is unbelieveable. The lady who plays brass, percussion and provides backup vocals is incredible. Not only does she have a beautiful voice, she's a great entertainer. She, and all the other band members, look like they're having the time of their lives.
The 3 encores were songs that HAVE TO BE PLAYED at every Billy Joel concert. When he left the stage, cell phones lit up the GEC. He came back and did Only the Good Die Young. Encore #2 was my favorite performance of the night and all-time favorite song, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant. Ah, the story of Brenda and Eddie. He exited stage left, the cell phones came back out. When he came back onstage he was wearing a harmonica holder around his neck, which could only mean one thing - Piano Man was going to be the final song of the night.
At one point during the night, I wondered if he might get tired of singing the same songs every concert. I don't know if he does or not, but I do know that I don't ever get tired of hearing him perform them.....
(The only bad part of the night was that I didn't bring my camera. Why didn't I? Well, the tickets said no cameras allowed. I even called the GEC before the concert, and they said absolutely no cameras. When we got there, every third person had a camera. Yeah. They obviously don't enforce that rule.)
He led off with my second favorite song, Angry Young Man. He hasn't lost a thing when it comes to working the ivories. He played all the hits. And he threw in a few obscure songs. Stop in Nevada was great. He said they hadn't played that song in concert anywhere since the early 70's. Everybody Loves You Now had the same energy it had back in the 70's. He played The Entertainer and the audience responded like it was a #1. Before playing Zanzibar, he said, "We can't play hits all night. We gotta' play <bleep> we wanna' hear every now and then!" Root Beer Rag, while never released on radio, brought down the house. And the cool thing about most of these seldom-heard songs was that he put them in at the last minute. They'd start to do one song, then he'd say something like "nah, let's do this one."
One of the funnier parts of the night came when Billy announced that they were going to do their own version of Nashville Star. He brought out a 25-year roadie vet named "Chainsaw" who treated the crowd to a little AC/DC. This guy actually sounded alot like Bon Scott.
The band was incredible. I was disappointed that Liberty Divito, original drummer for the band, is no longer touring, but his replacement didn't disappoint. The horn section is unbelieveable. The lady who plays brass, percussion and provides backup vocals is incredible. Not only does she have a beautiful voice, she's a great entertainer. She, and all the other band members, look like they're having the time of their lives.The 3 encores were songs that HAVE TO BE PLAYED at every Billy Joel concert. When he left the stage, cell phones lit up the GEC. He came back and did Only the Good Die Young. Encore #2 was my favorite performance of the night and all-time favorite song, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant. Ah, the story of Brenda and Eddie. He exited stage left, the cell phones came back out. When he came back onstage he was wearing a harmonica holder around his neck, which could only mean one thing - Piano Man was going to be the final song of the night.
At one point during the night, I wondered if he might get tired of singing the same songs every concert. I don't know if he does or not, but I do know that I don't ever get tired of hearing him perform them.....
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