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November 15, 2008
Elton John at Mohegan Sun Arena
By SEAN SPILLANE
Staff writer
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If an artist you like is on tour to promote a greatest-hits album, do not miss that show.
Further proof was provided Friday night when Elton John played the Mohegan Sun Arena on a tour that celebrates the release of his latest hits package, “Rocket Man – Number Ones.”
The concert was everything any Elton John fan could hope for, 26 of his best songs played in a concert that ran for nearly three hours. If all of the songs performed weren’t all actual No. 1 singles, they were at the very least fan favorites.
From the opening notes of “Funeral for a Friends,” the sold-out arena was filled with an electric feeling, not only appreciating what was being played, but wondering how he was going to top himself with his next song. To make the night seem more enjoyable was the fact that Sir Elton looked to be having a blast on stage, smiling broadly and periodically getting out from behind his piano to acknowledge the crowd, making sure to give some love to the fans who bought tickets behind the stage.
One of the two songs I wasn’t too familiar with, “Madman Across the Water,” was well received and Elton used the song to go off on an extended piano solo. Elton and his band did quite a few improvisational jams throughout the concert, with mixed results. After a while, the jams started to seem a little tedious and audience attention seemed to lag.
But even if that were so, Sir Elton would reel the crowd back in with one of his major hits. “Madman Across the Water” was followed by “Tiny Dancer,” which had the fans perked up and singing right along. The night’s only major lull came when the slow song “Believe” was followed by “Take Me to the Pilot,” which started with an extended piano solo before finishing strong.
The next song was “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and, again, the fans jumped right back into the spirit of the event.
This is not to say the “jam sessions” were uninteresting, because they were not. Elton drew out the ending of “Levon” and turned it into something resembling an energetic gospel song. And “Rocket Man” found him putting an echo effect to good use, layering his voice to create an almost psychedelic sound.
If I could find one thing to complain about, it would be the Elton either can’t hit the high notes anymore or doesn’t even try. It was missed on decidedly songs such as “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Daniel,” “Tiny Dancer” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
But I can cut him some slack as he is 61 years old now. He might not be able to do what he did as a younger man – who can? – but he still manages to sing with a passion usually reserved for performers half his age.
The end of the concert was an Elton fan’s dream. After a solo “Candle in the Wind,” the last six songs in his set were all up-tempo hits that had the 10,000 in attendance on their feet and dancing.
And Elton, bless his heart, didn’t linger off-stage too long waiting for the encore, instead choosing to come back out and sign autographs for a lucky 50 or so fans in the front rows.
The encore was a brief two-song set that started with The Who’s “Pinball Wizard,” which was a hit for Elton after his performance in the movie version of “Tommy.” Strangely enough, The Who opened its encore at the Mohegan Sun 17 days before with the same song.
The finale, “Your Song,” was dedicated by Elton to his fans, who he thanked for supporting him and giving him a life in music.
He also promised to be back on tour next year and he said it will be another Face 2 Face tour with Billy Joel. I saw that tour in Hartford in 2002 and I recommend you start saving up for your tickets now.
The set list
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding/The Bitch is Back/Madman Across the Water/Tiny Dancer/Levon/Believe/Take Me to the Pilot/Goodbye Yellow Brick Road/Daniel/Rocket Man/Honky Cat/Sacrifice/Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me/All the Young Girls Love Alice/I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues/Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word/Candle in the Wind/Bennie and the Jets/Sad Songs (Say So Much)/Philadelphia Freedom/I’m Still Standing/Crocodile Rock/Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
Encore: Pinball Wizard/Your Song
Posted by Sean on November 15, 2008 6:27 PM
