Elton & Billy: Face to Face Tour

[Harvester]

Miel and I saw what I would rank as one of my top 5 shows of all time this past weekend.

Elton & Billy.

The contrast in both performance and stage persona was startling, but they both absolutely kicked ass. Each was amazing in his own way. However, when they performed together swapping verses/choruses of each other's songs, it was simply magic.

Elton had the shades, long coat, and a diamond penis hanging from his ear. Billy was in a coat and tie. Elton hardly spoke between songs (despite Atlanta being his hometown in the States) while Billy held the crowd in the palm of his hand with his banter. Elton pulled out a few rare ones and went prog on a few tunes (10 minute Rocket Man jam for example). Billy stuck to his hits (save one) and played things perfectly note for note.

The incredible setlist from the four hour show:

Billy & Elton together:

1. "Your Song"
2. "Honesty"
3. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me"
4. "Ode to Joy/My Life"

Elton John

5. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"
6. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
7. "Burn Down the Mission"
8. "Madman Across the Water"
9. "Tiny Dancer"
10. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
11. "Daniel"
12. "Rocket Man"
13. "Levon"
14. "I'm Still Standing"
15. "Crocodile Rock"

Billy Joel

16. "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
17. "Georgia On My Mind"
18. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
19. "Allentown"
20. "Zanzibar"
21. "She's Always A Woman"
22. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
23. "I Go To Extremes"
24. "River of Dreams"
25. "We Didn't Start the Fire"
26. "Be Bop A Lula" -> "It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me"
27. "Only the Good Die Young"

Billy & Elton together:

28. "The Bitch Is Back"
29. "You May Be Right"
30. "Bennie and the Jets"
31. "Birthday" -> "Back in the USSR"
32. "Candle in the Wind"
33. "Piano Man"

 

[edgeofthorns]

Sounds like a fun show, but I could do without the diamond penis hanging from Elton's ear! I'd really like to see Billy Joel before he hangs it up all together.

~Brian~

 

[Harvester]

but I could do without the diamond penis hanging from Elton's ear!

~Brian~

Elton is Elton and hides nothing. I admire him for that...balls and wiener hanging from the lobe and all.

 

[shaq]

I am very jealous. I really need to see Billy live someday...I wish this tour was coming here. (Who woulda thought I'd have to *wish* for Joel to come to NY)

 

[Thorn23TX]

I saw Billy on tour around Christmastime several years ago... It still ranks as one of my top concerts. As Glenn said above, he is the master of working a crowd and making an arena feel like a club with his between song monologues. I'll have to look and see when this is coming here.

 

[General Zod]

Miel and I saw what I would rank as one of my top 5 shows of all time this past weekend.

Elton & Billy.

This only tells me one thing... you've seen Nevermore four times or less.

My sister-in-law asked me if we would go to this show, with her and her husband. I told her I'd go, so long as I'm allowed to bring my iPod.

While I owned (and quite liked) Glass House on vinyl, back in the day, I can't for the life of me imagine what I'd do with myself at a show like this. Do you remain seated, and politely applaud after each song? Hey... I respect the hell out of both these guys. Between them are some of the finest lyrics ever written. However, to me, a live performances is about one thing... live energy. I just can't see enjoying a show where all the performers are seated. That's just me.

Zod

 

[King Lek]

Never been a big Elton John fan.
Grew up on Billy Joel.
Saw him back in the day several times starting with the Turnstile tour.
Last time I saw him was on the Glass Houses tour....lost interest.
Still love his first five albums though.

 

[Harvester]

I just can't see enjoying a show where all the performers are seated. That's just me.

Zod

It is just you. :Smug:

Have you ever been to a dueling piano bar? If not, you are truly missing out on one of the most fun bar experiences in your life. It's about singing the songs you know with people you don't, having a few laughs, a few drinks, and just soaking up the atmosphere. This was just on a bigger scale. You have to look at these shows (Eagles, Buffett, McCartney, etc) as one big party and live the lyrics you are hearing & singing along to, if only for a few hours. I'd rather sing "Tiny Dancer" with Elton than "Dead Heart" with Warrel, but that's just my personal taste.

However, I realize that others go to concerts to analyze the musicians, mosh around, and expend built up energy like there is no tomorrow. I'm too old for that shit. I was shaking my tush next to an 80 year old granny that had an orthopedic surgeon on stand-by in the lobby.


The piano players are actually the only ones seated and they are pounding the shit out of the ivories on the fast tracks. Go search for a video of Billy performing the Prelude/Angry Young Man or Elton cranking Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting and tell me they are not expending as much energy and passion as a metal musician. As for ballads, there is no difference between someone seated during a ballad than standing in front a microphone. It's just that these two have written some of the greatest songs of all time so you concentrate on the lyrics more than ever.

On a side note, they each had a full backing band for their solo sets and the two combined at the end. That includes 4 drumsets, 2 bass, 2 keyboardist, 3 guitarist, 1 sax, 2 percussionist, and the pianos. It was a monster jam session to close out the night.

 

[Wayniac]

It is just you. :Smug:

On a side note, they each had a full backing band for their solo sets and the two combined at the end. That includes 4 drumsets, 2 bass, 2 keyboardist, 3 guitarist, 1 sax, 2 percussionist, and the pianos. It was a monster jam session to close out the night.

Don't go gettin' any ideas, Mr Harveston! :Smug::zombie:

 

[General Zod]

It is just you. :Smug:

Not surprising... I am quite unique.

Have you ever been to a dueling piano bar?

No. I wasn't even aware such a thing existed.

If not, you are truly missing out on one of the most fun bar experiences in your life. It's about singing the songs you know with people you don't, having a few laughs, a few drinks, and just soaking up the atmosphere.

If I have a chance to do so, I'll give it a shot.

I'd rather sing "Tiny Dancer" with Elton than "Dead Heart" with Warrel, but that's just my personal taste.

Now that's just crazy talk.

However, I realize that others go to concerts to analyze the musicians, mosh around, and expend built up energy like there is no tomorrow. I'm too old for that shit.

Bullshit... I'm older than you, and I'm not too old for that shit. You just need to drink more.

Zod

 

[Wishmaster]

Don't go gettin' any ideas, Mr Harveston! :Smug::zombie:

Hmmm... I think we need a bigger stage...

--Mike

 

[J-Dubya 777]

Don't go gettin' any ideas, Mr Harveston! :Smug::zombie:

Crap! You beat me to it!

 

[OrbWeaver]

Bullshit... I'm older than you, and I'm not too old for that shit. You just need to drink more.

You're also a big, buff dude who could crush most people in one hand. That does make a difference.

 

[TheLongshot]

I went to the original Elton & Billy tour back in the 90s, and it was definitely worth the price of admission. I wouldn't mind doing it again, tho both artists have lost some stature in my eyes over the intervening years. Both guys put on a hell of a show.

 

[BlackRoseMetalHeart]

Saw Billy Joel once before and it was certainly an incredible live experience. (Think it was '99 or '00.) I was in the nosebleeds but it was still a great performance and as Glenn mentioned, Joel's crowd interaction made it so much fun. I've always been an Elton John fan, so to see these two together would be a treat for me. I remember hearing about this tour when it was first announced, but I tried to put it out of mind as I knew I would not have the money for it this year. I'm both glad (for Glenn and others who got to see it) and disappointed to hear that it was everything and more than I expected.

BTW Glenn, was the hit Joel skipped on Goodnight Saigon? I seem to recall that you may have posted a video of that one on the forum previously. It is a great song. Or perhaps The Stranger. I didn't see that one on the set list either and that one was more popular.

 

[General Zod]

You're also a big, buff dude who could crush most people in one hand. That does make a difference.

You nearly made me spit my coffee all over my laptop keyboard.

Glenn just needs to get in his "Nevermore just canceled on me for the fourth time" head space and cut loose.

Zod

 

[edgeofthorns]

Elton is Elton and hides nothing. I admire him for that...balls and wiener hanging from the lobe and all.

Nice.... My two favorite Elton tunes are the classic "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" and "Sacrifice". I know the second song is a mushy ballad, but it's a beautiful song.

~Brian~

 

[edgeofthorns]

You're also a big, buff dude who could crush most people in one hand. That does make a difference.

Please don't swell his ego any bigger than it already is!

~Brian~

 

[powergirl]

I have seen both performers seperately, wish I had the chance to see the piano kings together. On a side note, Billy's daughter Alexa performs up here repeatedly at the casino. She is good, and is gaining quite a following. And dad and mom come to watch..so it's nice to see them as well.

 

[edgeofthorns]

I'd rather sing "Tiny Dancer" with Elton than "Dead Heart" with Warrel, but that's just my personal taste.

I'm too old for that shit. I was shaking my tush next to an 80 year old granny that had an orthopedic surgeon on stand-by in the lobby.

Glenn, you're beginning to worry me here. Are you turning soft on us?

~Brian~