After promising myself to never be conned into seeing Elton John on stage again following the tedious, overblown and self-important March 2011 gig at MSG, I bought a ticket to see him next December 4th at the same venue and in answer to your question, yes, I am a sucker for punishment, but also? I really, really have no idea.
No wait, The Diving Board is Elton’s best album in years, most of it is what you were afraid it might be, true, but the rest of it? Three good songs by reckoning and that is, really amazing: Here is every good song he has written since 1995:
None
1994 was the Lion King but since then… Aida any one?
So, as a fan (I know, I don’t sound like a fan but I am one, honest!) the possibility of a good Elton John show, not to mention a not terrible Elton John album, brings me enormous joy and I can’t resist the chance that maybe he’ll kill it.
Now, will he kill it? I don’t think so. I watched the iTunes Festival gig online a week ago and it, in one word or less, was OK but it wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination. Same old problem, there are two types of over top glam pop Queen (not to mention Elton himself once upon a time) right over there where the raininbow leads you to a pot of gold, and then there is the smug, self-important faux-classical over emoting on songs that can’t stand the pressure without following apart under the weight.
John did the latter at iTunes but his new songs were strong and he integrated new material into old instead of stopping the proceedings cold by either opening with or interrupting the set with an entire new album. It saved it from the bottom feeder, go for a walk for half an hour and then get back to your seat and miss nothing, poor ol’ Leon Russell leave him at BB King’s where you found him vibe. Which reminds me, I hope everybody who were stupid enough to fall into the “The Union” hype are thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Lou Reed once claimed “The kids are being hyped” back in the late 60s, 50 years later hype is the sole currency of modern pop. Rolling Stone: “With The Diving Board, Elton has regained his sense of musical possibility and taken a brave, graceful jump.” Jesus Christ, how many brave, graceful jumps is John gonna take in one career.
I’m guessing it won’t be good but I am hoping it will be ordinary, not slit yer wrists awful. Hell, if he can still write a good song from time to time anything is possible.