Two Disclaimers: One, I currently have a low grade fever; during this concert, I perspired like a Duck Dynasty cast member in a lesbian bar, which may contribute to my grumpy old man attitude. Secondly, I was on a top row seat in the third tier of the American Airlines Center. As someone that isn’t a big fan of arena gigs, lousy seats don’t accentuate the experience.
After the Beatles imploded, Elton John became the biggest pop star in the United Stages from the early 1970s through 1976. He wore silly glasses and a duck costume and was therefore declared outrageous. We had a pretty low bar in America for outrageous behavior in 1974. Whether it was because he sexual orientation became public in 1976 or that the nation was ready to get off the couch and shake their collective groove thing, John’s mega-stardom period ended, but he retained icon status and released a steady stream of hits in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, he’s an elder statesmen/legend who serves as a reminder to middle aged white people that they were once indeed, a very long time ago, actually young.
I have smart friends that disagree with me, but I’ve never thought Elton was a particularly substantive artist. (I have also never found his popular work so enthralling that I’ve needed to explore his albums). Perhaps because he is singing someone else’s lyrics, I’ve never gotten the sense that Elton was emotionally connected to his music. After seeing him live, I sense that he is more emotionally connected with the need to perform.
Ok, let’s cut to the chase. Long show, VERY long show. Not particularly good. Elton’s vocal range has narrowed like many performers on the wrong side of 60, and when performing 1970s pop music, vocals matter. He alternated between barking out lyrics on rockers and croaking like a besotted frog on the ballads. He band would try to cover the high notes with extra instrumentation and backup vocals. The musical clutter significantly marred the simple piano hooked feel of classic Elton. Let’s not beat a dead horse, but here are some of my notes: “Extended arena rock synth pomp,” “soulless,” “exceptionally white music,” “overbearing synth fills,” “lyrics almost unintelligible,” “endless stream of plodding bombast,” “indistinguishable din soup.”
Even with two percussionists, I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed a less rhythmically interesting band. This is ego driven music. After every number, Elton would get up and gesture for audience applause, as though he needed reassurance every five minutes that he was still loved. Obviously, Sir Elton is a talented tunesmith and a fine pianist, but ultimately he has mastered the art of developing exquisite packaging for empty boxes. I understand the attraction of nostalgia, but when it comes to Elton, I’m not sure exactly what people are nostalgic for.
On the positive side, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” was pretty good and my wife gives the show an A.
Grade = C-
Setlist:
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Benny and the Jets
Candle in the Wind
Grey Seal
Levon
Tiny Dancer
Holiday Inn
Philadelphia Freedom
I’ve Seen That Movie Too
Roy Rogers
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Rocket Man
Hey Ahab
I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues
The One
Oceans Away
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Sad Songs
All the Girls Love Alice
Home Again
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
I’m Still Standing
The Bitch is Back
Your Sister Can’t Twist
Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting
Encore:
Your Song
Crocodile Rock
