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Posted: |
Sep 5, 2013 - 1:36 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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To my surprise, Mrs TG had a birthday this year, and even more bereft of ideas than ever for things to buy the girl that's got everything, including (and perhaps, especially) me, I purchased two tickets for us to go and see Sir Elton at the magnificent new First Direct Arena in Leeds. It seemed a long time in the future when I bought them, and had some idea that perhaps she'd take one of the TG filles, or perhaps her mum - but no, I was obliged to drive her there and accompany her to see a singer that at the time I would have been reluctant to see, were he performing at the bottom of our garden.
I was therefore surprised to find myself enjoying the concert and came away admiring him as a trouper of some skill, energy and even charm. I recognised about half the songs, and at the end, when he hit the audience with "Your Song" and "Crocodile Rock" I even found myself standing up with everyone else and swaying, nay, almost dancing along.
The arena holds around 13,000 people and we were w-a-a-a-y back, so it was fortunate that there were two big screens next to the stage allowing a more intimate view of the chubby little maestro, who, now he's nearer 70 than 60, has taken something of the look of an animated Shostakovich. He wasn't half giving it some welly, good for him. As was his band, two of them having been with him for around 40 years. One of his backing singers was (and I'm no expert on this so have forgotten the first name, forgive me) one of the original Ms Stones of the eponymous Sly and the Family. And is therefore in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her own right.
A really enjoyable concert all around. Almost makes me ashamed to have quipped when one of my colleagues asked if he was going to play Candle in the Wind, "I'd prefer a Kindle in my hand".
The same venue, a mere month or so from now, will be hosting Mrs TG and I again for the Danny Elfman concert. Can't wait.
TG
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I'm looking forward to hearing his new album, "The Diving Board," later this month.
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Posted: |
Sep 6, 2013 - 7:21 AM
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By: |
MikeP
(Member)
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I caught one of his recent shows from this tour here in the States just a few months back, and it was great. It had been maybe 12 years since we'd seen him live, and he was just as dynamic as I'd remembered, even going back to the shows I'd seen in the 70s.
He knows how to work and please the crowd, and the nights playlist was a nice mix of some hits and album tracks. It didn't play like a greatest hits event.
My sister and I had taken mom to see Elton a few times, if anything she was a bigger fan than we were. She'd always wanted to go see him one more time my sister Carol had told her " don't worry, the next time he comes around, we'll go" , but after her Alzheimer's took over that became a non option. Mom passed away last December, and Carol put some of her ashes in a small necklace vial and kept her promise, we took Mom with us one more time to see EJ.
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Posted: |
Sep 6, 2013 - 5:12 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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I caught one of his recent shows from this tour here in the States just a few months back, and it was great. It had been maybe 12 years since we'd seen him live, and he was just as dynamic as I'd remembered, even going back to the shows I'd seen in the 70s.
He knows how to work and please the crowd, and the nights playlist was a nice mix of some hits and album tracks. It didn't play like a greatest hits event.
My sister and I had taken mom to see Elton a few times, if anything she was a bigger fan than we were. She'd always wanted to go see him one more time my sister Carol had told her " don't worry, the next time he comes around, we'll go" , but after her Alzheimer's took over that became a non option. Mom passed away last December, and Carol put some of her ashes in a small necklace vial and kept her promise, we took Mom with us one more time to see EJ.
Nice bittersweet story, Mike.
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Can't say I'm a fan. He even played here in my hometown a few years ago, but I didn't go. I like Circle Of Life from Lion King though, and it's interesting that Sylvester Levay worked on his 1979 album Victim Of Love. And his forays into film scoring with The Muse is noteworthy too.
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