ELTON JOHN
BEC 08.12.2015
By his own recollection, this is Elton John’s seventeenth tour to Australia. He’s been coming here ever since he made it big in the 1970’s. Back in the day, Elton was asked to drive around Brisbane in a Moke that belonged to a local radio station to drum up business for a show that night at Festival Hall. There’s no such problem tonight. Elton is playing at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and it is completely sold out.
Elton hits the stage a smidgen after 8pm. You know you’re in for something special as the black clouds on the video screen behind the stage start to roll in. The last time Elton played the room he was unwell. Tonight, at 68, he is fighting fit. The show kicks off with Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – and it is stunning. Elton is in good voice and the band, which still includes drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone (both Elton John Band members for over forty years) are in terrific form.
Over the course of the evening Elton will play seven tracks from his seminal 1973 LP, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Bennie And The Jets is next. The band have got their collective groove on and they can turn on a dime. Candle In The Wind is augmented by a sea of cell phones in the crowd and is followed by All The Girls Love Alice and Levon. You already know it of course, but when those songs start stacking up one after the other you realise that you’re hearing the work of one of the great pop writers of his, or any other, generation.
Tiny Dancer is so brilliant that it captures you and drags you completely into a magical moment where nothing else is on your mind other than singing the chorus of this slice of melodic genius. And, Bernie Taupin’s lyrics … well, they remain astonishingly good.
As the show rolls on, John impresses with the likes of Believe (a relative obscurity compared to the hits on offer), Daniel and a rollicking Philadelphia Freedom.
It’s been a pretty terrific night so far: but now Elton takes it all into inter-stellar-overdrive. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is breathtaking. The video back drop is a visual feast and the animation that accompanies the song is top-drawer. It’s nice to see Elton and John Lennon (this evening – it’s 35 years since the latter was murdered) pop up together as the animation starts. From here Elton runs into an improvised piano piece before hitting … that single piano note. He leads us into Rocket Man. Wow.
Having seen Elton a half a dozen times in the last 25years, tonight is a special one. The band are rocking, the sound is spot on and Elton’s bringing the heat. Maybe hanging out with Ed Sheeran has fired something competitive in him. There’s no doubt he’s bringing his ‘A’ game.
At one point Elton thanks the audience for their ongoing support. You can tell he means it. He talks about his inspirations and debt to Leon Russell. After a handful of ballads it’s a take no prisoners run to the finish line that includes I’m Still Standing, Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock And Roll) and a barnstorming Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.
The crowd are on their feet and it feels like there’s nothing left to play. Elton signs a few autographs then heads back to the piano and starts Crocodile Rock. The tune brings unbridled joy to the room. It’s been magic. The setlist ranks among the best. The singer sang his heart out and pounded those 88 keys like no tomorrow. Magnificent.
Sean Sennett
