At Home in Hespeler

Last month, Lady Hespeler and I braved the cold, and hwy. 6, and trundled off to Hamilton to see Elton John. Our last minute cheap seats, with a behind stage view, turned out to be gems, some 16 rows up and staring at the piano player’s face all night – and no, I didn’t shoot. While John’s voice is hardly in 70’s form, he was nothing short of excellent.

Promoting the reissue of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, he opened with side 1 from that masterwork, and spent the next hour and a half or so playing hit after hit.  He had a tight little four piece band with him, including long time members, Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson.

Next Wednesday, Elton brings his Las Vegas show to the big screen, for a Front Row Centre Event, The Million Dollar Piano.

Track listing for The Million Dollar Piano:

• The Bitch is Back
• Bennie and the Jets
• Rocket Man
• Levon
• piano excerpt “Planes”
• piano excerpt “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
• Tiny Dancer
• Your Song
• Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
• Better Off Dead
• Indian Sunset
• Blue Eyes
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues
• Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
• Philadelphia Freedom
• I’m Still Standing
• Crocodile Rock
• Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting
• Circle of Life

Freedom of Music, meanwhile, returns this Sunday with a review the Deluxe Edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Brian Gardiner Fluffernutter, Friday, musicians Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Million Dollar Piano