The Bakersfield newspaper has posted a review in which an interviewee
(veteran of 34 Elton concerts) says: "He played his best concert music. He
played the song people love to hear."
True. It was a greatest hits concert and not much more than that.
I had Rocket seats in section 3, row V, too far from the stage for a good
view, too close to the video screens to watch those comfortably. Not the
best located Rocket ticket I've ever had; I have no idea if that's where
most of the Rocket seats were, but I don't think so.
Started at 8:09. So said the time on the iPhone the inconsiderate dumbass
in front of me held up for much of the concert. More on that later.
Obligtory fashion report: Elton was wearing a black tail coat(ish) garment
with Jackson Pollack inspired embellishment on the right side and across
the back. Couldn't get a very good look at it, being too far back and on
the wrong side of the stage, but it was...colorful. Simple earring, just a
plain (for Elton) diamond stud that probably cost more than most of us
earn in a year. Red-lensed modified wrap-around glasses. No change of
wardrobe for the encore.
Set list:
FFB/LLB
Bitch is Back
Madman Across the Water
Tiny Dancer
Levon
Believe
Take me to the Pilot
GBYBR
Daniel
Rocket Man
Honky Cat
Holiday Inn
All the Young Girls Love Alice
Pause for Band Intros, at which point I thought "hmm, I think it's going
to be a short night". Davey looks more like Tom Petty every time I see
him. Picked up with:
IGTWTCITB
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
CITW
Pinball Wizard
Bennie
Philadelphia Freedom
I'm Still Standing
Crocodile Rock
SNAFF
after which he left the stage. Came back seconds later (it was 10:20.
Thanks iPhone guy!) and signed *a lot* of ticket stubs, programs, hats,
someone's yellow LP, a drum head and I don't know what else. I don't think
I've seen such a long autograph sweep, and the crowd loved it. The band
came back and they did DLTSGDOM and Your Song, left again at 10:34 by my
low tech wristwatch.
Okay, so Madman, Alice and Holiday Inn aren't "hits" in the Greatest Hits
category, but the rest of it was pretty standard stuff. Well done, as
usual, but really, fairly routine stuff. He could have at least thrown in
Original Sin (which should have been a Greatest Hit had it been properly
promoted, but I digress) or Circle of Life or, well, anything released
after iPhone guy was born. The set and lighting was less distracting than
the last time I saw him, and the sound, other than some *bad* feedback
(even I could see the death-glare Elton shot toward the sound guys; for a
second I sensed a Little Moment was eminent) in the first lines of LLB,
was better than usual--even with the volume pumped up way too high for a
smaller venue. I think my sternum didn't stop vibrating until I was nearly
home--and I had a two hour drive.
The merchandise for sale was the usual overpriced t-shirts ($100 for a
hoodie?!), a couple CDs, the Rocketman-on-a-piano bobble head.
All in all, not a bad experience, just not the best, most inspiring Elton
John concert I've been fortunate enough to attend, and one advantage to a
shorter show was that the infamous freight train blocking access to the
rear parking lot didn't arrive until most everyone had cleared out.
Karen
Special message to the iPhone guy. Yes, you, friend of Justin who you had
to call several times during the show & hold _up_ the phone so he could
hear (as if -up- makes a difference at concert volume), and everyone else
who just wants to "capture the moment":
When you hold an iPhone--any cell phone, really, but iPhones. being
larger, are particularly obnoxious--up in the air an arm's length away
from you, you block the view of the people in at least 2 rows behind you.
Yes, really, you do, especially if you're 200 feet away from the image
you're tracking (Elton's face) which only appears to be about the size of
a cell-phone screen 3 feet away. Sure, we behind you have the option of
leaning across the people seated next to us, but, being complete
strangers, they may not appreciate the intrusion on their spaces. Of
course, we can stand up...but now we block the views of even more people
behind us, people who are already complaining about "those people up
there" blocking the view with their phones, and somehow the motion of
people behind *you* standing inspires *you* to stand up...so we're back to
square one. If you want to snap a few photos, fine, whatever, they're not
going to turn out very well if you're further back than row H or so but go
ahead and knock yourself out...but EVERY FREAKING SONG? And your
girlfriend, too? Now you're just being inconsiderate. Knock if off.
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