Elton John - November 24, 2013

The voice has mellowed - richer, deeper - as has the man himself. No more the Pinball Wizard riding onto the stage on a live ostrich but more your Uncle Reg sitting down for a go at the piano (albeit in a purple English riding jacket festooned with sequins that coalesce across the back to form "Madman Across the Water").

But he's still the entertainer and put on one terrific show from the ominous wind of 'Funeral For a Friend' blowing through a darkened Chaifitz Arena to everyone signing along to 'Crocodile Rock' in the end.

Sir Elton stuck mostly to the 70s, following 'Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding' with the rest of side one of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (including a grooving down-tempo 'Bennie & the Jets') before bringing out the backup singers, one of which was Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Rose Stone (as in Sly & the Family . . .). He tossed in a couple 80s songs, mercifully turning 'Sad Songs (Say So Much)' into a honky tonk number, 'Beleive' and 'The One' from the 90's, two from the new album "The Diving Board", and 'Hey Ahab' from his critically acclaimed 2010 album with Leon Russell, "The Union". (side note: Russell, who Elton called "my hero" in the song's introduction, was in town last week playing a much smaller venue).

The man still has a powerful voice - not the same voice: he let the backups take the high notes on 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', but he roars out the tunes with energy. Backed by long-time drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone, he managed to 'play the hits' but make them fresh at the same time.

Criticisms? With a body of work that big, not everyone's favorites are going to show up. I could have heard 'Burn Down the Mission' but was just as pleased not to hear 'Little Jeannie'. Those of us in the seats could have done without the pre-encore autograph signing along the stage (though it did give Nigel Olsson time to slip into a Watford FC shirt, making two of us in the arena - Go You 'Orns!), and after two-and-a-half hours of being banged on by Elton John, any piano will be in need of a little tuning.

It may be partly nostalgia - these songs have been in my life longer that I can remember - or it may be the out and out professionalism, musicianship, entertainment, and grace of the man, but this goes down the best concert I've been to this year (sorry Jake).

• Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
• Benny & the Jets
• Candle in the Wind

(joined by backup singers)

• Grey Seal
• Levon
• Tiny Dancer
• Holiday Inn
• Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters
• Believe
• Philadelphia Freedom
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• Piano Intro/Rocket Man
• Hey Ahab
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

(solo)

• The One
• Ocean's Away

(w/band)

• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
• All the Girls Love Alice
• Home Again
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
• The Bitch Is Back
• I'm Still Standing
• Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
• Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

(encore)

• Your Song
• St. Louis Blues/Crocodile Rock