Sir Elton John Makes A Magnificent Pandemic Comeback at MSG as Farewell Tour Resumes
Elton John said he wanted to wrap up his touring life so he could spend time with his kids. After 50 years, he had every right to do it. He was 72 years old.
Then came the pandemic, and various illnesses. During the time off, he managed to fit in an actual number 1 hit with Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart,” and a new hip. But you know, he’s always been very hip!
Elton John has added another round of dates to his ongoing Las Vegas production, dubbed "The Red Piano," and will work in some concerts outside of Sin City, as well. This month, John will tackle shows in Austria, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and China before returning stateside in late May for a couple of shows in Alaska, then back to the Vegas stage once again in June.
Click here for the Elton John section of Wolfgangs Vault...
Wolfgang's Vault Adds Concerts by Elton John, America, Motorhead, etc.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Wolfgang's Vault, the world famous music archive website "where live music lives", has just uncovered and presented 14 new concerts to be streamed free beginning today. These shows recorded between 1968 and 1988, have not been heard since then and are exclusive to www.ConcertVault.com.
These previously unreleased concert recordings are:
* Motorhead 1983
* Elton John 1988
* Crosby, Stills & Nash 1973
* America 1978
* Eddie Money 1978
* Slade 1976
* Jefferson Airplane 1969
* Steve Miller 1974
* Sammy Hagar 1977
* Garland Jeffreys 1978
* Todd Rundgren 1982
* Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968
Also this week, Wolfgang's Vault fans gave The Allman Brothers 1971 Fillmore East concert on the www.ConcertVault.com the highest rating in the Vault, edging out last week's winner: Stevie Ray Vaughn's 1983 Ripley Music Hall show.
Other news on Wolfgang's Vault includes the announcement of 15% off discount on all Rock Posters for a limited time. A discount coupon code was sent today to newsletter subscribers.
Rare luxury items are offered today on Wolfgang's Vault's eBay Store, in a "Big Ticket Auction." Included: an early Jefferson Airplane poster for the Vietnam Day Committee's Peace Trip; a handbill for the Hell's Angels' Chocolate George featuring the Dead and Big Brother; an extremely rare hand-painted poster for Jimi Hendrix; a signed Grape Strike Benefit poster; a New York Pop Festival poster; and offered for the first time ever, a set of over 600 BG tickets.
And [http://www.crawdaddy.com Crawdaddy!, The Magazine of Rock features:
Interviews with Ted Nugent,
Reviews of the new Rolling Stones film by Martin Scorcese: Let It Shine,
Music Sound Quality challenge: MP3 vs. Vinyl vs. CD
Black Lips, Billy Bragg, Brian Jonestown Massacre and more
About Wolfgang's Vault:
Wolfgang's Vault began in 2003 as the home of the Bill Graham Archives and has become the world's largest collection of concert recordings for streaming and download, and all related live music art including fine art rock posters, rock photos and vintage and retro apparel and rock memorabilia.
Saturday night's all right for Elton John in Anaheim
Review: The legendary singer and pianist gets a little action in, delighting fans with a hits-filled show.
By PETER LARSEN
The Orange County Register
Comments 3 | Recommend 10
It's easy to take classic pop songs for granted: you've heard them for so many years, they almost become background music, something comforting maybe, nothing that you need to listen to all that closely.
But then put them all together, hit after hit, live on stage, as Elton John did Saturday at Honda Center, and suddenly you remember why you loved them the first time you heard them.
So the near-capacity crowd in Anaheim got lucky this time. With Elton on the road in support of a new collection of his No. 1 hits, going in you knew you were probably going to hear your favorite song.
And for two-and-a-half hours and 24 songs, that was exactly what Elton delivered, mixing 12 chart-topping classics with another dozen fan favorites, the majority of them from his classic albums of the '70s.
The show started slowly, the ominous sounding opening chords of "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" sounding as the arena went dark, the instrumental first half of the song perhaps serving as a chance for everyone – Elton, his band and the crowd – to get comfortable for the night.
"The Bitch is Back" followed, getting most of the crowd on its feet and cheering at the opening notes, but after that upbeat rocker, Elton went back to the slower stuff for a trio of songs from his "Madman Across the Water" album, playing the title track, "Tiny Dancer," and "Levon" in succession.
Listening to these perfectly crafted vintage tunes in concert, it's also easy to find yourself transported back to the time and place and age you were when the singer and the song first became important to you.
So as Elton played the romantic and melancholy piano riff that opens "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," my wife was a 12-year-old girl again, with posters on the wall of the singer she thought she'd marry one day. (What can we say? Kids were innocent AND naïve back then?)
A song later, "Daniel," and back in time I went too, to my own awkward childhood, singing along in the bedroom to the AM clock-radio that provided all my music as a kid.
Of course we're all older now, Elton included, and it was a more subdued showman on the stage Saturday. Dressed in a black frock coat with a typically gaudy design ("Music Magic" on the back in sparkly letters, and some combination of instruments, musical notes and a tiny Elton-as-a-wizard appliquéd here and there) he stood up on his piano a few times, and walked the four corners of the stage to acknowledge fans between songs, but seldom spoke between numbers.
His voice remains strong – though you do miss the falsetto and higher ranges he could reach when he originally recorded all of these – and his band was sharp, including drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone, both of whom have played and recorded with Elton since the early'70s.
And, as always, his piano playing was a revelation. Where the singles might have had all those wonderful melody lines he played, most of them were short on solos as pop songs tend to be. In performance, though, Elton stretched out and showed off his skills at the keys of the Yamaha grand piano he plays.
"Rocket Man" extended into a lovely peaceful bit of soloing that seemed like it would wrap up the song, only to segue into rave-up rocker again at the finish. The percussive opening chords of "Bennie and the Jets" set a mood for that song that again let him take off on extended flights of rhythm and melody.
Some songs were a little less obvious choices – "Take Me to the Pilot," "All the Girls Love Alice," "Holiday Inn." A few came from post-'70s albums – "I'm Still Standing," "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," "Believe,"
But at the end, it was the biggest of big hits that had the audience members on their feet and dancing. For "Crocodile Rock," Elton urged the crowd to sing the falsetto la-la-la's of the chorus, then "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" wrapped up the main set on a hard-rocking note.
After a brief break, spent mostly signing autographs at the front of the stage, Elton returned to the keyboard to close things out with two of his prettiest ballads. First, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," with its soaring melody and vocal.
And finally, "Your Song," another standard from my AM-radio-days repertoire, another reminder of why the timeless songs are still good songs to reacquaint yourself in concert from time to time.
Elton John slots in more US dates
Elton John has added another half dozen US shows in between his "Red Piano" concerts in Las Vegas.The superstar, who just wrapped a leg of secondary-market dates in North America, returns to Vegas Wednesday (3/19) and will perform at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace through April 6. He'll leave Sin City for another handful of US shows beginning April 11 in Missoula, MT, and, since last check, has added a second night in Pullman, WA, as well as several cities in California and Florida.
With the exception of the May 3 "Top of the Mountain" concert in Tyrol, Austria, John will take off the month of May and make his way back to Vegas for another residency in June. That will be followed by a two-week European trek with his band, after which the Rocket Man will drag his "Red Piano" set across the Atlantic in November and December for shows in England and France.
North American dates are listed below and overseas gigs can be found at John's website.
The Grammy-winning singer, who's put in about 50 annual performances at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace since 2004, signed on to keep his "Red Piano" show in Vegas through this year.
"Over the past four years, we have played almost 200 Red Piano shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and every single one has been an event--the band and I have had a ball!" John said in a statement, adding that he can't wait to see how British audiences react to the show.
"The Red Piano" was created by John and photographer David LaChapelle to spotlight the performer's body of work with his longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin. John and Taupin teamed once again in 2006 for the album "The Captain & The Kid," which is billed as a sequel to 1975's "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy."
Last year, John released "Rocket Man - Number Ones," which comprises 18 hits covering the first 35 years of his career. The album accompanied the star's 60th birthday celebration, which he marked with a record-breaking 60th performance at New York City's Madison Square Garden. That concert is captured on the two-disc DVD set "Elton John 60: Live at Madison Square Garden."
March 2008
19 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
21-22 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
24-26 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
28-29 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
31 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
April 2008
1-2 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
4-6 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
11 - Missoula, MT - Adams Center
12-13 - Pullman, WA - Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum
18 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
19 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
23 - Tallahassee, FL - Leon County Civic Center
24 - Gainesville, FL - Stephen B. O'Connel
25 - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Civic Center
June 2008
3-4 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
6-7 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
9-11 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
13-14 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
16-18 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
20-22 - Las Vegas, NV - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
ON SALE TOMORROW
Elton John Concert with Hillary Clinton
Radio City Music Hall • April 9
ON SALE: Wednesday, March 19 at 9AM
Get Tickets
This is a solo concert by Elton John in support of Hillary Clinton for President and includes remarks by Senator Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton.
Contributions to Hillary Clinton for President are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. The full amount paid by each individual, except for applicable delivery charges, is considered a contribution to Hillary Clinton for President.
Tickets go on sale TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 19 at 9AM.
Click here to purchase your tickets.
For more information, visit HillaryClinton.com/Elton.
Elton John postpones Florida concerts
Published: March 14, 2008 at 4:14 PM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 14 (UPI) -- British rock 'n' roll great Elton John reportedly has been forced to reschedule his upcoming Florida concerts due to illness.
The show slated for Saturday night at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center was rescheduled for April 23, the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat reported Friday.
John is also postponing shows in Pensacola, Tallahassee and Gainesville, the report said.
A news release issued by the Civic Center said the cancellations were made as per "doctor's instructions."
"Elton and his management extend their apologies for the inconvenience caused by this unavoidable rescheduling of the Florida concerts," the statement said.
Tickets will be valid for the rescheduled concerts, however, ticket holders who want refunds can obtain them at the point of purchase, the newspaper said.
A review of Elton at "The Bob" and a YouTube clip from the show...
Elton John still dazzles audiences after all these years
By CHUCK DARROW • Courier-Post Staff • March 13, 2008
Elton John presented a far different show than the one we came to know and love during his 1970s heyday while making the only regional stop of his current "Rocket Man" solo tour Monday night at the Bob Carpenter Center on the University of Delaware campus in Newark.
Then, he was the "Rock 'n' Roll Liberace," a highly amped, highly camp, almost cartoonish force of nature in electric suits who fronted a full-tilt band capable of blowing the roof off even the most hangar-like hockey arena.
Monday, however, saw what Jerry Seinfeld might describe as the "Bizarro" Elton John, a complete opposite anchored to his piano stool accompanied only by the occasional keening of canned strings.
But that's exactly what made the 27-song, 2 1/2-hour recital so special.
Stripped of all artifice and visual distractions, the program consisted merely of Elton, his almost-supernatural canon of memorable, meaningful songs and an appreciative -- make that worshipful -- sold-out audience that bathed itself in the warmth of those familiar lyrics and embracing melodies.
With little to hide behind, Elton -- Sir Elton to the Anglophiles among us -- had to be in nothing less than spectacular voice. Given his highly documented cocaine abuse in the 1970s and '80s, it's nearly miraculous that he has any voice at all today. That it may be more rich and powerful than ever is simply off the charts.
Like those of the best male singers before him, Elton's voice has aged nicely. Though not as piercing as they once were, his pipes are now nicely burnished.
Monday, his throaty, mature baritone gave ample emotional heft to any number of minor-key meditations, imbuing them with a melancholy and world-weariness the younger Elton just couldn't provide.
This was especially true on the autumnal "60 Years On," an emotive reading of "Border Song" and the appropriately evocative "Rocket Man," which boasted a coda during which he showed off some impressive stride-piano chops.
And that wasn't EJ's only display of keyboard dexterity. Throughout the evening, his considerable talents as a keyboardist were on display, from the boogie-woogie playfulness of "Crocodile Rock" to the look-at-me-showing-off on the classically inspired instrumental piece "Carla Etude."
If there was a drawback Monday, it was Sir Elton lingered too long in Balladville. But this only served to make the sporadic up-tempo numbers more valuable.
"Honky Cat" didn't miss any support instrumentation; his barrelhouse riffing happily propelled it into the stratosphere. Plus, "Philadelphia Freedom" was a pedal-to-the-metal sprint around the track that served as an emphatic reminder the British pop icon is certainly not too old to rock 'n' roll.
Among the show's other highlights were a typically crowd-pleasing rendition of "Candle in the Wind," an exceptionally muscular "Levon" and a version of "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" on which he sounded a lot like his old chum, Billy Joel, musically and vocally. Reach Chuck Darrow at (856) 486-2442 or cdarrow@gannett.com
Good review except for this statement: "The vast majority of his set came from the '70s, his most prolific decade, and he thankfully bypassed much of his more modern work."
Well...what do you expect.
Elton John delivers to sold-out crowd
By RYAN CORMIER, The News Journal
Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008
NEWARK -- When it was first announced, Elton John's concert in Newark seemed like a take-the-money-and-run gig for the legendary pop star.
Tickets for Monday night's show at the Bob Carpenter Center, a cavernous basketball arena, cost up to $125 to see John without a backing band.
Throw in the fact that he's never performed in Delaware before and it was easy to imagine John breezing through a quick 90-minute set, jumping on his bus and leaving us in the dust.
But wait. There was John on CNN's "Larry King Live" two weeks ago, talking about his love for performing for his fans and declaring, "I never play for less than two hours and 30 minutes, anywhere."
For the hungry Delaware audience, which was filled with fans who were old enough to know firsthand that he has never performed here before, John kept his word Monday with a two hour, 30-minute concert, packed with a seemingly endless string of hits, along with a few deep cuts from his 29 studio albums.
It didn't take long for John to apologize from behind his red-tinted glasses for taking so long to get to Delaware.
"I suddenly realized I hadn't played in Delaware and that made me sad," John said. "I'm sorry it's taken so long, but I'm glad I'm here."
Dressed in a sequined black tuxedo and a purple shirt with a full-length jacket with "Music Magic" written on the back in yellow, John, 60, walked on stage promptly at 8 p.m., diving straight into "Your Song," followed by four more songs from his self-titled 1970 album.
With a large diamond-encrusted cross hanging from his neck, John pored through his songbook, giving his fans a guided tour through his career. John played his black piano throughout the night, augmented with a pre-taped electronic orchestration for some songs, including a somber "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer," which sparked an "Almost Famous"-inspired sing-along in the audience.
However, there was a glitch with the system during "Sacrifice," when an ear-piercing screech sounded during the song. John played on and somehow rescued the song.
The vast majority of his set came from the '70s, his most prolific decade, and he thankfully bypassed much of his more modern work.
"Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes," from 2001's "Songs From the West Coast," was the only song released in the past 18 years that made it onto the set list. John was decidedly political as he introduced the song, which is about a man suffering from AIDS, saying, "Ronald Reagan did nothing for people with AIDS and that's a disgrace."
John mainly leaned on his earlier work with lyricist Bernie Taupin, bouncing from his super hits like "Bennie and the Jets" and "Daniel" to more obscure songs like 1985's "Nikita" and 1974's "Ticking."
Last month, the concert's 4,500 tickets sold out almost immediately. Delaware was one of only three states that had not yet hosted a concert. He is scheduled to perform in Vermont and Alaska later this year.
For Delaware, his 27-song set was worth the wait. Sure, John's voice isn't what it once was, but his elegant piano playing has never wavered.
He clearly has a deep connection with his fans through song, as seen during "Candle in the Wind," which had fans holding their lighters and cell phones in the air, or "Crocodile Rock," which had those same fans rushing up to the stage to dance.
John said his long-awaited visit to Delaware had been refreshing: "I love what I do and it's great coming to places like this."
Contact Ryan Cormier at 324-2863 or rcormier@delawareonline.com.
Elton John announces UK dates
By Kat Dibbits
ELTON John has announced that he will bring his outrageous Las Vegas show, The Red Piano, to Britain this year.
The singer will play three dates, at the Liverpool Echo Arena on December 17 and Birmingham NIA on November 19, finishing at the MEN Arena in Manchester on December 20.
The Red Piano show, which was created by Elton's friend David LaChapelle, has been running at the Vegas casino Caesar's Palace since 2004. Elton took the show to London's 02 arena in 2007 as part of his 60th birthday celebrations.
Elton said: "I can't wait to see how audiences react to the Red Piano.
"The show is stuffed with hits, it's brash, bright and colourful. Over the past four years we have played almost 200 Red Piano shows at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and every single one has been an event - the band and I have had a ball!"
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, March 14. To book, visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk or ring 0844 847 2453.
Local: Here's what Elton John is playing on his tour
The Canadian Press
Posted 12:57 p.m.
March 03, 2008
RECORD STAFF
Following is the basic set list of the songs Elton John has been playing on his current tour that hits the Aud in Kitchener tonight. Other tunes he has substituted into the list below include: The Bridge, The One, Burn Down the Mission and Crocodile Rock.
Your Song
Sixty Years On
The Greatest Discovery
I Need You To Turn To
Border Song
The Boy in the Red Shoes
Daniel
Honky Cat
Rocket Man
Tiny Dancer
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
Nikita
Philadelphia Freedom
Sacrifice
Ticking
Roy Rogers
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Candle in the Wind
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Electricity
Carla/Etude
Tonight
Take Me to the Pilot
Blue Eyes
Levon
Bennie and the Jets
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
I'm Still Standing
Circle of Life
Darwin determined to see Elton
March 6, 2008 - 6:44PM
Darwin is determined - Sir Elton John is coming to town.
All it will take is a few banners, 10,000 signatures and a bit of luck, says NT Tourism Minister Kon Vatskalis.
The pop legend's plans to tour regional Australia went public a few weeks ago, when his promoter Michael Chugg revealed Sir Elton was trying to include the Northern Territory and Western Australia as part of his Asian tour.
Both regions missed out on seeing the Rocket Man on his Australian tour last year.
Mr Vatskalis today called on all Territorians to do they bit in getting the entertainer to the Top End.
The government has joined forces with a local company to encourage Territorians to register online in a bid to secure a performance by Sir Elton John in Darwin in May.
Unveiling 10 three metre colour banners urging people to support the push - to be erected at several vantage points around the city - Mr Vatskalis today said it was no time for complacency.
"Sir Elton John has expressed an interest in performing in Darwin not Sydney, not Melbourne, not Brisbane - Darwin," he said.
"And we want him to know how much we want him here.
"To do that, we need a minimum of 10,000 people to get on-line and register their support for a Darwin show."
Mr Chugg said that if the shows went ahead it could prompt other artists to rethink the way they tour Australia and the places they included in their itineraries.
Elton John lives up to the hype
Date Published | Mar. 3, 2008
By Patricia Mills
“Laughing like children, living like lovers, rolling like thunder, under the covers . . .” From the song, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Sudburians were laughing like children, smiling like lovers and they were definitely rolling like thunder at the Sudbury Arena Sunday night when Sir Elton John, Mr. Piano Man himself, sang and played his way into the psyche and hearts of his fans.
What a performance! What a night!
clip
Elton John started off the evening with Your Song, and I immediately thought of Ralph Grabowski, the winner of the Sudbury24 Elton John contest, who won the contest based on his interpretation of Your Song.
“He must be going out of his mind,” I thought, looking around the arena trying to find his seat.
Grabowski is a huge Elton John fan and he was nearly speechless the day he was presented with tickets to the event. I WAS speechless listening to Elton singing the song in person. It was amazing.
His piano skills were the shock factor in this concert. On a CD, or the radio, or even on television during a concert performance, it is very hard to grasp the incredible skill, talent and undeniable passion that emanates from those short, well-manicured famous fingers. It was totally mesmerizing watching his hands dance over the keys in renditions of his famous songs that we have never heard before.
The three-way cameras that recorded his every move, made it easy for us all to “see” the music as it was being played. Elton John didn’t just belt out his songs; he delivered them in a way that we have never, ever heard before.
And it moved us all.
As I looked around me, I couldn’t help but notice the number of people moved to tears by some of his songs. Candle in the Wind did it for me. Whenever I hear that song, I think of all the women in this world whose light was distinguished before their times, including Princess Diana.
Elton’s version of Rocket Man brought us to our feet a record five times throughout the song. As the intensity and variation escalated, the audience went wild.
He looked fine, too, in his black shiny tailcoat, with his red satin shirt and black pants, with the red stripe down the leg. He wore red shoes, another Elton vintage, and he had a diamond stud in his ear. Elton’s hair was spiked and blonde, and around his neck hung a necklace, that we were sure, was made of diamonds.
He didn’t “look” like the sixty-something performer that he actually is. And although his voice may not have reached the high notes, no one really noticed or really cared. The fact that he played for two- and a half-hours without a break, told us that we were witnessing the depth and strength of a world-class performer who we may never see again.
view more photosThe people of Sudbury are to be applauded, too. Although our venue was small, compared to most of Elton John’s audiences, the thunder in the arena was real when he was applauded. The warmth for Elton was real, and the respect for this amazing entertainer was real. My hands are swollen today from clapping, my throat sore from yelling, and my joints a little stiff, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about last night.
Elton John said he was coming back to Sudbury, and the next time, he’s bringing his band. I can’t wait!!!!
Grabowski “put into words” what many of us felt, on Sunday night.
He sent this email after the concert.
“THANK YOU .... SUDBURY24!!!!
I just got home from the concert ..... AMAZING .... the seats where FANTASTIC .... Elton John is a real showman. This is by far the best concert I have EVER been too . I am very PROUD of the people of Sudbury who turned out tonight ... and they yelled and screamed and cheered and gave Elton the welcome he deserves . Most performers would not even consider Sudbury, but he CAME ..... AND HE CONQUERED. He showed us the side of himself that we all love and that’s why we are fans.
Once again, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. ... RALPH.”
Patricia Mills is the Publisher of Laurentian Magazines and a former reporter with Northern Life.
Elton John thrills appreciative fans
Posted By Bob Vaillancourt
Updated 10 mins ago
Elton John has been a composer, songwriter and performer for decades. During those years, he has mastered the art of staging a performance that wows audiences wherever he plays.
He did just that at Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday night, with more than 6,000 fans hanging on his every note - from his opening number, the classic ballad "Your Song," to a stylized version of one his most popular songs, "Rocket Man."
Since it was announced earlier this year, Sudbury's Elton John appearance has been the most anticipated concert in the city's history.
"It was awesome," said Dean and Jennifer Lanteigne.
People started gathering as early as 5 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert, with the area in front of the arena becoming a veritable party scene featuring fans wearing their own versions of Elton John attire.
After standing in line for more than 24 hours to successfully acquire tickets, Gloria Harju then began a search for her Elton John Concert wardrobe.
She started with a broad-rimmed hat complete with feather boa trim and from there completed the outfit with a pair of oversized dark sunglasses.
"I wanted to find a sequin jacket," she said, but met with no success.
She said she became a fan at age 16 and has followed John's career since. "I grew up with that music."
It was the second opportunity she has had to see John live. Her first concert was a few years ago in Washington.
At that concert, a band accompanied John. For the Sudbury show, John chose to take to the stage with just his piano.
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But that was enough to get Sudbury fans out of their seats for virtually every number he played.
At times, it seemed the light coming from cellphone video screens and digital cameras would overpower the strobe and floodlights set up for the concert.
Also taking in their second Elton John concert were Paul and Eileen Leishman of Orillia. Their first was in 1995 when Elton John and Billy Joel performed together on stage. "They were amazing," said Paul Leishman.
But every Elton John concert brings its own sense of excitement, said Lisa Rabski.
"There is just a feeling. He emits that on stage. Everybody feels it. It's just that sense of wow."
There was no question those lucky enough to scoop up tickets for the concert - the 6,000-plus tickets sold out in 45 minutes - knew they were at "an event."
Inside, beer sellers were doing a brisk business up until the claps and applause signalled that Sir Elton John was making his way to the stage.
With a bow to the audience, and dressed in a red shirt, a sequined long-tailed jacket and black trousers with red stripes on the side, John, the prolific musician, sat down at the piano and began playing a string of hits for the next two-and-a-half hours.
The power of the music was so intense that one could feel the floor of the 50-year-old Sudbury arena vibrate at times.
Occasionally, John would comment on the song he was about to play, but on several occasions he would simply stand, acknowledge the audience and move on to his next number.
It seemed to be just what his fans wanted as they roared their approval for every number.
Throughout the crowd you could see neon-glow glasses. On the arena floor, fans were waving neon-glow sticks in the air to the beat of the music.
Fans were taking away more than just memories from the event.
Jennifer Revel's souvenir booth was selling everything from $20 Elton John CDs, to $35 T-shirts and $100 fleece hoodies.
But her biggest sale of the night was a $400 Elton John leather jacket that one fan bought to remember the night the Rocket Man rocked the Nickel City.
editorial@thesudburystar.com
Apology is in order - Editorial
The city "would like to bring closure" to the controversy over councillors' access to tickets for the Elton John concert, said Chief Administrator Mark Mieto in a release.
Fair enough. But some issues must be resolved, first.
In the release, Mieto says the city was notified of advance promotional tickets for media outlets, which is standard practice. This appears to be an attempt to explain how he knew The Star had purchased tickets from the promoter. But he offered to show a Sudbury Star reporter receipts of tickets purchased on private credit cards. One purchase was made through a local private business. How did Mieto get these receipts? This is a serious privacy matter that must be explained.
And Mieto still hasn't explained why he warned The Star the concert was in danger due to negative publicity when it clearly wasn't, why he implied that tickets were improperly obtained by The Star when even a cursory examination of the facts shows otherwise, or why he told The Star his job would be in danger if word of an off-the-record meeting with The Star got out, when that later proved not to be the case. Mieto and Mayor John Rodriguez have since admitted the mayor knew about the meeting in advance.
As the city's top bureaucrat, Mieto must be a trusted adviser to - and servant of - council and the public. He has yet to make a public apology for his actions. He should do so.
What do you think? Visit the Sudbury Star's website at www.thesudburystar.com and add your voice to the discussion. Or send us your opinion in a Letter to the Editor at 33 MacKenzie St., Sudbury, P3C 4Y1, or fax it to 674-6834 or e-mail it to letters@thesudburystar.com
A Captain Fantastic idea
Halifax could be in running for an Elton John indoor concert
By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff Reporter
Thu. Feb 28 - 5:12 AM
The Rocket Man could be touching down in Halifax this year.
Elton John is considering performing three or four concerts in Atlantic Canada, says concert promoter Riley O’Connor of Live Nation.
Mr. O’Connor told CTV News that Mr. John is looking at suitable locations in the Maritimes and Newfoundland.
Live Nation is promoting two shows in Ontario and several in the United States.
Mr. O’Connor says it’s not feasible for the legendary singer to play a single concert in the region. He says Mr. John prefers to play indoor venues.
Mr. O’Connor told CTV he’s interested in playing cities that are not "your typical triple-A five-star attractions." Nothing is finalized, but he says the concerts could happen any time before December.
He told the Sudbury Star a few days ago that September would be the most likely time.
Mr. John will play a sold-out concert this Sunday at a 6,000-seat venue in Sudbury, Ont. Ticket prices there range from $87.50 to $129.50
The 10,000-seat Metro Centre in Halifax is the largest indoor venue in Atlantic Canada. "I’d be happy to see him anywhere as long as it is in Halifax," said Coun. Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown).
Ms. Sloane could not confirm Mr. John’s promoters have been in touch with Halifax, but she’s heard rumours. "I had a call last week," she said. "We’re on the list now."
Ms. Sloane said Halifax can now draw "triple-A" acts and the acts know that fans here will shell out for the tickets.
About two weeks ago, Creative Entertainment Group confirmed it has a contract with Halifax to pursue big-name acts capable of filling the Halifax Commons, which has a capacity of 40,000. Creative Entertainment president Sharon Kim-Dion said only about a half-dozen acts on the planet can fill that kind of venue.
Creative Entertainment, based in Europe with offices in New York, has worked with Mr. John in the past, according to the company’s website.
According to eltonjohn.com, his North American tour begins today in Portland, Maine. So far, there are only two Canadian concert dates, Sudbury on Sunday and Kitchener on Monday.
He will be performing in the United States until June 22. His schedule includes two stints in Las Vegas from March 19 to April 6 and then June 3 to June 22.
From June 28 to July 13, Mr. John has several concerts scheduled in Europe and England. Then his date book appears to be wide open until a performance in France on Dec. 9.
Mayor Peter Kelly, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening, said this month that Halifax lost out in a bidding war for an Elton John show last year.
In November, Celine Dion backed out of a concert for this summer on the Commons, citing mixed public reaction.
"I believe that’s water under the bridge and we’re moving forward," Ms. Sloane said.
Indeed, a month after the Quebec-born singer cancelled her Halifax date, the city snagged Australian superstar Keith Urban, who will headline Country Rocks 2008, an eight-act concert on the Commons on Aug. 30.
( djeffrey@herald.ca)
Maybe...
Elton John concert in jeopardy over ticket grab
Posted By Denis St. Pierre
The raging controversy over city council's self-awarded "perk" of scores of Elton John concert tickets is now jeopardizing the concert's fate, according to city officials.
The Star has learned that city officials fear the public uproar over the ticket fiasco is causing so much concern for the event promoter, the March 2 Elton John concert could be cancelled.
Furthermore, city management also fears the controversy will damage Sudbury's chances at securing major acts in the future, The Star has learned.
Thousands of Elton John fans came away empty-handed earlier this month when tickets available to the public sold out within 45 minutes. The city's website received one million hits during that brief period from would-be ticket buyers.
One week later, The Star reported city council had jumped the queue and given itself first crack at more than 100 tickets, which prompted a deluge of public protest and anger. While councillors took an average of eight tickets, the actual numbers ranged from as few as two tickets to a whopping 22 purchased by one councillor, sources have told The Star.
The public furore has continued virtually unabated over the last week as several city councillors refuse to disclose how many concert tickets they obtained, while the municipal administration steadfastly refuses to divulge precisely how many tickets were available to the public.
All city council members were contacted Friday with regard to the latest startling revelation uncovered by The Star - that the controversy may be jeopardizing the Elton John concert as well as other major events in the future.
In an e-mail message sent to the mayor and councillors, the politicians were asked if they shared the concern that the ticket controversy is jeopardizing the Elton John concert and future events.
They also were asked if the disconcerting news might compel them to disclose how many concert tickets they purchased and what they have done with those tickets.
As of press time Friday night, none of the councillors responded to The Star's invitation for comment. There was one response sent from the city, indicating Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan is away and not available for comment.
To date, the following council members have disclosed how many tickets they purchased: Mayor John Rodriguez (10), Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac (13), Ward 7 Coun. Russ Thompson (eight), Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan (eight), Ward 3 Coun. Claude Berthiaume (seven), Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann (three), Ward 6 Coun. Andr‚ Rivest (two).
Elton John announces second WSU show
The Daily Evergreen
Beasley Coliseum announced today that Elton John will be performing a second show for Mom's Weekend. John was originally slated to perform on Saturday, April 12, but a second performance was added for April 13, after an enormous volume of phone calls and e-mails were sent to Beasley, according to the news release.
In contrast to the first time tickets were sold, a certain number for the second show have been reserved for students, according to an e-mail from Beasley Coliseum director Leo Udy. Students will be allowed to line up starting Sunday at 6 a.m. in front of the Beasley Coliseum ticket office. Randomly numbered wristbands will be distributed to the students in line from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale on Monday at 10 a.m., in the order of the numbers on the wristband. Tickets will be limited to four per student.
This is quite the controversy up in Canada;
Mayor sorry for handling of Elton John concert tickets
Posted By Denis St. Pierre
Mayor John Rodriguez has taken responsibility for allowing city councillors to buy "so many" tickets for next month's Elton John concert.
"My decision to offer so many advance purchase tickets to council was rushed and not given sufficient consideration. For that I apologize," the mayor said at the outset of Wednesday night's city council meeting.
In a rare departure from normal procedure, the mayor read a prepared statement before beginning regular council business Wednesday.
The 365-word statement was a response to the public furore over the preferential treatment that allowed council first dibs on more than 100 tickets for the March 2 Elton John concert.
"I want to speak directly to the people of Greater Sudbury," Rodriguez said.
While he stated that council must learn from its "mistakes," the mayor also reiterated some of his positions on the controversy that have offended many city residents.
In particular, Rodriguez emphasized that councillors did not get any freebies, nor is council the only such group in the province to get first choice on tickets to exclusive events at municipal facilities. "These tickets are not free: the cost is paid in full by the councillor. This same practice occurs in the City of Kitchener, where Elton John is also playing next month," he said.
The mayor also maintained that "the practice of making tickets available to councillors and staff is a longstanding one" at the city. That assertion, particularly with regard to the actions taken by council with Elton John tickets, has been disputed by a former councillor, by a current councillor (in an off-the-record admission) and by a former advisor in the mayor's office.
In fact, Rodriguez noted last week that the opportunity provided to council for Elton John tickets was not offered to the politicians for the two recent, sold-out performances of Michael Buble.
The mayor also said in his statement Wednesday that he has directed city staff to prepare "an open and transparent policy to ensure that this type of debacle never happens again."
The Elton John concert should be a "very positive event for our city and our citizens," Rodriguez said.
