atterlothe ([info]atterlothe) wrote,
@ 2008-07-04 15:47:00
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Entry tags:concert

Well....
Yeah, some of you probably won't believe me, but I have to say it anyway.

Billy Joel rocked harder than anything. Ever.

He made Siouxsie, who should be the same age or slightly younger, seem ready for the nursing home. He sang for about 2:15 straight, the only break being when he played guitar (a Hamer Honeyburst SATF, like my main guitar) while he let his guitar tech "Chainsaw" sing Highway to Hell as well as any AC/DC cover band I could imagine. He doesn't bounce around as much as Peter Murphy, except on "Still Rock'n'Roll to Me," which is the only song where his guitar, piano, or piano and harmonica wasn't preventing him.

Every song was something I knew by heart...the ones I knew least were "In the Middle of the Night," and "We Didn't Start the Fire."

You may think I am biased because I have listened to him for over 30 years (yes, I was a small child rocking out to my bro's 8-tracks) but I expected to see one of the greatest songwriters of the last century, beaten by his age, needing extensive offstage breaks, etc. But he needed no such breaks, everything was performed with extreme energy and emotion, and he even still ahs the technical prowress to manage "Root Beer Rag" on the piano at full tempo without a stumble.

No wonder he sold out 10 consecutive arena shows.


Let's see:

Angry Young Man
   "Hi, I'm Billy Joel's dad...sorry he couldn't make it, he's getting his hair done."
    Beethoven's 9th Symphony
My Life
The Entertainer
   "For those of you sitting up in Norwich, if you can't see, I'll tell you what you're     
     missing.  I'm about 6'6", look like a cross between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, and have 
     long, golden hair."
Captain Jack
Zanzibar
New York State of Mind
Don't Ask Me Why
Root Beer Rag
A Room of Our Own
Downeaster Alexa
Allentown
     (Change to Guitar)
A Matter of Trust
We Didn't Start the Fire
Highway to Hell (Chainsaw)
     (Change to Micstand Elvis antics)
It's Still Rock'n"Roll to Me
     (Back to Piano)
Anthony's Song (Movin' Out)
You May be Right
     (Encore)
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man


I probably mixed up the order a bit, here, or forgot song songs, since I'm writing this from memory a day after.

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[info]nightshrill
2008-07-06 10:09 am UTC (link)
Oh man, it sounds like it was absolutely amazing! I may not have been listening to Billy Joel for 30 years, primarily because I have not been alive that song :P, but I have always loved his music since when I was a kid and still do. I'm glad you got to see him, and I'm actually quite impressed by hearing about the Highway to Hell cover, which I would not expect at all. The only band from the "previous generation" or whatever the hell you want to call any band that rocked out in the 80s or before is Ozzy, which was/always has been a huge disappointment because he is essentially the old guy who needs tons of offstage breaks/can't sing/can't remember his own f'ing lyrics. The set list also sounds awesome, and I'm quite happy to see that Scenes from an Italian Restaurant was played as it is one of his best songs in my opinion. I'll see you later tonight and may press you for further details :P

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[info]atterlothe
2008-07-07 06:59 am UTC (link)
Yeah, I really enjoyed most of the songs he picked....I don't love the newest stuff, and "A Room of Your Own" is OK, but not that incredibly good.

I would have preferred "Summer, Highland Falls" to it.

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[info]suntostars
2008-07-07 01:43 am UTC (link)
I've been wanting to see Billy for quite a while, but I remember that when I saw him do Unplugged I was a bit disappointed and I've been afraid he wouldn't live up to my fantasies ;-) I love all his old stuff, and know most of it by heart, but I've got to admit that I haven't listened to anything new of his since River of Dreams just because I hated it so much.
I probably should get around to seeing him sometime before I lose the opportunity though.
I'm glad you enjoyed yourself!

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[info]atterlothe
2008-07-07 06:57 am UTC (link)
That was my thinking...he isn't getting younger.

And I wasn't really much of a fan after the Bridge, but I guess he still made a few good songs...Downeaster Alexa is catchy.

I used to have the whole discography up to The Bridge on vinyl and cassette. I wonder what I can find, and if any of it is in New England, or if it's all in storage back at my family's in PA.

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