Page 19 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2022

There aren’t many bathroom break songs during
an Elton John concert.

It’s more a matter of how many classic tunes
from a 52-year career you can fit into 2 1/2
hours. In the case of Elton John’s "Farewell
Yellow Brick Road" tour, it was also a case of
what songs you’re going to pick to sing for the
last time to this audience. Sir Elton did so in
predictably stellar fashion in his final Grand
Rapids concert and gave the adoring crowd a
loving and stellar farewell.

After opening with "Bennie And The Jets,” John
brought out one of his signature songs, “Tiny
Dancer,” early in the evening. Panning the arena
as he sang, “hold me closer, tiny dancer…” and
seeing the faces of men and women holding up
their drinks, eyes closed, and voices at full throat
was a moment that made me realize how much
his music has touched so many in this world.
Just two songs later he took the crowd on a
journey through a nearly 9-minute version of
“Rocket Man.” Elton John is ever the
consummate showman.

A high point was a pile driver rendition of
“Levon,” which segued into a gospel-blues jam
that showed the best of what Elton’s keyboard
and his six-piece band can do when given room
to stretch out, bringing the crowd to its feet in
acknowledgment of their musical fire and
finesse. I might add that every member of his
band was over the age of sixty and they knew
how to rock and roll! The group featured several
original members of Elton's long time touring
group, including the incomparable Nigel Olsson
on drums.

Throughout the show they played giant-screen
videos, which if at times diverting were just as
often distracting, as in the silly kitsch behind
“The Bitch is Back.” More moving was the
simple rendition of 1970’s “Your Song,” the
tender tune that got the whole Elton thing under
way. A mother-daughter embrace next to me
summed up its timeless quality.