Enmax Centrum, Red Deer Canada

25 aprile 2012

Elton John rockets through set in Red Deer

April 26, 2012. 5:48 pm • Section: Entertainment

Elton John’s tour of smaller-town Alberta hit Red Deer Wednesday night, with the Rocket Man playing an almost three-hour set before an adoring crowd at a sold-out Centrium.

I’ve been a fan since before I knew there was an Elton John, growing up on AM radio in the ’70s, when hits such as Crocodile Rock and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting were staples. And he rolled out an impressive array of those musical touchstones Wednesday, from Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me to Daniel, Benny and the Jets to The One, which opened the show. And the crowd loved it, giving standing ovations at the end of just about every song.

Once the “Holy crap! It’s Elton John!” effect wore off about halfway through, though, it seemed as if the show was a wind ‘em up and watch him go display, with little to no interaction with the crowd. He said a line or two at the start of the night, then a few more before launching into songs, but there was no chit-chat here, no give and take with the audience. Maybe that’s just how he performs these days: just the hits, ma’am, and then he moves on to the next town. That said, John’s work on the piano was dazzling, reminding everyone that he remains a musician above all else. The extended jam that morphed into Take Me to the Pilot was particularly memorable, as was the honky-tonk rave-up treatment of Benny and the Jets.

His voice was in fine form, too, although he wisely avoided going for those high notes that peppered his earlier career. Instead, songs were reworked to match his more mature voice, and he delivered with power throughout the night. Sure, John still has the sparkle – from his bedazzled jacket with a giant Z emblazonned in sequins on the back (for his son, Zachary, methinks) and tuxedo pants — but there was no outre showmanship on display. His go-to move? After a song, he’d stand up, walk a half circle around his piano bench and point to various areas of the crowd. Rising to a half-crouch during Benny and the Jets was about as exciting as it got in terms of physicality.

However, when John came out for the encore, he finally delivered the personal touch that many had been waiting for. John talked about how his family is Canadian, too, referring to his civil partner David Furnish, and how special the country is to him, noting his son, Zachary, has a Canadian passport. He thanked everyone for their support through the years and wished them well.

And with that (seemingly) genuine offer of emotion, with an offering of personal connection, a peek behind the piano, as it were, John made himself much more human and that much more relatable, so much more than an automaton cranking out the hits at the keyboard.

And for those who like to keep track of these things, here’s the set list from Wednesday night’s show:

The One

Sixty Years On

Holy Moses

Border Song

Your Song

Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes

Levon

Tiny Dancer

Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

I’m Still Standing

Daniel

Rocket Man

I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

You’re Never Too Old to Hold Somebody

Yellow Brick Road

Philladelphia Freedom

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Nikita

Take Me to the Pilot

Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Wrod

Candle in the Wind

Honky Cat

Benny and the Jets

Crocodile Rock

Encore: Circle of Life/Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/04/26/...et-in-red-deer/