Elton's classic songs and musicianship thrill Metro Centre crowd

By Stephen Cooke 
Entertainment Reporter / The Chronicle Herald
 

Diehard fans showed their love for the singer’s glam past by sporting bright red boas, outrageous hats and novelty sunglasses, some bearing his name and blinking battery-powered lights.

The man himself looked much more reserved when he took the stage to a standing ovation just after 8 p.m., at the start of a nearly three-hour odyssey of incredible pop hits.

His black coat with tails was embroidered with a heart and the word "LOVE" on his right sleeve, with flowers and a pistol — perhaps the gun of Robert Ford? — on the back, while his trademark glasses were a subtle pair of frameless amber lenses.

Loud cheers arose as John struck up the unmistakable opening chords of his first major hit, Your Song, which became even louder when he turned to the audience for the line, "this one’s for you."

Upon first listen it appeared his voice has become deeper and more resonant over the years, likely dating back to throat surgery in the late ’80s, but it came across strong and clear, and never showed signs of giving out over the course of the evening.

Even when he was nearly two hours into the show, he could deliver a throaty Take Me to the Pilot without losing steam, although the lack of his extreme upper range showed in Someone Saved My Life Tonight. But his delivery was so emphatic, it didn’t matter so much.

"I finally made it to Halifax," grinned John after warming up with Your Song.

"I stopped here once when the Concorde broke down, but it’s much nicer to be here and play for you in person."

Unaccompanied at a Yamaha grand piano decked out with a few digital effects, John balanced out his set with the expected hits, but also tossed in a number of surprise songs for the lifelong fan, like a trio of album tracks from his 1970 self-titled release — 60 Years On, The Greatest Discovery and I Need You to Turn To — and the Caribou song Ticker, with lyrics written by partner Bernie Taupin in response to the rise of gun violence in America.

"It’s 30 years later and nothing has changed," John noted soberly.

He also made reference to another tragedy — the toll AIDS took on the artistic community in its early years — in The Boy With Red Shoes, from 2001’s Songs From the West Coast. "It was inspired by a dancer who got AIDS in the ’80s, no it’s not Tiny Dancer, when Ronald Reagan was president and did absolutely nothing to help fight the disease," said John in the intro to the song, which was filled with a dramatic sense of loss.

There were lots of light moments as well.

Captain Fantastic may not be as wacky as the days when he’d dress up like Donald Duck or Mozart, but he threw a lot of spirit into Honky Cat, pounding out some barrelhouse funk inspired by the New Orleans groove of Dr. John (no relation), ending with a nimble solo and slamming the piano lid for final emphasis.

Rocket Man also made for an impressive set piece, with the LED screen suspended above the piano, creating the illusion of hurtling through space while John delivered an impassioned description of the loneliest feeling imaginable, stretching the song out with an extended coda that brought the crowd to its feet.

The screen also provided an effective backdrop for Taupin’s New York City tribute Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, displaying part of the marquee of Radio City Music Hall, and was spangled with red, white and blue stars during a soulful Philadelphia Freedom, although the computer-animated balloons during Levon were the closest the concert came to the cheesy side of things.

When John got to his mega-selling Marilyn Monroe tribute Candle in the Wind, nearly two hours after he’d begun, crowd reaction peaked once again, as lighters and cellphones lit up and voices joined in the chorus without the singer’s bidding.

Given the extra weight placed on the song when it also became a salute to Diana, Princess of Wales, John performed it with admirable reserve, and the LED screen remained thankfully free of photo montages.

The opening chords of Benny and the Jets boosted audience participation to dancing in the aisles before John really got the sock hop going with Crocodile Rock, although the crowd had to provide the falsetto "laaaa, la la la-la laah" part.

After signing a number of autographs at the front of the stage and an encore of I’m Still Standing and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me, it was over.

Besides captivating a crowd of 10,000 with only a piano, John proved his instrument also functions as a time machine, taking listeners back through 40 years of incredible music and making two hours and 50 minutes pass in what seemed like mere moments.

Set List
Your Song

Sixty Years On

The Greatest Discovery

I Need You To Turn To

Border Song

Ballad Of The Boy With The Red Shoes

Daniel

Honky Cat

Rocket Man

Tiny Dancer

Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters

Nikita

Philadelphia Freedom

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

Ticking

Roy Rogers

Take Me To The Pilot

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Candle In The Wind

I Guess That's Why The Call It The Blues

Levon

Carla Etude

Tonight

Bennie And The Jets

Crocodile Rock

I'm Still Standing
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Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me