What do you get when you mix one of the top artists in the world with one of the nation’s newest arenas?
A great time had by all. Music that moves you. Smiles on every face.
That was the scene at last Thursday’s Elton John concert at the Matthew Knight Arena. Sir Elton’s first show in the U.S. on this tour – after two shows in British Columbia – sold out in a couple of hours. It’s clear that the rocket man has an audience that spans generations.
And for nearly 3 hours he did not disappoint.
With a band that includes many longtime members – Davey Johnstone on guitar and Nigel Olsson on drums – and a gift for songwriting and delivery in a live setting, John is still one of the best ever.
The Matt Smith Knight Arena will surely prove to be a great place to see a show like the one on Thursday night. The arena is about a third the size of the Rose Garden, and seats 12,541. It seems there are no bad seats.
Our tickets were in the “obscured view” area, the sound was great there, and you could see some of the stage quite well. The only problem seems to be the parking, and there could be quite a protest from the neighborhood to come.
John’s timeless songs were performed with energy and he had a great connection with the crowd, who sung, smiled, cried and hugged one another throughout the show.
The top songs were “Rocket Man,” “Madman Across the Water” and “Bennie and the Jets”. The lighting was well-orchestrated with some LED screens and live video providing imagery of the band and other whimsical animations. John’s energy seemed quite youthful, possibly renewed with the recent birth of a son, Zachary. He seemed to thrive on the audience’s cheers and applause.
With a top crew of players and nationally renowned sound and light people, and an act that hasn’t changed much over the past 10 years, Elton’s show is polished to provide maximum enjoyment for the crowd. Though he’s no longer going glam with his costumes, he still has a good sense of the colorful in his stage design.
His best talent is the timeless beauty of his songwriting and the singing of the tunes he has co-written over the years with Bernie Taupin.
These take on a life of their own and do not seem “old.”
The crowd was on cloud nine Thursday night, enjoying an old friend in a new venue that will surely be appreciated for many years to come.
The Rundown is senior reporter Lisa Ball’s weekly column detailing the local music and arts scenes. She can be reached at 541-463-5109 or torch@lanecc.edu.
