Syracuse New York. Not necessarily a critical stop on very many tours. However, for a change, a major tour stopped in Syracuse (actually, this is apparently the ONLY New York stop for this tour, so it's doubly special). Performing at the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University tonight was the Billy Joel & Elton John "Face to Face" tour. The stage is empty except for the instruments of the back-up bands. The lights go out. Suddenly, 2 spotlights turn on, and rising out of the stage are 2 shiny black grand pianos. The crowd stands up and starts cheering. 2 more spotlights turn on, one on each side of the stage. Stage left (right to the audience), a man in a dark outfit steps into the spotlight. To the tune of "Yankee Doodle", he almost marches across the stage, stopping halfway across. The music changes to "God save the Queen" and into the other spotlight steps a man in a bright blue sequined outfit. The crowd goes wild! The concert starts out with the two musicians teaming up on songs. They play 3 or 4 songs (Don't let the Sun go Down on me (which happened to be played right as the sun was setting outside the Carrier Dome, and it was streaming in through the windows ... it looked very pretty, even if accidental), Your Song, Just the way you are). Billy left, and Elton took over. He played a set of mostly his own songs, although he did play one Billy Joel song (Uptown Girl). After Elton finished his set, Billy came out and played his set. He again played his own songs, then one song from Elton John (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road). After that, both musicians came back on stage, and performed another dual set, concluding with Candle in the Wind, and an accoustic (Piano and Harmonica) only (well, voices too) version of Piano Man. All in all, the concert was EXCELLENT. It was a bit expensive (tickets started at $45), but given that I will probably never have a chance to hear these 2 great artists together again, I would say that it was worth it. I wish I could provide more details about the music, but I was too busy enjoying the moment. I will say that Billy Joel's sax player and Elton John's guitar player were both excellent.1 responses total.
I should figure out a way to link this to the "classic rock" item. :) (Thanks for the review, ea!)
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