Elton John at the Spokane Arena on Friday, April 8th 2011
I had to pinch myself a few times to realize I was actually watching Elton John live in concert. The Spokane Arena was definitely SOLD OUT with a diverse mix of people. There were plenty of big sparkly sunglasses in all shapes and colors, feathered boas, tie-die, and of course big smiles throughout the parking lot and in the halls before the show. Promptly at 8:00pm the lights went down, the crowd was screaming and clapping as Sir Elton John graced the stage with his band. He looked fabulous in a tailcoat jacket that had music notes on the front and “Music Magic” on the back with an instrument mural; and of course he was wearing glasses.
Opening with “Funeral For a Friend” the night continued with the hits we all love, and even new songs that Elton John worked on with Leon Russell. Which of course we all want to hear the hits; but Elton had a great comment saying “if we didn’t have new songs I would get bored out of my mind!”
It was amazing to sit and watch Elton John and his band play, they are top notch musicians. I was up in the seats for the show and so along with watching the stage I was also watching the screens during the concert. One of the people working the cameras had a killer angle of the piano keys, so you could really watch Elton play the piano. I was in complete awe watching Elton John’s fingers gracefully dance across the keys. It was cool to see his original band drummer Nigel Olsson on stage with him and even Davey Johnstone on the guitar. Davey Johnstone first worked with Elton in 1971! Even one of his backup singers Rose Stone is from Sly & the Family Stone. Just a really great group of extremely talented musicians and singers who all were having a great time on stage; especially Tata Vega one of the backup singers she was dancing the entire time with an ear to ear grin!
Another part of the evening that I just loved was how Elton John would bow and wave to every part of the Arena after songs. For his show there was no backdrop on the stage and there was complete seating around it, therefore there was a crowd behind the band but they were higher up. Elton John made sure to acknowledge them and even the crowd way up in corners. He seemed so thankful that people came out and bought tickets. He even signed stuff and shook hands before his encore. He wanted to take care of his fans; I thought that was really sweet.
Elton John said at the beginning of the night “…if you feel like it, you can sing along with me…” and that we did. Not only did Spokane sing along with Elton John and his band but we danced, clapped, and swooned over our favorite songs. Towards the end of the night everyone was on their feet, dancing with their seat neighbors, even the 80 year old lady in front of me was getting down. One of my favorite parts was when the ENTIRE arena sang the “naahhh na na na na na” during Crocodile Rock. I even saw a few people doing a little Crocodile dance move with their arms. The evening was unforgettable and I am so thankful Elton John came to Spokane and I got the pleasure of seeing this music legend live.
The Set List for Tonight Included:
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
Levon
Madman Across the Water
Tiny Dancer
Philadelphia Freedom
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Daniel
Rocket Man
I Guess Thats Why They Call It the Blues
Hey Ahab
The Best Part of the Day
Gone to Shiloh
Monkey Suit
When Love Is Dying
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Take Me to the Pilot
Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word
Candle In The Wind
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me
Burn Down the Mission
Bennie and the Jets
The Bitch Is Back
Crocodile Rock
Encore: Your Song
Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.
