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Concert Review: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden
By Brian | January 24, 2006 | Share on Facebook
I’m train-blogging on my way home from the show. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I bought the tickets mostly out of nostalgia, since one of my first real dates with my wife was a Billy Joel concert in Philadelphia (December 18th, 1989, she reminded me tonight). Just over 15 years later, my expectations for the now 58-year old Joel were quite low. Then I saw a few setlists & realized that this was an oportunity to hear live performances of songs I’d never heard live before.
On that score, the show did not disapppoint. He sang Everybody Loves You Now, Stiletto, Zanzibar (with a truly kick-ass flugelhorn solo, followed immediately by an even more kick-ass trumpet solo – both by the same guy), Great Wall of China (dedicated to his ex-manager – if you don’t know why, go check out the lyrics), All for Leyna, and She’s Always a Woman in addition to the standard fare of Greatest Hits material.
As to the quality of the show, there’s just no getting over the fact that the man is getting older. Some of the harder rock tunes fell a little flat (like Pressure, Big Man on Mulberry Street, which slowed down dramtically as it went on, and All For Leyna, which was a nice concert rarity, but required so much concentration from Joel that he never once looked up from the lyrics tele-prompter or even ventured a smile). Other songs, though, he pulled off quite nicely, including Big Shot, You May Be Right, It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me, Angry Young Man and I Go to Extremes. He also sang all the high notes on Innocent Man himself, something he hasn’t done in years (my wife pointed out that his new-found sobriety might have been the enabler there).
UPDATE: A listen to Billy Joel – 12 Gardens Live reveals another reason – see this blog post for more.
Being a piano player myself, my favorite part of the concert is watching Joel’s hands on the keyboard, which I consider almost as educational as it is entertaining. Tonight’s seats, third row just behind & to the left of the stage provided a great view (nice job, Jason!). I was surprised to see that he’s changed his style of play significantly. He no longer bangs the living hell out of the piano like he used to. Now, it looks much more like the old cliche – “tickling the ivories.”. There were far fewer piano riffs/solos than there had been in years past, but what he did play sounded great, even if it wasn’t as dramatic as it used to be.
Also on a musical note (groan…), the band itself was a nice reunion. Rich Cannata and Tommy Byrne were back, so we got to hear all the original sax & guitar solos from the Turnstiles and Glass Houses days, not to mention some great horn section work by Cannata, Crystal Taliefero, and Mark Rivera on songs such as Keeping the Faith, Movin’ Out, and Only the Good Die Young. A surprise to me was the absence of Liberty DeVitto who, according to someone sitting in our section, had a falling out with Joel over a book Liberty’s writing that apparently goes into a little too much detail about Billy’s days of drinking and drugs. My section-mate claims that Liberty wasn’t even invited to Billy’s latest wedding. As the man says, “melodrama’s so much fun…”
Finally, there were those special concert moments that make the price of a ticket worthwhile. We had modern day commentary in the lyrics of Zanzibar:
Rose he knows he’ll never make the Hall of Fame;
And the Yankees grab the headlines every time.
…and a nod to his recent dalliances in Scenes from an Italian Restaurant:
A bottle of white;
A bottle of red;
Perhaps a bottle of Ginger Ale instead.
…and even some political commentary from the crowd during the Piano Man finale:
Now Paul is a real estate novelist;
Who never had time for a wife.
And he’s talking with Davy, who’s still in the navy;
(crowd screams much louder than the rest of the verse:)AND PROBABLY WILL BE FOR LIFE
All in all, the show did not disappoint. It was as nostalgic as I hoped it would be, but not in that awkward, “wow, things have really gone downhill” way that I had feared. With a few exceptions, Billy Joel and his band sounded fantastic and put on a high energy, entertaining show. Yes, he shuffles around the stage instead of running, and stops for a swig of water between every song (and occasionally during someone else’s solo). But no one else in the world can make that music sound that good, and on the whole, I’m glad he’s still doing it. Bravo, Billy, and thanks for the memories.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Came looking for info on Billy Joel and only got a concert review? Check out the I Should Be Sleeping Billy Joel FAQ! Inspired by Googlers like you!)
UPDATE: I see from my server logs that over 500 of you have read this review. God Bless Google! In any case, welcome to my blog. If you like what you read, please feel free to leave a comment and/or look around a bit.
UPDATE #2: Readership on this post is approaching 2,000 users. Glad you stopped by! If you liked what you read, please feel free to look around. Billy Joel enthusiasts might appreciate my reviews of the My Lives box set (Disc 1, Disc 2, Disc 3, Disc 4) in particular. Or, just check out the main page and go from there. Enjoy, all!
UPDATE #3: Well over 3,500 7,500 pageviews now. Good lord, this thing’s getting some mileage. Seriously, though – look around. Stay awhile. What’s your hurry? You just got here…
Topics: ISBS Reviews, Words about Music | 66 Comments »
:)
All that being said, I must admit – I’ll probably buy & read the book now…
Does he use a rotatting stage?
The grand piano is on a rotating platform, but it’s not constantly turning (only during certain songs). There are, however, two keyboards in the two back corners of the stage, and he uses those for a couple of songs each, so he plays to the back of the audience (those behind the stage). Basically, his standard setup for many years now.
All of this, plus the requisite video screens throughout the house make for good viewing no matter where your seats are…
Was there an opening band?
No. In all the years I’ve been seeing Billy Joel perform, I’ve never seen him have an opening band.
Typically, a classical piece plays through the loudspeakers, halway through the house lights go out, and when the classical music reaches a crescendo it cuts off, the spot hits Billy, and he goes off into a hard rocking opening number (Angry Young Man, in this case).
I’m also told that in recent shows, a guy from his road crew has been coming on stage with a guitar and performing Meat Loaf’s Highway to Hell. The one person I know who saw it said it was done as kind of a joke, but it was pretty entertaining. It happens in the middle of the show, so it’s not an opening act, but it is someone other than him singing…
Thanks for the re-cap of the show. I was looking for a playlist from the Philly gig (on Feb 14th) nad came across your article via Google.
I think you accurately captured the quality of the show and of Joel’s current abilities.
This was my first opportunity to see Billy live, so I can’t compare this to other prior performances. But based upon his recent drinking and perosnal issue, I was expecting a much less enthusiastic performance. OFr my money, it one one of the best ocnerts I’d seen in years.
Thanks agian for your re-cap.
It was my first time to see Billy live (MSG on 3/2/06), and for someone who grew up on his music it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. what was admiring is the fact that he could go up in pitch to what he was capable of some 20 years back. go to see him if you get a chance, well worth the money.
…And yes, we had ‘Highway to Hell’ as well… very entertaining…
What can I say? Oh, hell…
Suz
I love Billy Joel – last saw him in Long Island on his farewell tour in 2001??? He was using the lyrics prompter, but still had great energy, and we loved it.
My question: we have tickets for his show tonight (March 10th). Aside from mentioning his recent sobriety and PC “still in the navy” lyrics, will it essentially be the same show as his last tour (NOT the one with Elton John). I ask because if it is, I might give my tickets to someone who has never seen him live.
Need opinions FAST!!
Thanks — Joyce
I hope you went to the show. The setlist has changed significantly since the last time he toured, given his focus on some older material. It’s highly unlikely you saw him do songs like Zanzibar, Stilletto, All for Leyna, Sleeping with the Television On, or She’s Always a Woman in the previous show.
If you do come back, drop a line & let me know if you went & what you thought of it. I’ll try to check my comments more often, especially on popular posts like this one…
It’s ironic — in December I saw Tony Bennett for the 3rd time in the past 28 years — and he was the absolute BEST in this most recent tour. Passion, heart, indescribable lyric expression, breath control effortless – and you would think we were the first audience who ever stood up for him.
Not once did I feel I was watching the ghoost of a man who used to be (as I did when I saw Sinatra late in his career). I watched a man still on top of the world.
Billy Hoel — what can I say about a man whose heart is open to the point of breaking with sorrow or joy and expresses it with energy and beauty. Did you ever notice that no one else does his songs? Is it a copywright thing or is it that no one else could?
Tony once answered the question – don’t you ever get tired of singing “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” with the answer – do you ever get tired of making love?
I’m a pianist, not a singer, but man, I love them both. So someone got to see Billy Joel last night – that’s ok with me, I can hear new songs easily, and I know what he’s like – he’s like no one else.
Re: Tony Bennett – I’m a fan as well, but I haven’t seen him live. Hearing him sing now, though, it occurs to me that his music is suited to a guy his age, and it comes across very naturally when he performs. Makes me wonder if he sounded like an “old soul” when he was younger.
Re: people covering Billy Joel’s music – there have been quite a few covers, actually. Tony Bennett, ironically, recently did a version of New York State of Mind, and while I prefer the original, he did a nice job with it. Garth Brooks had a huge hit with Shameless, even moreso than Joel did the first time around. And then, of course, there was the band from the Broadway show Movin’ Out (I forget the guy’s name – Michael something), who did a pretty good job at covering the entire catalog.
The majority of Joel’s music can’t really be covered that well simply because there aren’t that many people out there who play the piano that well. Elton John’s an exception, of course, but he’s chosen to tour with him rather than record his music. Good move, I think…
“Movin’ Out” left me cold. Maybe it’s because the lyrics are so important to Billy Joel’s music. I felt I was drinking champagne but wasn’t allowed to swallow. Best part – listening to the music of “Big Man on Mulberry Street”. How many different styles of music are incorporated into that song? I get lost in it, especially the big band sound — fantastic number. Hard to play on the piano (but I keep trying).
Joyce
I also noticed that when he gets near the audience, rather than everyone putting their hands out for a handshake/high-five like they used to, everyone’s just pointing their cell phones at him. Must be very strange for the performer as well as the viewing audience…
At any rate, glad you enjoyed the show…
Oh yeah, saw Billy in Philly 3/20, great show.
And yeah – I confused Highway to Hell with Bat Out of Hell. It happens…
I am just waking up and dusting the sleep off from last nights show at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse and to credit you all that posted reviews here, it was stellar! By far one of the finest set lists I have heard Billy perform to date. All of the standards were performed that he has been playing, plus he included Summer HIghland Falls as an ode to manic deprerssion, Vienna which was much to my delight as I’ve heard it on other live albums but never in person and much to everyuones delight, Captain Jack. And to trump all that, during We Didn’t Start the Fire I kept thinking I saw the forks a bike on the back of the stage between the drum kit and percussion set up, and at the end of the song the camera panned back revealing Paulie Sr. sitting on a bike that he and the other two boys from O.C.C. was present to Billy for the first time in public which they named the Billy Bob. The presentation certainly rejeuvenated Billy for the rest of the night and the final songs were magical. Great songs, great sound, fantastic lighting, lets hope the Piano Man keeps tickling the ivories for quite some time to come.
Very cool move. Given his recent history, I hope they included a seat belt and a breathalyzer-enabled starter lock.
Joel (funnily enough)
Always nice to have international visitors stopping by – glad you liked the review.
As I hope the review showed, he’s older, and the show is different now, although not necessarily worse. As long as you don’t go in excpecting a repeat of what you see on video, I think you’ll enjoy it tremendously.
Thanks a bunch for the details.
-Karen
I’m glad the review was helpful…
VeganFred
Glad I could help. Congrats on the cheap tickets & I’m glad you enjoyed the show.
It’s funny – I remember when Billy Joel used to complain from the stage about how people had to pay MORE than face value for his tickets (“Scalp the Scalpers”). These days, we use a global computer network to find out if we like the show, find someone else who’s willing to part with the tickets cheap, and then provide reviews for others that might be interested.
To paraphrase a well-known tune, I Love These Days…
I grew up in Syracuse — There’s no place like the Carrier Dome to see Billy Joel. I last saw him during the River of Dreams Concert — FRONT ROW — while at Le Moyne College. Everyone touched him but me – at 5’1, I couldn’t reach darn it.
We’re going to his concert this evening at the MCI/Verizon Center in DC with my husband — his first Billy Joel concert. Billy Joel is one of the few musicians we “share” and we even used “You’re My Home” just 10 months ago as our wedding song! I think that song is pretty obscure because I never heard it before hearing it on ITUNES last year when I was SEARCHING for a song we would both like. It’s not easy to dance to…especially when you don’t dance well…but we thought it was perfect for us! I’m sure he won’t sing that one — but it would be a dream come true if he did! Thanks for hosting us Billy Joel fans!
As for “You’re My Home,” that’s a fantastic song. When I used to travel on business, I used to play it when I was missing my wife & kids:
If I travelled all my life,
and I never got to stop and settle down;
Long as I have you by my side,
there’s a roof above and good walls all around.
You’re my castle, you’re my cabin, you’re my instant pleasure dome;
I need you in my house, ’cause you’re my home.
Fantastic…
If they were playing new material, I’d love to see the guy develop his own take/style with it. But this stuff is already out there (some of it for 30 years or more). I think the best he can do at that point is blend with the band and re-create the sound everyone came to hear…
Unless, of course, the whole band (read: Billy Joel) wanted to put a new spin on something, then he gets a chance to really show off his chops…
i don’t know that i will ever have as much fun as i did at this concert.
thanks
my friends and i were upgraded to front row by billy’s staff
OK, not to presume too much, but at least in the old days, the people that got bumped up to the front row were young, attractive, enthusiastic girls that would make the show more fun for Joel and look good in the videos (if they were shooting). Obviously, I don’t know if you fit that description, but it’s a safe bet that you and your friends should take the whole experience as a compliment.
we were right in front of the bass guitar player and have been trying to find out who he is. any clue? i got one of his picks and would love to know what the signature says.
His name is David Rosenthal, and he actually has a really good website with pictures, setlists, tour information, audio, etc. Check it out…
Glad you enjoyed the show (and the blog…)
What a great review- sounded real- not all sugar!! After 30 years of listening to the great man, I finally got Billy Joel concert tickets today!! [wow, lloks like I won't go to my grave an angry old man...well, because of not seeing BJ anyway!!].
Thanks to Google and your fab review, I now have a good idea of what to expect…and, boy, am i looking forward…and as the great Bill might say- hot punk, cool funk, even if it’s old junk it’s still Billy Joel to me!!
Thanks again. Meic- the Isle of Man [mid-way between England and Ireland]
Just reading about the songs he sang has made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, imagine how i’ll be when he’s actually singing in front of me !!
Thanks again, i’ll be keeping an eye for further reviews up until my concert.
Anyway, it sounds like the MSG soundcheck was just as entertaining. He’d never record/release any of them, because they tend to be off-color and would eventually degrade the songs themselves, but I would definitely pay for a collection of these things.
I’ve heard about “Sodomy” (Liberty DeVitto’s invention, btw), and “You’re My Homo,” but “Only the Egg Fu Yung” is a new one to me.
I also saw him at a Q&A session once, where he explained how “Just the Way You Are” became “She Got the House, She Got the Car” at soundchecks, at which point, he stopped playing it in concert. ;-)
Have just seen BJ at Birmingham NEC in England. Wow! Great to hear some back catalogue songs – they sound like they could have been written yesterday.(He played 26 songs!)
Billy’s voice sounded as good, if not better than when we saw him back in the early 80′s at Wembley. Credit also to the sound and lighting crew. The sound in particular was crystal clear and the balance between vocals/piano/band was just right.
The band were exceptional, as always. Chuck Burghi has fitted in perfectly with the band and plays the arrangements true to the originals but yet manages to stamp some of his his own style and technique on these timeless songs. Billy once said that when Liberty Devitto packs up, so will he. That may have been a mis-quote but I am glad he didn’t stick to it!
Only downside was the price of a program (souvinir brochure) which were £15 (about £24 US dollars! I didn’t buy one but instead, when we got home, I ordered a copy of ’12 Gardens’ off Amazon, for less money! (It’s a great CD by the way) I’ll buy a program off Ebay!
Thank you for your very interesting site, Brian. BJ’s keyboard player/aranger David Rosenthal has a good site with lots of Billy Joel coverage, set lists etc (but I expect you knew that already!)
Regards,
Richard (Drummer & BJ fan from Warwickshire, England)
My wife and I cant wait till Wednesday when we go to Manchester to see Billy.reading your reviews make it even better waiting for the day.
Colin
York, England
I`m a professional musician, currently onboard a Carnival cruiseliner (for my sins) and I perform several Billy tunes on a regular basis. I recently attended the Birmingham, UK gig and was so blown away that I also went to the Manchester one a couple of weeks later.
I honestly think he is on a personal high. I saw him in `89 and `94 but this tour he seems to be enjoying himself so much more, it`s really as is he discovered his love of performing again.
The best thing for me has been that it has inspired me musically. I`ve been reminded that I`m lucky to get to do this for a living, and I`m putting more into my performances every night. Much like the Great Man, although clearly I can`t compete with him…….:)
You are indeed lucky to be doing what you’re doing (and don’t kid yourself – a cruiseliner isn’t the worst place in the world to be stuck working…)
I’m an adamant ameteur musician because a) I never wanted to work hard enough at music to make it my profession, and b) I don’t have enough talent to really make it pay off.
Most of my (non-musician) friends don’t notice at parties, though, so don’t tell anyone, OK? ;-)
My wife got me tix for Christmas to see him next Monday in Miami. I can’t wait. 3rd row on the floor we’ll be staring up to see the stage.
Thanks for the review. I hope he’s not too worn out from being on the road so long. At his age it must be so much harder than it used to be. But it sounds like he gave you guys a really great show and I’m very excited to see it.
And I thought his rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl was heartfelt and soulful but he couldn’t possibly have been very comfortable out there in the rain.
I’m sure the Miami show will be great. He’s older, but he knows how to take care of himself at this point. Anyone can have a bad night, but now that he’s sober, I can’t imagine any one show being that much worse than any of the others…
As for the national anthem, I have a recording of him singing it at Yankee Stadium before a World Series game. He did that one a capella, and it was way out of tune in places.
He’s clearly more comfortable in front of a piano, but singing in the rain with a stadium sound system blasting back at you is really, really hard to do. I’ve only got an average musical ear, but as Randy Jackson likes to say, the superbowl performance was still “pitchy.”
Personally, I think he should stick to Rock & Roll…
THANKS so much for creating this thread about Billy Joel. We are staying in Jacksonville on business and reading everyone’s contributions clinched our decision to buy tickets for his show here tonight.
I saw him in concert in Toronto, Canada while he was still married to Christie and she danced throughout the show on stage which was special to see.
We’re REALLY looking forward to seeing him tonight in concert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Won’t have computer service until the weekend – will post again after that.
THANKS & BLESSINGS
Dari
Glad to have helped. It’s a pretty good bet that Christie won’t be dancing around the stage tonight, but now that you mention it…
There IS a pretty good chance (better than even, I’d say) that you’ll see his current wife, Katie Lee, and that you may even be the first live audience to hear “All My Life” live. That’s the new pop song he just released as a gift for his wife (like so many songs before it were gifts to Christie, and “Just the Way You Are” was a gift for his first wife).
Please report back about whether or not that happens – I’m very curious to hear it from someone who was there.
Enjoy the show!
Thanks!
Noted. Thanks for correcting the record…
This Friday, April 20th will be my wife’s first concert..and the first time I’ve seen Billy Joel live…we’re really looking forward to it! :)
I’ll try to post after the show and let you know how it went.
we’re taking our 2 piano-playing sons to their first concert ~ what better could we do for them!?!…
thanks for sharing your experience…
-Andrew
It’s usually Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, although it’s recorded music (not live), so he can change it whenever he likes. I believe during the Storm Front tour, for instance, it was something water/sea related…
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