It was about two years ago when I was downtown to celebrate the Chiefs going to the Superbowl and I saw a sign announcing that Elton John was coming to Kansas City. Being the procrastinator I am, I didn’t order tickets, and as it turns out, that July 2020 concert was postponed. I once again saw news about the show a few months ago and looked at tickets which were for some reason listed at $500 each! So I didn’t figure I’d be seeing him in concert. But on Tuesday, the day of the show, we scored a pair of tickets for around $80 each! I love that I got to see him in concert and I didn’t need to spend over a year anticipating the show. I had seen him once before with Billy Joel and I realized that was probably 20 years ago – wow. And I don’t know the last time I saw a real, large concert like this – probably before Gabbie was born!
Our tickets were for this behind the stage area. Having seen Billy Joel in concert from this same position, I knew it has its advantages and disadvantages – you are really close! But you’ll be seeing his back the whole time. But you are so close! I think these seats are arguably better than the second level back of the stadium seats! I did see some videos from the front of the stage and we did not get to see some of the multi media on the big screen, so that is the major thing missed from being in these seats. There was a small screen where they showed close ups of the band and of Elton himself, so that was pretty cool too.
I took some videos but I’m not sure how to upload them to my blog! I’m pretty sure uploading to YouTube would get them removed for copyright violations. So I guess you’ll take my word for it that he put on a good show.
We were far enough away that zoomed in photos on my phone came out a bit blurry. Any close up pictures are of the screen above us!
At the end, he got onto this blast off contraption and lifted off the stage and the media made it seem like he was walking into the background image. We could only see this part on the screen!
As for what he played, it seems like his set list is the same for each of the shows on this tour, so I was able to see what was coming up. While I will say I know all the words to a majority of the songs Billy Joel will play in concert and I don’t know anywhere near that many Elton John songs, I did know a good deal of them! And it’s definitely more fun to go to a concert when you know the music.
1. Bennie and the Jets – I facetimed the kids for this one.
2. Philadelphia Freedom
3. Border Song – this is one that I don’t know.
4. Tiny Dancer
5. Have Mercy on the Criminal – this is another one that I don’t know.
6. Rocket Man – he did a really nice piano bit after this song which I loved.
7. Take Me to the Pilot
8. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
9. Levon
10. Candle in the Wind – he plays this one without the band.
11. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – I don’t know this one and I went to the bathroom during it! It’s a long song where music plays and he changes outfits.
12. Burn Down the Mission – I don’t know this one either.
13. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
14. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
15. The Bitch Is Back
16. I’m Still Standing
17. Crocodile Rock
18. Saturday’s Alright for Fighting – after this one he went off stage and came back for the encore.
19. Cold Heart – I thought I didn’t know this one but I do! He played a version I hadn’t heard before that is remixed with Rocket Man and apparently also a duet with Dua Lipa. The video on YouTube is pretty cool!
20. Your Song
21. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
I’m so glad we got to go to the concert!
