Review: Billy Joel at Sprint

File photo. We weren't able to shoot the show. It lost out to the Royals' public unveiling of their new/old powder blue uniforms with Jose Guillen, (HGH not included). But if you have photos, please send them to fyi@kcstar.com. We'll post and/or publish them soon.

After he'd heated up the place with the one-two punch of "Angry Young Man" and "My Life," Billy Joel looked around the nearly full Sprint Center and said: "I want to thank Garth Brooks for letting me borrow the room."

Elton John opened the arena, and Brooks presented its first and longest spectacle. But Thursday night Joel and his band christened the arena's with its best musical performance, so far. And his jokes were at least as funny as Dane Cook's.

His two-hour show included most of his biggest hits and other favorites but it also showcased Joel's dexterity on the piano (during the instrumental "Root Beer Rag") and the skills of his band members, especially his horn section (trumpeter Carl Fischer's solo during "Zanzibar").

The instrumentals and solos and jazzier songs tended to buffer the mood. The brash fusion-lite rendition of "New York State" of mind, for example, went on a little too long. But he compensated for that during the material most people came to hear: "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "She's Always a Woman," "Big Shot" and the songs that generated the most dancing and the loudest singing: "We Didn't Start the Fire," "You May Be Right" and "Only the Good Die Young."

About halfway through the show Joel strapped on a guitar and brought out a young singer named Cass Dillon, who took the lead vocals on "Christmas in Fallujah." Behind the band, at attention, stood several soldiers and veterans.

Joel prefaced that song with a short version of the story behind it: He wrote it based on letters he'd been getting over the past several years from soldiers and Marines in "the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan." He declared (and I paraphrase): I'm not telling anyone how to vote. I'm not telling anyone what to think. But I'm not making shit up, either. This is what they told me.

The show had several moments of levity. Joel joked about his alcohol/vehicle issues when he thanked everyone for spending their money on the tour: He needs the money to pay his car insurance, he said.

During "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me," he showed off his foot skills and handiwork with a microphone stand. However, he pushed it a little too far once: The stand toppled over and the mic hit the floor -- thud. It was broken. A crewman quickly delivered a new microphone and stand, which Joel then twirled like a baton. He looked a bit chagrined, though.

He sprinkled his setlist with a few Christmas carols, using them as intros to his own songs. The crowd finally jumped into one and sang along, like an enormous church choir: "Gloria In Excelsis Deo," which led into his rousing finale, "Piano Man."

That wasn't the first version of that song played in Sprint Center, but it was the best. Brooks made it a part of his finale nearly every night, and it always got a great response. He was only borrowing it, though, and no one does it like the guy who owns it. 

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Prelude/Angry Young Man, Jingle Bells/My Life, Everybody Loves You Now, The Entertainer, Vienna, Allentown, Zanzibar, Hark the Herald Angels Sing/New York State of Mind, Root Beer Rag, Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Keeping the Faith, Felice Navidad/Don't Ask Me Why, She's Always a Woman, River of Dreams, Christmas in Fallujah, We Didn't Start the Fire, Big Shot, It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me, You May Be Right. Encore: Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, Only the Good Die Young,  Gloria In Excelsis Deo/Piano Man.

Comments

[IRAGOSS]

can i just say WOW. Now can I say a few more words? Thanks. First off, Tim, you summed it up spot on. Not critical at all. And from where I was ( fat man in the 25th row sec 3, MU jersey, U.S. Army ball cap) there was nothing to be critical about at all. You don't know how glad I am you didn't say, uh well he should have played this instead or this song in front of this other song. I HATE that crap! You go to see an artist, if you can't accept them as they are and enjoy the night's work, simple, don't go. Anyways....what a show! If you were there THANK YOU. Because everyone there SHOWED UP. ANd what I mean by that, you didn't just sit there, you didnt talk through every song (at least I hope the fans you were sitting by didn't) you made it an INCREDIBLE night!!! I always said Bruce Nov 19, 1984 was in a class by itself. The EAGLES joined that party July of 2002. Now I will EASILY say last night was by all means one of the best concerts I have ever attended. I am so glad Billy is not promoting a album right now and we have to hear all of the songs from it. When you have been a fan for 30 years, you want to see all of the hits with a few other songs you may not be familiar with sprinkled in. I really don't know how last night could have been any better. The sound was amazing. The lights for each song were right on the money. His band members are VERY talented. Billy Joel, the band, the fans....THANKS

[Chet!]

"Not critical at all"?

I think you mean negative.

[Penny]

Ditto! It was a great show. I've seen Billy many times and he's always good. His voice is still strong and flawless and he can still rock. "Christmas in Fallujah" was amazing. This was my first time to the Sprint Center. Nice building, but don't sit up top if you can help it. Tiny seats with no leg room.

[Susan]

EXCELLENT concert! My first time in Sprint Center and my first time to see Billy! Someone mentioned afterward that he didn't do "Uptown Girl", but because that was a Christie Brinkley song, he doesn't do it anymore. I had the misfortune of sitting up top, but because I was having such a FABULOUS time, I didn't notice! He's still got it!

[LB]

"Christmas in Fallujah" is an amazing song. To quote a friend of mine, a former soldier injured in Vietnam, with a son currently in Iraq, "the sentiments are absolutely universal. When I was in Vietnam, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I wondered if anyone really understood where I was and what I was doing. Even though I had plenty of mail, this time of year is particularly hard when you're at war. I'm sure that my son has exactly the same feelings." Here's to our guys overseas. Thanks for remembering them, Billy.

[SE]

If I remember correctly, Billy was doing "Uptown Girl" a few years ago -- post-Christie Brinkley.

It was a good show. I'd seen Billy do more high-energy shows before, but I was glad he didn't stick strictly to the hits last night. I wish we would have heard "Summer, Highland Falls" though.

I was up in "Wichita" and, I gotta say, I got tired of the video cutting to shots of the Barbie Dolls in the front row. Focus on the band, not on the drunk girls sticking their tongues out at the camera.

I think I'll have to go with the GA floor seats when Mr Springsteen comes through because the seats at the Sprint Center are possibly the most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in at a show. (And, I'm not a big person.)

[IRAGOSS]

yes Chet, meant not negative

also, I was on floor and didnt even notice screens above until about halfway through the show. I missed seeing the drunk girls, the few times I looked up at the screen it was just tight shots of Billy or his hands on piano, amazing. or shots of women singing along to she's always a woman to me

[Kyle]

This was a great show. I too was up in Wichita, the sound was great, but the seats had absolutely no leg room. This was my first time seeing Billy Joel, and I am very satisfied with what I saw last night. I must disagree on one thing though. I disliked Chrismas in Fallujah mainly because the singer's (Cass Dillon) vocals grinded on my ears. I hope that is the last time I have to hear his screech again.

Good show Billy!

[Transplant]

From the 10th row it was everything one could ask for from Billy at this stage in his career. In one song he wore what he called his lucky hat and threw it out to a fan about 5 rows in front of me though I still do not know what was on the cap... anyone? The fans were great but seemed to lack the knowledge of his east coast fans during the "Brenda and Eddie" section of Italian Restaurant; there is a line twice that goes "there we were waving Brenda and Eddie Goodbye" and you are supposed to wave, the band was doing it but only about 20% of the crowd was...oh well. Also I can not understand how the people in front of me talked throughout the whole show...I think some people go just to say they were there and could care less. Also, Billy made comment about playing at the War Memorial in the 70's though he mentioned there were not many people there. He was quite the entertainer and his energy and the crowds was 100x better than Elton... One last item, he was spraying his throat to keep it moist and said he got the idea from watching Madonna but he "could not tel if it helped (her)" a little knock on Madonna there. He closed the show sayng (may be slight paraphrase) "Don't let anyone give you shit"

[C]

Not my first time at the Sprint Center, but my first time to see Billy Joel! AMAZING! Well worth the $100 plus ticket. Overall, I'd have to say probably the best concert I've ever been to!!!!!!!

[nohitter]

The best concert I have ever been to. Billy is 58, but performs as if he is in his thirties. Such energy and knows how to work the crowd. Great experience playing large venue shows. He was outstanding as well his band.
Worth every penny and all three other people that went with me had the same praise. A 10 out of 10!!

[TimFinn]

... If it makes you feel any better, there's not much leg room on the floor either. I was happy to stand most of the show. When I sat, my knees knocked the seat in front of me.I felt like I was in one of those USAir 70-seaters.

[Geoff]

First time seeing Billy Joel. Unbelievable show. Probably one of the best concerts I have ever been to. His talent on the piano is amazing and his band was also very talented at their respective instruments.
I got free tickets but if I had to pay to see him again, I definitely would.

[umbriago]

A troupe of trained roaches could be at least as funny as Dane Cook, since Dane Cook isn't funny in the least.

p.s. you said shit.

Got time for a good Billy Joel story? My buddy saw him at Kemper around '84 and Christie Brinkley was sitting next to him in the first few rows. He left the venue..... You see he's an artist and he left to go home (Independence!) to grab his charcoal portrait that he had done of her. He came back, got back into to the arena right before the end of the show and she gladly signed it for him. He still has it proudly displayed in his finished basement....

[TimFinn]

I didn't say it; he did (a few times).

[HG]

Great show - Joel still the eternal entertainer - third visit to Sprint center - gets better each time.
Only wish people attending concert would listen to the music - had a couple behind us in section 103 who spent the entire concert talking to each other - even during the intro to Christmas in Fallujah - no respect - hope they read this - go to a bar next time !

[Terry]

Nearly full? He sold out in Omaha in a day. 18,000 tickets.

[IRAGOSS]

was nearly full when he made those comments ~ everyone wasn't there yet ~ were you

[SH]

Saw Elton John on the 1st tier and he was great, slight worry on stadium acoustics. Watched from Tier 2 for Billy Joel - fantastic show but the sound quality on the top is terrible as are the seats(much too small and I'm not big!). If I can only get tier 2 I'll stand by a bar lower down and listen.
Sprint centre - bad design on these fronts.

[You are crazy]

Sound is more than fine in the SC. I was in "Wichita" last night and it was great. Plenty of seating room, too.

[Penny]

I don't think the seats are the same as you go around the building. The sound is probably the same way. Some places must be much better than others.

[Bob]

Funny... You call yourself a fan and say "you want to see all of the hits with a few other songs you may not be familiar with sprinkled in"

You sir are a lame "fan".

[Wowed]

My wife and I sat behind the stage. Great seats due to open stage, great sound very balanced and comfortable seats with plenty of legroom.

Excellent concert, we enjoyed Elton but this was much more musical and the sound was mixed better without being so loud that it roared in your ears.

[Roscoe Scott]

I did not attent the Billyt Joel concert this week as I had seen him a couple of times previously. The review made me wish that I had attended again. You only left out one thing in your review, Billy Joel is the Entertainer

[IRAGOSS]

Bob ~ lame fan because I want to see the hits?? Read his program...Billy says thats EXACTLY what his fans come to hear. Did I miss something? Do people not hear songs on the radio and want to go see the performer play them? I did enjoy "Everybody Loves You Now" "Zanzibar" and "Rootbeer Rag", very much, but I definitely went to hear Movin Out, Scenes From An Italian Rest Restaurant The Piano Man and Only The Good Die Young.

So I will ask you Bob, were you there? Was it your first time seeing him if you did go, and did you not want to see his hits?

[taxcpa_kc]

IRAGOSS - I agree with Bob. Yes, of course we want to hear Piano Man and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.

But Zanzibar is a great tune from 52nd Street, and the best part of a concert for a TRUE FANatic is hearing the songs that weren't A-side singles - i.e. Vienna, New York State of Mind and The Entertainer.

In addition, Everybody Loves You Now is great because it is from his first album, which takes me back to when I was 8 years old, listening to a vinyl album in my bedroom. He could instead have chosen "She's Got a Way" from that same album, which of course was a bigger hit, but that I've heard a million times.

At the Elton show, for example, two highlights were Take me to the Pilot and Burn Down the Mission, which again take you back in time to vinyl days. We can hear "Your Song" or "Daniel" any day on the radio.

[IRAGOSS]

ok agree with Bob, but agree with what?? The three songs you listed are hits, that I LOVE, are you kidding me??? Vienna is my favorite, slow down already you crazy child! And New York State of Mind and The Enetertainer, are these not Billy Joel Hits?? Thats why I was there, to hear them! I cant believe we're having this discussion....I can type slower if you like...I went to Billy Joel concert, to hear Billy Joel songs, some hits, some not so much. I didnt pay $110 for a ticket 10 bucks for parking and 10 bucks for a program, because Im not a fan.

As far as Elton, Burn down the mission is a classic! As well as Take me to the pilot.

So I don't classify as a fan to you and Bob, don't know what to tell you.