ELTON JOHN
LAWLOR EVENTS CENTER
RENO, NV.
2/20/2000
ELTON JOHN
LAWLOR EVENTS CENTER
RENO, NV.
2/20/2000
A man that can remember when rock was young delivered a stellar performance for a crowd of all ages in Reno, Nevada on Sunday night. However, it seemed to me that the older children were having the most fun as Elton John made the last appearance of his U.S. tour. The show sold out immediately upon release of tickets and there were no tickets available at the box office on the night of the show. The venue was completely stuffed to the gills, and as I looked around there were virtually no empty seats. I have to admit I was expecting somewhat of a freak show of thrills and frills in the hat, shoes, suits, and glasses department. Elton was wearing a loud blue suit with wild silver sparkling accent lines on it and he didn't change his clothes even once throughout the show, until he came out for the encore wearing a jogging outfit. I felt this was definitely a statement of irony, in that, I believe that I wasn't the only one who expected a number of glamorous and outrageous costumes to be on parade during the concert. This was certainly no disappointment for me, more time to play music and less time to change clothes--right. It was a stripped down and straight up one man rock and roll show, just Elton John and his powerful grand piano amplified for all to hear.Elton opened the show with "Your Song" and when he played, it was just unreal, the crowd had a dreamy look in their eyes. Seeing this enjoyment unfold before me displayed how wonderful life is while he's in world. He did everybody's favorites like, "Daniel," "Honkey Cat," and "Rocket Man" right away. My personal highlights for the whole show were "Your Song" and "Rocket Man." The background behind him during "Rocket Man" simulated stars whizzing by as if Elton were hurling through space on his piano, it was a great stage lighting technique that was very effective. The hits just kept on coming with "Philadelphia Freedom," "I'm Sorry" and "That's Why They Call It The Blues." After he played "Burn Down The Mission," he rounded his piano blowing kisses at the crowd. When he got to the front he signed autographs for about fifty or a hundred of the people that rushed the stage with pleading eyes and hopes of taking home Elton's signature. A moment came that inspired feelings of joy, happiness, sadness, and love as Elton did a song for John Lennon entitled "Empty Garden." The video screens showed a thousand faces of Lennon, and you could feel the audience kind of holding their breath a little as I'm sure for many it was hard not too cry. It was a moving memorial to a man who spoke for a generation, and whose message and songs will be heard for many generations to come.
The show was concluded with some more really great big hits, "Crocodile Rock," which was the first tune to inspire the majority of this sit-down crowd to get up and dance. When he was done he stood up on his chair and relished his audience with appreciation. Next, everybody sat right back down for a most beautiful "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me." This was followed by the song that accompanied the movie "The Lion King," and the screens showed animation from the movie also. That was the end of the show and Elton exited stage left amidst thunderous applause only to return to the same applause for a most fabulous encore of "Bennie and the Jets." He rounded the stage for one more connection with his fans as he pointed back at people who were pointing at him and grinned from ear to ear as he left the stage. He did return again though, in a casual manner, looking much like a runner in Central Park. He looked rather odd walking up to that huge piano in this attire and sitting down there in front of all these people, kind of like he was in the wrong place. But, when the first chords of "Candle In the Wind" came gently from that piano, the crowd saw no longer the apparel and heard only the kind words that Elton wrote for legendary actress Marilyn Monroe. This song was left hanging in the air, as if it were an unwritten epitaph to her. A token of love that serves to strengthens the rememberance of famous beauty and charisma that once spellbound our nation. Thanks for reading, and we'll see ya at the shows.
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