Ballad Of Billy The Kid

He may be twice the size he once was and may have lost his hair but Billy Joel can still put on a damn good show. I've just got back from the 'refurbished' Wembley Arena. I had a pretty lousy seat, stuck behind a girl who must have been all of 6'4". This meant I couldn't see the stage for most of the show without twisting my neck like Stretch Armstrong. Thankfully a giant screen relayed the performance overhead and the sound was very clear. I'm not sure I liked the computerised lighting though. It was spectacular but seemed a bit over the top - this was a Billy Joel Concert not Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.

Billy's voice was great, better than on the River Of Dreams and Storm Front tours. He actually went for, and hit, the high notes on Innocent Man (he used to have to leave them to his backing singers). It being a Greatest Hits tour there were few surprises. I could have done without hearing Uptown Girl and Just The Way You Are for the umpteenth time. However, it was nice to get Miami 2017, Everybody Loves You Now and Keeping The Faith. Highway To Hell (AC/DC) - sung by his roadie 'Chainsaw' was good too.

After finishing the encore with Piano Man Billy looked visibly moved by the audience's reaction (although it was hard to see past the bright lights as the Mothership was coming in to land). I predict that Wednesday's show will have a more interesting setlist. Good tickets still available.

12 Gardens Live is Billy's new 2CD release. It was recorded over his 12 night stand at Madison Square Garden, NYC.

What I've heard so far sounds pretty damn good. Be aware though that (annoyingly) 2 tracks are only available if you order via the Sony Music web site and a further 2 tracks are only on the Japanese version.

BillyJoel.com

I may be dumb, I may be ugly

The Billy Joel Story as told on Behind The Music That Sucks
The Piano Man is playing @ Wembley Arena on July 10th and 12th.
I'll be sat somewhere way towards the back and requesting 'Laura' (from Nylon Curtain).

Billy Don't Be Nobody's Hero

Yesterday was a good day. I booked a few nights break in Cornwall for July. Somewhere to relax, staring out at the sea. It's always nice to go back there and walk along the rugged northern coastine.

Tickets for Billy Joel at Wembley Arena went on sale early and I grabbed a couple half an hour before the 'official' on sale time. After a long layoff, where his life seemed to be going down the toilet, BJ is returning to London to tinkle his ivories. There'll be no new material but I'm sure it will be great. A bit of a nostalgia-fest? Hey we all like to remember the good times, people and places that have contributed to who and what we are today.

I was asked an interesting question last night. It went something like this... 'Bejesus, how can you like the music of 'middle of the road' Billy Joel and a Northern Irish Punk band?' Good music is good music.

I guess if there's a vague thread that ties the artists that I like together it might be a mix of energy, integrity and a sense of humour. When Billy Joel was growing up he practiced playing the piano so hard he used to wake up the next day with Stiff Little Fingers. QED.


SLF played a rousing set last night at the Astoria. The ageing crowd seemed delighted to have an escape away from office/family life, even if only for a couple of hours. Punk and orderly.



Jake Burns appeared to be a bit distracted early on and the show took a while to get going. When it did the old hits were blasted out and everyone left slightly deaf but happy. Perhaps we felt a little bit younger than when we arrived.

'Guitar and Drum' added to the Jukebox

Only The Good

Along with the news that the Billy Joel /Twyla Tharp stage show Movin' Out is soon to roll into London, it's also good to hear that Billy has put his more recent er... problems behind him and is performing again. He's no longer writing songs these days but with his great back catalogue he doesn't really need to.