Last night's first (k)night

Elton John loves Sydney – he proved it as special guest editor of Time Out Sydney in November – and last night the Harbour City showed the feeling is mutual, as they accorded his record 41st show at the Entertainment Centre a standing ovation.

As the successful Sydney staging of Billy Elliot continues to prove, the former Mr Reginald Dwight never fails to give his all to everything he puts those piano man fingers to. This one-night-only show to mark the Sydney EntCent’s 25th anniversary quickly turned into a mutual admiration society as Elton honoured a packed house with a stellar performance full of flawless vocals, honkytonk virtuosity and typical professionalism.

Dressed in a typically elaborate black embroidered jacket so bejewelled it must have weighed more than the piano alone, Sir Elton wasted little time with showy introductions, instead diving straight into the ivories and rolling out a brilliant mix of hits old and new.

For two hours, displaying gusto, grace and stamina, he unfurled the ultimate Elton retrospective – ‘Bennie & the Jets’, ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues’ – even re-rendering iconic hits like ‘Rocket Man’ with bonus jam sessions thrown in.

Ballad gems like ‘Sacrifice’, ‘Song For Guy’ and ‘Daniel’ left the crowd motionless until the roar of appreciation at the end of each number. However, it was signature rock classics ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’ which got people springing out of their seats and rushing front and centre to form the unofficial Sir Elton John Mosh Pit.

Few artists pull in a wider audience than Sir Elton. Tonight’s crowd was dotted with all sorts – young musos desperate to hear the man behind the classics they were conceived to by candlelight 20 years ago, 60-plus year-olds who have Elton’s early back cat on vinyl or the odd 8 Track cartridge, and kids who’ve grown up knowing him as radio royalty.

At 61, Elton John’s remarkable staying power is no fluke – he truly gets better with every performance. Unlike artists like Madonna who jump on fads quicker than fleas on a sheepdog, Sir Elton is an artist of diversity who excels in his three decade-spanning career as a great live performer and decorated recording artist…. and, as Time Out found out backstage when he made a special presentation to the Luncheon Club (see pix at www.timeout.com/sydney), a damn good human being to boot.

Sydney salutes you, Elton John – you’re the musical gift that keeps on giving!

Read about Sir Elton's award to a Sydney charity

See how Time Out photographer Daniel Boud captured the show here

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