Two songs into his headline show at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Elton John stood up behind his piano and held his arms out like a fabulous, glittery-blue version of the Incredible Hulk. After a bout of appendicitis that nearly killed him a few months ago, the Englishman wanted to make it clear that he’s still standing. And for almost three hours, he showed exactly what a true survivor he is.
There was very little to suggest that John had recently danced with death. He belted out his hits with a worn but still very distinctive voice and although the silly costumes and Jerry Lee Lewis-style showmanship has long gone, the piano man can still bang the ivory like a demon in red-tinted glasses. The extended outro to “Levon” in particular saw him work the keys superbly and even “Rocket Man” was spruced up with some extra flamboyance. After playing each of those songs a few thousand times, the effort to change them up was probably as much for John’s own sanity as much as it was for entertainment value.
Not everyone realizes it, but Elton’s most recent work has actually been some of the best of his career. The honky-tonk rocker “Hey Ahab” (taken from the 2010 album “The Union” recorded with Leon Russell) was one of the most raucous and unexpectedly fun moments of the set. He also took a moment to plug this year’s excellent “The Diving Board” by playing “Oceans Away,” an evocative ballad paying homage to those who fought in World War One.
Just because he’s 66 years old and settled into a civil partnership with filmmaker David Furnish doesn’t mean he’s lost his eye for the boys either. After saluting his band and noting that his string players are “cute,” his rebellious streak emerges briefly. “I have to go to Russia in a few days- they’ll probably say I’m inciting homosexuality, but they are cute!” It’s a statement that brings one of the loudest cheers of the night.
These are moments that stop John from becoming just a sedate oldies act but to his credit, he knows and accepts that the crowds ultimately come for the hits. That’s why he’s filled the Garden 63 times (and will make it 64 on Wednesday) and it’s a formula he doesn’t alter very much. Not that he should. “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” and “Your Song” all still carry enough soul and significance to ensure Elton John will be filling out the Garden for a few years to come. Provided that fool Putin don’t mess with him.