It had been almost three and a half years since my last Billy Joel concert, and I wasn't evening planning on going to this one.  On Friday morning I realized that I needed to be in Chicago on Saturday and then I remembered that Billy Joel and Elton John would be playing in town.  What was funnier was an hour later when my fraternity brother Greg busted in and told me had an extra ticket to the Face to Face show on Saturday night, and asked me if I wanted it.  Wow, life is full of coincidences. :)

I've always thought that Billy Joel was an incredible songwriter, but lately, for the last year or so, I had been listening to some vastly different stuff -- crazy satanic death punk -- a la Trevor, so I wasn't really sure if I'd have fun or get bored.

We got to the Allstate arena.  As usual the show started late, with Billy and Elton sharing the stage for the first three songs.  Then Billy went backstage and Elton played his set with his band.

Elton John was definitely better than the last two times I had seen him.  He played a lot of older stuff, and I was especially happy to hear 'Crocodile Rock,' and 'Saturday Night's Alright (for fighting).'  He played some songs on his most recent album, which I hadn't heard.  I would have liked to have heard 'This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore,' but alas, it wasn't on the set list.

Billy Joel came out and played the usual string of hits he plays.  He opened with 'Scenes From An Italian Restaurant' (one of my favorites).  He also played 'Angry Young Man,' 'An Innocent Man,' (another rare live one), 'River of Dreams,' and some older stuff.  It was nice to see the entire band still together after so many years -- Crystal Taliefero on crazy percussion, Liberty Devitto on the drums, Dave Rosenthal on keyboards, Mark Rivera on the saxophones and Tommy Byrnes on guitars.  The bassist was someone different, but I think he's been around for 5-6 years now too.

Billy Joel seemed much looser than I remember him.  He danced around the stage a good deal, playing with the microphone stand like usual, and jumping around on Elton's piano during one of his songs.  He also kept making Elvis references, directed toward a guy in the stands who decided to show up dressed as the King himself.

After Billy Joel's set, they both came out and played a seven song encore which was great.  They alternated hits and did covers of 'A Hard Day's Night,' and 'Great Balls of Fire.'

The finished the night with the customary 'Piano Man,' a song which still brings chills to my spine when I hear it live.  Although on this tour, they do the last song without the band (Billy and Elton only).  I personally liked it better with the band, but hey how can I really complain all that much.

Set List
Your Song [duet]
Just the Way You Are [duet]
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me [duet]
Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding [Elton John]
Someone Saved My Life Tonight [Elton John]
Philadelphia Freedom [Elton John]
Wasteland [Elton John]
I Want Love [Elton John]
Rocket Man [Elton John]
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues [Elton John]
Take Me To The Pilot [Elton John]
Tiny Dancer [Elton John]
Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting) [Elton John]
Crocodile Rock [Elton John]
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant [Billy Joel]
Movin' Out [Billy Joel]
Prelude / Angry Young Man [Billy Joel]
Allentown [Billy Joel]
An Innocent Man [Billy Joel]
River of Dreams [Billy Joel]
Don't Be Cruel [Billy Joel]
I Go To Extremes [Billy Joel]
New York State of Mind [Billy Joel]
It's Still Rock and Roll to me [Billy Joel]
Only the Good Die Young [Billy Joel]
Encore
My Life [duet]
The Bitch is Back [duet]
You May Be Right [duet]
Bennie and the Jets [duet]
A Hard Day's Night [duet]
Great Balls of Fire [duet]
Piano Man [duet]