LOCATION:
Madison Square Garden, Section 311
BANDS:
Billy Joel
PRICE: Like... $100 or something (I forget)
DETAILS OF EVENT:
CONCESSIONS: The medium sized soda was $3.75. It was enough for me, Mom and Dad. I saw there was some chicken fingers meal for $8.95. There was also a couple of tables serving hard liquor & beer.
VIEW: Pretty good. We were in the middle of the side stage section. We could see the whole stage- and Alexa Joel. Because Billy pointed her out, not because we were stalking.
PRE-SHOW VIBE: Pretty chill.
ATTENDANCE: Sold out - the whole arena was filled, even behind the stage.
AUDIENCE: Lots of drunks at this show. Including one guy who kept taking his shirt off and standing on his seat pretending like he was the rockstar of section 312.
WARDROBE: Black blazer, shirt, pants (jeans?)
STAGE SET: In the round, but at one end of the arena. No pyro, curtains, graphics, etc. Just used colored lights to add drama to the show.
ARI RATING (ADRENALINE RUSH INDEX - 1-10):
Frame of reference:
1= I sat in my chair motionless and felt no emotional connection
10=I walked out bruised and high off nothing but the energy of the show
For me I'd say about a 4. But the arena I'd say 10.
SETLIST:
Almost every Billy Joel song I know. Not in order:
Stormfront
NY State of Mind
My Life
Movin' Out
Captain Jack
Piano Man
The Entertainer
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Only the Good Die Young
She's Always A Woman
Big Shot
Zanzibar
You May Be Right
It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
All For Leyna
Miami 2017
Everybody Loves You Now
Allentown
Keeping the Faith
Big Man on Mulberry Street
Downeaster Alexa
River of Dreams
We Didn't Start the Fire
Sometimes a Fantasy
Highway to Hell (Yes. the AC/DC song)
HIGHLIGHTS:
Finally getting to see him live after waiting my whole life. Yes, I was headbanging to GN'R back in the day, but sometimes the mood calls for a little Piano Man- know what I'm sayin'?
"NY State of Mind"- I didn't know it was out the year I was born. For some reason that makes me love this song even more.
"Downeaster Alexa"- This song makes me think of the town I grew up in and I think it's one of the prettiest songs I've ever heard.
"Miami 2017"- this song makes me really emotional because I remember him doing it after 9/11. Since then it's taken on a whole new meaning for me.
"Only the Good Die Young"- one of my favorites
"Piano Man"- the whole arena sang a capella, which is always cool. I mean not one person sat there silent- EVERYONE was singing.
"Highway to Hell"- a crew guy came out and sang it dead-on and the crowd went crazy for it
LOWLIGHTS:
I didn't get really crazy into the show. Maybe because we were up sorta high? The music doesn't call for rocking out though. Also I kinda hoped he would have talked to the crowd more because he is pretty funny.
DO YOU RECOMMEND THIS SHOW? (YES/NO - EXPLAIN):
Yes if you love the pride and joy of Hicksville, NY that is Billy Joel. Looking at the setlist I realized he skipped a few big hits, namely Uptown Girl and Pressure. But I'm happy with what I got :)
