And so 48 years after Elton John’s first Perth show at the Subiaco Oval in October 1971 he embarked on the Australian leg of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ set to extend over an incredible near 3 year period which started in Pennsylvania USA on 8th September,2018.
The HBF Park was treated to a solid near 3 hour set interlaced with an emotional thank you to his Perth fans and anecdotes about his song writing techniques with Bernie Taupin, his involvement with the Elton John AIDS Foundation and explaining that the end to his touring was so that he could finally spend more time with the growing family he once thought he would never have.
And so to the show which started impressively with ’Bennie and the Jets’ and culminated 25 (or so) songs later with a two song encore of ’Your Song’ and inevitably ‘ Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’.
Throughout the most impressive factor is the strength of Elton’s voice which shows no sign of the ravages of time and remarkably appears to have changed little from when he embarked on his incredible career.
All the firm favourites were there inter spaced with some lesser known tracks. There was a storming finale from ‘Sad Songs(Say So Much)’, which preceded his introduction to his ever impressive band and which was then followed by ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, ‘The Bitch Is Back’, ‘I’m Still Standing’, ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting’ and then the encore.
Pretty good going for the 72 year old ’Captain’.
Set list.
Bennie and the Jets. All the girls Love Alice. I Guess that’s why they call it the blues. Border Song. Tiny Dancer. Philadelphia Freedom. Indian Sunset. Rocket Man. Take me to the Pilot. Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word.
Someone Saved my Life Tonight. Kevin. Candle in the Wind. Funeral for a Friend/ Love lies Bleeding. Burn Down the Mission. Daniel. I want Love of a different kind. Sad Songs. Don’t let the Sun go down on Me. The bitch is back. I’m still standing. Crocodile Rock. Saturday Nights alright for Fighting. Your Song. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Photo Credit: Isabelle Haubrich
