Pat Says...

I was guessing beforehand what the demographics would be, and I settled on 30's and up, with some 20's and nobody under 20. I was surprise to see lots of 20-somethings present and enjoying the classic tunes we've come to love from Billy Joel over the decades. The stories in his songs are timeless, and for many of us they are part of the backdrop of our youth.

I love seeing Billy Joel play. You look at the stage and see that it is clean of props, and full of instruments, and you know that the man and his band mean business. It's quite a band too--I lost count, but I think there were two saxophone players, two percussionists, a keyboard, guitar, and bass. Add in the guy playing flugelhorn (and I'm sorry I don't remember his last name, but he played that instrument in ways I would never have imagined!), and so far we're up to 9 people on stage. This is all about the music, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

The playlist:

• Prelude, Angry Young Man


• Pressure


• Everybody Loves You Now


• New York State of Mind


• Ballad of Billy the Kid


• Stiletto


• Zanzibar


• Allentown


• The Great Wall of China


• Just a Fantasy


• Sleeping with the Television On


• Goodnight Saigon


• Movin' Out


• The Night Is Still Young


• Always a Woman


• Keeping the Faith


• Wait 'Til the Midnight Hour (tribute to Wilson Pickett)


• River of Dreams


• I Go To Extremes


• We Didn't Start the Fire


• Big Shot


• It's Still Rock and Roll To Me


• You May Be Right


• Only the Good Die Young


• Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (Brenda and Eddie)


• Piano Man

Apparently Wilson Pickett passed away today, and he was a favorite artist of Billy Joel. Wait 'Til the Midnight Hour was played in tribute to his work.

All in all, a great time despite our seats behind the stage and almost in the rafters.

Thanks to Dan, Lori, Steven, and Jonathan for helping make the concert more fun by joining me and Mark.