Concert Review: Elton John becomes tiny dancer at Staples Center

Anne Lima

Elton John proves he’s still standing during his sold-out concert at Staples Center.

Elton John is known for his eccentric piano performances. Photo from eltonjohn.com
Elton John is known for his eccentric piano performances. Photo from eltonjohn.com

The 67-year-old performed two sold-out weekend shows at Staples Center Oct. 5 during his “All the Hits” tour in which during the show he would, after almost every song, stand to his feet from behind a grand piano and walk on the stage in front of every section of the stadium to embrace the crowds energizing applauses. He even took a few minutes to sign autographs for fans in the front row.

The pop icon rocked out to his 2½-hour set in a blue bedazzled suit with “Elton John” written on the back. But what really got the audience off their seats and roaring was the opening song of the evening, jazzy hit “Bennie and the Jets” that was followed along with an even louder cheer from the audience as the opening notes of “Tiny Dancer” delivered out of the piano. John was backed up all night by a five-piece band that featured his original drummer, Nigel Olsson, and his guitarist since the early ’70s, Davey Johnstone.

Elton John's songs are filled with experimental piano techniques. Photo by Anne Lima
Elton John’s songs are filled with experimental piano techniques. Photo by Anne Lima

His piano playing was no short of amazing when he performed  piano solos for “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,”  “Funeral for a Friend” and “Candle in the Wind” both of the latter which are featured on his 1973 smash album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

The performance of his iconic melody “Your Song,” swayed the audience into a wave of  singing along with John. This song and many others which he composed with his longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, who John said was present at Saturday’s show, just as the lyricist had been at West Hollywood’s Troubadour 44 years ago, where John made his first U.S. debut.

John closed the show with the electrifying song “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” where he would at many times stop singing himself just so he could hear the audience scream back at him “Saturday, saturday” multiple times. John definitely proved at Saturday night’s show that with a successful career that has spanned a little over 40 years, he is still full of endurance and can bring in a full house.