Even though I’m writing this four days before Thanksgiving, I’m pretty sure those who were there – even those still in a food coma – are still offering up thanks for the stellar show by Elton John and Leon Russell last Friday.
As evidenced by the packed-out 10,500-seat arena, it was one of Chattanooga’s biggest concerts in years, certainly since I moved here. I managed to grab a seat stageside, but even if you were in the nosebleeds, you had to have found a lot to like in the more than three-hour set list.
The show was technically a touring dogleg to promote John and Russell’s collaborative album, “The Union,” and while songs such as “Monkey Suit” and “Hearts Have Turned to Stone” are growing on me, it was John’s two solo sets that really won me over.
Some people were grumbling through their smiles about how it would have been nice to hear “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” “Crocodile Rock” or “Honky Cat.” I agree, and I would have preferred a shorter version of “Rocket Man” to the 15-minute version we got if it meant a couple of additions to the set list. Considering how many high points he hit, however, I doubt anybody left feeling shortchanged.
My only quibbles were that John didn’t play his signature red piano and that his outfit, a demurely (for him) embroidered black duster coat, didn’t exactly live up to his history of flamboyant costuming.