Billy Joel - Friday 20th October - Madison Square Garden, New York

Brief review:  Good Evening New York City. We are here for Billy Joel’s 141st show at the iconic venue. The current 10 year residency comes to an end next July, hence the accelerated plans to be here as each show sells our almost immediately. And it was worth the effort with Billy in fine voice and entertaining the crowd with some amusing asides. Surprisingly no special star guests, but a solid set of largely fan favourites.

Venue and View:  On the floor, front block, 20 row back. Decent view and sound. Outrageous drinks prices as expected.

Setlist
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
My Life [with Ode to Joy Intro]
Addams Family Theme Song [Snippet]
The Entertainer
The Downeaster "Alexa"
Funeral March of a Marionette / The Munsters' Theme / Monster Mash [Snippets]
Zanzibar
Start Me Up [Snippet]
An Innocent Man
So Much in Love / Barbara Ann / Rockin' Robin [Snippets]
The Longest Time
Piano Sonata no. 2 in  B♭ minor, op. 35 [Snippet]
Vienna
Half a Mile Away
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
New York State of Mind
Don't Ask Me Why
She's Always a Woman [with Syd Ruggles on flute]
Allentown
Sometimes a Fantasy
Only the Good Die Young
The River of Dreams [with “River Deep Mountain High” interlude]
Nessun Dorma
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man
+
We Didn't Start the Fire
Uptown Girl
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Big Shot
You May Be Right [with "Rock and Roll" interlude]

Ann Wilson - Tuesday 26th July - Sony Hall, New York

Brief review:  When travelling, I always keep an eye out for concerts in the vicinity. Being a fan of Heart, I was pleased that Ann was stopping off in NYC whilst I was there. Her excellent new album purchased in advance, this was a lovely evening with Ann's trademark powerhouse vocals to the fore. Being picky, I'd have loved to have heard one or two of Heart's big 80's hits, but then again, hopefully the band will do the rounds again soon so that I can. The cover of The Who's Love Reign O'er Me was fantastic. Dollars well spent!

Venue and View:  Raised section towards the back. Directly facing stage overlooking the floor audience. Decent view and in-seat waitress service in an old fashioned underground ballroom.

Setlist

[Set 1]
Even It Up
Straight On
Black Wing
Magic Man
Greed
Forget Her
Love Reign O'er Me
+
[Set 2]
Crazy on You
The Revolution Starts...
Bridge of Sighs
Love of My Life
Rain of Hell
Mistral Wind
Barracuda
+
Going to California
Black Dog

Billy Joel - Tuesday 15th March - Madison Square Garden, New York

A relatively short notice work trip to New York means 2 things from a musical point of view. Firstly, I have to miss T'Pau at Farncombe this week. That disappointment is compensated by the fact I can see a musical hero - Billy Joel - at the Garden. Billy is playing a residency of one show a month at the World famous venue, and this is show 27. It may cost an arm and a leg (well over £100 in UK money), but is not to be missed. The 2 hour show varies slightly each month and there are different guests show up. In terms of setlist, I think we did pretty well for this one - the only low point for me being the audience vote between 2 of Billy's songs I really have no time for (the insufferable "Zanzibar" beating the marginally less dreadful "Big Man on Mulberry Street). I refused to cheer for either! Still - don't think that I'm ungrateful - the rest was fantastic (well maybe excluding "Big Shot" - another personal non-favourite!).

Billy's voice was great (better than expected) and the songs performed with passion from the fantastic band. Billy's between song comments (e.g. The Entertainer dedicated to Donald Trump) and musical interludes (many around the upcoming St Patrick Day) were all good fun and added to the occasion as did the appearance of violinist Itzhak Perlman. A Hard Days Night was dedicated to the recently deceased George Martin.

Can't wait for September in the UK.

Setlist
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
My Life
The Entertainer
Vienna
Zanzibar 
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
New York State of Mind
The Downeaster Alexa [with Itzhak Perlman]
Where's the Orchestra? [with Itzhak Perlman]
Allentown
All About Soul
Sometimes a Fantasy
She's Always a Woman
Don't Ask Me Why
We Didn't Start the Fire [with Itzhak Perlman]
The River of Dreams / A Hard Days Night
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man
+
Uptown Girl
It's Still Rock and Roll To Me / Be Bop-a-Lula
Big Shot
You May Be Right / Rock and Roll
Only The Good Die Young