Spring Break
The Daily OrangeThe entertainer: Billy Joel's low-key performance hits all the right notes
By Alex Shebar
Posted: 3/26/06, 11:14 PM EST Section: Pulp
"The Orange County Choppers was great, it was so awesome they were there," said Camille Allen, a resident of Albany, whose friends bought her tickets for Christmas. "It was all awesome. (Billy) played every song I wanted to hear. He looked like he was having a really good time."
Joel knew the crowd he was playing to, and worked it. He gave a slight pause to let the crowd cheer after singing about smoking pot and masturbation in "Captain Jack," inserted Syracuse into "New York State of Mind" and, in "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," after singing, "Should I try to be a straight-A student?" let the audience respond with, "If you are then you think too much."
The most amazing thing about Joel is how he needs so little to entertain. In an era where concerts have become a sort of theater with special effects, choreographed dances and bright flashing images set up on screens behind the performer, Joel has been doing the same routine show for more than 30 years, but it works. Using a minimal amount of lights and a little bit of fog, the focus remained almost entirely on the performer.
Joel is a natural-born performer, and used playful antics to entertain. Whether it was spinning a microphone stand like a ninja staff for "Still Rock and Roll to Me," straddling and spanking a piano stool while performing "You May Be Right" or playing air guitar to "The Entertainer" (and real guitar for "Matter of Trust"), Joel never stopped trying to keep the audience enthralled.
"It was funny just to see Billy Joel up there acting like an idiot. It was a really good time, a really great show," said Jim Reep, a resident of Syracuse.
Joel, having long ago perfected show banter, would often make small talk to the audience, including making fun of himself and the different embarrassing things he has done.
"You in the back there," Joel said to the people in the last rows and bleachers of the Dome. "I want to thank you for buying the shitty seats. I appreciate it. I need the money now. I got some amazing car insurance."
Joel knew the crowd he was playing to, and worked it. He gave a slight pause to let the crowd cheer after singing about smoking pot and masturbation in "Captain Jack," inserted Syracuse into "New York State of Mind" and, in "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," after singing, "Should I try to be a straight-A student?" let the audience respond with, "If you are then you think too much."
The most amazing thing about Joel is how he needs so little to entertain. In an era where concerts have become a sort of theater with special effects, choreographed dances and bright flashing images set up on screens behind the performer, Joel has been doing the same routine show for more than 30 years, but it works. Using a minimal amount of lights and a little bit of fog, the focus remained almost entirely on the performer.
Joel is a natural-born performer, and used playful antics to entertain. Whether it was spinning a microphone stand like a ninja staff for "Still Rock and Roll to Me," straddling and spanking a piano stool while performing "You May Be Right" or playing air guitar to "The Entertainer" (and real guitar for "Matter of Trust"), Joel never stopped trying to keep the audience enthralled.
"It was funny just to see Billy Joel up there acting like an idiot. It was a really good time, a really great show," said Jim Reep, a resident of Syracuse.
Joel, having long ago perfected show banter, would often make small talk to the audience, including making fun of himself and the different embarrassing things he has done.
"You in the back there," Joel said to the people in the last rows and bleachers of the Dome. "I want to thank you for buying the shitty seats. I appreciate it. I need the money now. I got some amazing car insurance."
