Re: Last Play at Shea


"Stan (the Man)" <newsNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns9AE08A8F18DB9newsNOSPAMrvckidsusN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I can't say I'm a big fan of Billy Joel. I don't dislike him, mind. He's
just not at the top of my favorite musical artist list. But last night I
went to see him in concert for the 2nd time (the last time was February
of 2006 at the Garden) and I'm still reeling!

This was to be the final concert at Shea Stadium before it gets torn
down and replaced by a new ball park at the end of the season. The first
concert ever held there was in 1965, the year after it opened, by the
Beatles. Sadly, I didn't get to that one, although my brother was one of
the cops who rode with the group in the Wells Fargo armored car from
their hotel to the stadium.

Anyway, last night was the final concert at Shea. It was hot and humid
and Billy Joel didn't come on stage until 45-minutes after the
advertised start time of 8pm. He began, appropriately, with a fine
rendition of the National Anthem. Then, he swung into the many songs
he's written over the years, some recognizable, some not so much so. But
all done well by the aging artist. He was wearing in his lapel, the
Wells Fargo badge that Ringo Starr wore at the first concert.

But it wasn't just his show. He brought gifts for us. First was Tony
Bennett, who seems to never age and whose voice is as strong and velvety
as ever. More of a heavily perspiring Billy Joel. Then, Garth Brooks did
a number. Later, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith crackled onto the stage,
looking like he died years ago (I was sure he did). The last surprise
performer before the end of the show was Roger Daltry of The Who. Quite
a list of performers.

Then, Billy left the stage. But no one was fooled. The musicians never
moved. After letting the crowd chant, "Bil-ly! Bil-ly! Bil-ly! for
awhile, he came back on and did several more songs to our delight. Then,
he left again to thunderous cheers.

More chants and a seccond encore. He managed to quite literally shake
the upper decks to the rafters. I was beginning to wonder how sturdy the
construction had been in 1964, but I figured if I was to die, it
wouldn't be an altogether terrible way to go.

On the astonishing third encore, I sensed something was up. Billy Joel
came back on stage and encouraged his musicians to follow. He began
playing something vaguely Beatle-like. Then he was there. The Man walked
onto the stage in his trademark white, open collared shirt and black
tie. Paul McCartney brought the crowd to its feet with absolutely
deafening applause.

He launched into When I Saw Her Standing There, backed up by Billy Joel,
his musicians and the ghosts of our memories. IIRC, that was the first
number the Beatles sang at that first Shea concert, 43 yrs ago, although
back then nobody was able to actually hear it over the screams of the
teeny-boppers.

He left us on our feet, applauding wildly as he walked off the stage,
waving.

Billy finally sang Piano Man (actually, he more let us sing it for him
as he played, as his voice was beginning to show the wear and tear of
the evening by then) and left to equally wild applause.

To our shock, he returned once more, again urging his musicians back to
the once again re-lit stage. He didn't sit at his piano this time, but
stood to the rear, looking toward the steps.

Shea Stadium roared as Paul McCartney returned once more and took his
seat at Billy's piano, where he sang the last song in the last concert
ever at Shea Stadium. We all stood, singing with him: Let it Be.

And that was it. Billy Joel, had allowed another performer to end his
concert. That was class. And it was wholly appropriate that one of the
first to ever perform there was also the last.

At midnight, it was over. It was a night I'll never forget.

--
Stan

Excellent!
I'd nearly give my left nut to see Paul McCartney perform. I wouldn't have
guessed that he would give two thoughts to a Billy Joel evening, or that
Roger Daltrey would either.. What would have brought them all to town that
night? Is Shea Stadium that kind of icon?
You can have my share of Garth Brooks but it must have been great to hear
Tony Bennet. I bet that his smooth tone comes through all those cables and
speakers.
Kind of cool, too, that Paul McCartney closed it out with a George Harrison
song.
I'm envious. Sounds like a wonderful evening. All that for the price of
Billy Joel, excellent!


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