While I have been off a while I thought that I would give you a brand new show which I attended and recorded: Augustenborg 4th of July 2012 in the beautiful surroundings of Augustenborg Slotspark. The concert was an outdoor show, and with a clear sky and 25 degrees Celsius it could not be more perfect. And the show is in great quality at the same time (if not a bit distorted at spots) and 100 % complete! So this concert should not disappoint you!
Elton enters the stage during Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting which he usually does on this tour. The setlist is the exact same as previous gigs from the European tour and it is not like the great setlist we saw during the US spring tour. However, Elton is in good mood and plays some interesting piano during the song. He does sound a bit rough around the edges and since this show is the third in a row this might a result of that. The next song is Bennie And The Jets which have Elton in a mixed voice. He does sound clean on some of the higher notes and on others he makes serious angry birds. He does include the audience though during the BENNIE, BENNIE, BENNIE parts which, to me, is a great thing. Grey Seal is one of the more obscure songs in the setlist which is a song many fans is pleased with. This version has Elton hitting strong Ab4 notes in the chorus that are so clean and some others not so clean. Despite this the version is rather good and it seems like Elton’s voice has cleared up a bit! He does also play some amazing runs on the piano during the outro which are unique for this version. Levon has the choir accompanying which is a great improvement on Elton’s songs. For many years he has not used a ‘real’ choir except for the band members, but the ladies are a great benefit. We also have Elton hitting plenty of falsettos during the song which still amazes me. And just listen to that piano solo! Tiny Dancer sounds very clean and it seems like Elton’s voice just had to be warmed up, yet still having signs of the many shows in a row.
Next song is another one of the more obscure song in the setlist: Mona Lisa’s & Mad Hatters. I love this song and the original combination of Elton on piano and Davey Johnstone on mandolin still gives me goose bumps. And Elton is now in top voice and this version is very good considering that he is 65 years of age! Some more falsettos are revealed during Philadelphia Freedom which is a mixed pleasure; clean at spots and rough at spots. The next song is Candle In The Wind which is still being played with the band though I prefer it only with Elton and his piano. I think it is more magical and intense, but it is still great with some variation. The next song is the title track to the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album which is a great pleasure to listen to as it is very clean and filled with great harmonies. Rocket Man has a random intro and is still the ‘short’ version with no particular extension like previous years. I must praise Elton’s voice during this very track as it is one of the cleanest performances of the evening with Elton avoiding the most of the hoarse sound he is criticized for in these days. Hey Ahab is fast but great and is a great feature in the set. I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues is great with great phrasings and an interesting outro. Sacrifice comes with a little story about where it was recorded – a few hours from the venue in a city called Randers near Aarhus. The song is written in a rather high key, but Elton still manages to sing it quite well, though with some troubles and roughness.
Funeral For A Friend is quite distorted but Love Lies Bleeding should be fine! Elton also goes for higher notes during the song – he hits A4 notes during the song in full register! Elton sounds rather fresh on Honky Cat, hitting the higher parts fine and he goes for falsettos. Sad Songs (Say So Much) is pretty bad because of Elton growling through the song and singing the second chorus a half time too early! Sweet version of Daniel and a wonderful solo version of Nikita which is popular among the audience and so is Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word which has been sung very well for many years! The band introduction is rather amusing as the band members get weird names and Elton is joking around with funny names on bands and albums. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me receives a big hand and just after Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone are about to play Are You Ready For Love, but Elton stops them and ask them to play I’m Still Standing instead. I have asked Davey Johnstone about what happened and he said this: “Nigel didn’t get the memo! What I mean is – he wasn’t aware that we were supposed to go straight into I’m Still Standing – it’s those kinds of things that make it a live show!”
The version of I’m Still Standing is with plenty of angry birds and is not as random/obnoxious as previous European versions. The Bitch Is Back is OK and Crocodile Rock is fine with the audience gladly singing along and Elton flubbing the lyrics in the third verse! Your Song ends the show and all we have left is the memory of a wonderful show on a wonderful evening.
- Emil, EltonJohnGigs