Last weekend I went down to Seattle with a friend - we caught the bus down and due to delays at the border (not our fault!) a 3 1/2 hour journey turned into 5 1/2 hours. Not impressed. We got there just after 3pm, and checked in to the Fairmont Hotel - god bless travel agent discount rates. After heading out for a very late lunch/early dinner at a little Italian joint for a tasty risotto.
Then it was time for the main event - time to head to Key Arena for the Billy Joel & Elton John concert! Andrew and I saw Billy Joel in Auckland in November 2008, and he was the main pull for me to go to this concert. It kicked off at 7.30pm, with both of the piano men playing together - they took turns singing songs from each other's repertoire. Whenever it was a Billy song, Elton would start to sing, and vice versa.
They played like that for about half an hour, then it was all about Elton for an hour and a half - literally. He played & sang really well, and his songs are classics - but he wasn't much of an entertainer - it was like he was acting as if he wasn't playing for anyone, there was no interaction with the crowd. And considering the concert in November was postponed because he got sick, he didn't even acknowledge it! However, with songs like his, he can get away with it I guess!
Elton went off and it was time for Billy - who proved again that he's a great entertainer - interactive, apologised for having to postpone the November concert, joked, played guitar, and of course sang and played piano amazingly well. Fantastic - love Billy. He played for about an hour before Elton coming on again and they played together for another half an hour or so - finishing up with Candle in the Wind and Piano Man. No encore - which was actually fitting, as I don't know how you could top those two songs, it was a great way to finish.
The next day we had a wander around the shops and went to the Pike Place Market, and to this great little chowder place for lunch, where you can get a sampling platter of four different chowders....mmmmmm....... very tasty. Time for the coach back again, much quicker this time - loved Seattle, and love going to the US. Looking forward to the next time - unfortunately it will be without Billy & Elton though!
My first post with no photos :o(
