Elton John’s Flamboyant Grand Rapids Goodbye: ‘Something about the crowd here … the kindness has been quite astonishing’

EDITOR’S NOTE: On the morning of Elton John’s Tuesday farewell concert at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena, Local Spins was informed that no media credentials or photo passes would be issued by the tour. That prevented us from publishing our usual review and photo gallery from the show. However, Local Spins writer Charley Honey — who had purchased tickets for the pandemic-postponed show more than two years ago — was on hand and provided this recap for the piano legend’s final West Michigan appearance.

There aren’t many bathroom songs in an Elton John concert.

It’s more a matter of how many classic tunes from a 52-year career you can fit into 2-1/2 hours. In the case of Elton John’s concert Tuesday at Van Andel Arena, it was also a case of what songs you’re going to pick to sing for the last time to this audience.

Sir Elton did so in predictably stellar fashion in his presumably final Grand Rapids concert, as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road career-closing tour. In his sixth show at the Van since 1997, he gave the adoring crowd a loving farewell, suitably dressed in a bathrobe before turning in for the night.

“I’ve always enjoyed coming to this arena,” he said. “There’s something about the crowd here.”

The Spectacle: Elton on stage. (Photo/Charley Honey)

The capacity crowd adorned in outsized glitter glasses and flickering hats gave Elton as much love as he could ask for. “It makes me so happy,” he said before gliding offstage on a sort of backwards escalator. “It feels so great, you’re so kind. I’ve been coming to America now for 52 years, and the kindness that you’ve shown me in this country has been quite astonishing.”

Well, it’s been our privilege, Elton. After all, you’ve given us so many iconic melodies and lasting memories. And you gave us more to remember in your 23-song set, from the splendid balladry of “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” to the dry-ice drama of “Funeral for a Friend” and the no-sitting-allowed body rock of “I’m Still Standing” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”

The high point was a piledriver rendition of “Levon,” which segued into a gospel-blues jam that showed the best of what Elton’s keyboard and his six-piece band can do when given room to stretch out, bringing the crowd to its feet in acknowledgment of their musical fire and finesse.

Throughout the show played giant-screen videos which if at times diverting were just as often distracting, as in the silly kitsch behind “The Bitch is Back.” More moving was the simple rendition of 1970’s “Your Song,” the tender tune that got the whole Elton thing under way. A mother-daughter embrace in front of me summed up its timeless quality.

And if it put some of us boomers in mind of a time when possibilities seemed boundless and this century’s horrors unimaginable, well, where’s the harm in that?

If this was indeed Elton John’s final farewell, we may rest assured his songs will linger long after his flamboyant half-century onstage. – Charley Honey

Tuesday’s Set List via setlist.fm: Elton John @ Van Andel Arena

More about Elton: Michigan-bred bassist relishes touring with piano legend

PHOTO GALLERY: Elton John at Van Andel Arena (Fan Photos)