Shea Stadium was absolutely packed for its last-ever concert. It was uncomfortable at times, especially in the dense crowds leaving afterward for the subway (it took us half an hour to go a few hundred feet). It was also quite humid, and I felt like I stuck to everything, including the narrow, hard plastic seats. It was hot enough for Mr. Joel himself to take a wet towel and wear it on his head for a couple of songs. He reminded me a bit of Obi-Wan Kenobi when he did that.
Anyway, I'll get right to it -- the concert was fantastic. Even from our nosebleed seats in the stratosphere we enjoyed it immensely. He began with the song I wanted him most to play, "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)." Lots and lots of raucous cheering as the lyrics went from borough to borough; he even altered a line to refer to the Mets and Shea Stadium, but I couldn't make out exactly what it was.
He sang many of his greatest hits, of course -- "You May Be Right," "Only the Good Die Young," "Captain Jack," "Movin' Out," and lots of others. Most of the songs were transposed down a bit, but he was still in excellent voice for a 59-year-old, and he still has plenty of high notes, though not enough to sing "Uptown Girl." He had a chorus of what seemed to be Marines and NYPD officers singing on "Goodnight Saigon," and the crowd started chanting, "USA! "USA!" like it was the Olympics or something.
He had several guest stars, the first of whom was Tony Bennett, duetting with Joel on "New York State of Mind," which was fantastic -- in his 80s, Bennett's got plenty of high notes, too! Billy also duetted with Garth Brooks on the latter's song "Shameless" (which I didn't know at all). Other guest stars also sang their own songs, including Steven Tyler ("Walk This Way") and Roger Daltrey ("My Generation"). After the latter song, Billy smashed a guitar. LOL
There were many references to the Beatles, who of course gave the first concert at Shea over 40 years ago. Billy wore a sheriff's badge that he said was from Ringo Starr's outfit from way back then. He sang a Beatles song or two as a tribute. But the best tribute of all was having Paul McCartney himself on stage! He sang "I Saw Her Standing There" while playing guitar. Billy brought him back after singing the obligatory closer "Piano Man," and Sir Paul sat down at the piano to bring down the house with "Let It Be." A perfect way to round out Shea's concert history.
In all, a wonderful evening I will never forget. And I even got to see a Beatle live, even if from where I sat, he was about the size of -- well, a beetle.
