Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jun 1, 2007 16:44:39 GMT -5
"...Everybody's Talkin' 'bout the new sound....funny, but it's STILL Rock N' Roll to ME...."
These lines recently went through my mind at the start of the latest Billy Joel concert I enjoyed having the opportunity to attend. I was supposed to meet up with a buddy who has probably attended every concert Billy has performed in the USA over the past 4 years in order to go backstage, as Jason always has 2 backstage passes, and graciously offered one to me for this show. But alas, a glitch with our cell phones prevented this from happening. It's okay - I got to talk to Crystal and that's what I really hoped to do backstage, so all is well on that front. Jason is younger than I by not quite half, yet the music of Billy Joel caught his ear, and his imagination several years ago, and to this day, he, like me, enjoys listening to Billy, and watching him perform.
The venue where I saw Billy this past time was the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO. I have seen him there many times before, and remember so well the first time I saw him after Crystal Taliefero joined the band. It was The Storm Front Tour.
About Crystal Taliefero
I remember watching the videos that were put out to help promote the Storm Front album, which is the time frame where I first noticed Crystal with the band, and she's been with Billy (and many other artists) ever since. Crystal has also played with Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Brooks and Dunn, Garth Brooks, and most recently could be seen working with the lovely Faith Hill and her singer husband Tim McGraw. That doesn't begin to touch on all of the people CT has performed with, Crystal's songwriting, production company, or any of her other talents and ventures. She's an incredible individual. Whoever she works with, and wherever she is, Crystal is a source of instant energy, and amazing talent. She lights up the room when she walks in. I can say that, having been in a room and watching her walk into it....instant energy. That was the night we (my two children, my niece, and I) got to meet her. Crystal and I had been corresponding for two years prior to this meeting. My wife, children and I had gone to a show at the Scottrade Center, (then called the Savis Center), to see Billy during December of 1999, during the 2000 Years concert tour. That's when Crystal and I began corresponding. She'd been throwing out drumsticks to the crowd and I was so in hopes for one, so I wrote to her. What I got from writing was much more than a drum stick. I made a lovely new friend.
I'm getting ahead of myself, though. I recall so vividly that Storm Front Tour, and watching Crystal, the ball of fire that she is, for the first time, live. What an amazing talent, and as I said, bundle of energy she is. Just amazing. She was wearing an outfit that made her look like a jeanie from a bottle. A very hip and cool outfit. I'd seen her in this outfit before, and she really caught my attention. This night, she was wearing it, and my wife and I were grinning from ear-to-ear, watching her. Crystal lit up the stage with her very presence that evening, and every other show, since. What a find Billy made in Crystal. "... clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife - I feel like I'm in the prime of my life ...¨
CT not only does backup vocals, but she does all of the extra percussion, too. She's got conga's and timbale's and all sorts of drums, and all sorts of cymbals, and hand percussion instruments like tambourines, and harmonicas (known as a "harp¨), triangle, bells, you name it, she's got it. PLUS, she also plays sax incredibly well, and she's a guitarist, too. Whew! This lady is very talented....trust me.
Eventually, Crystal became Billy's Musical Director and architect of his live sound. I remember her telling me she hired a group of back-up singers for the 2000 Years tour - they can be heard on the Millennium Concert album. They ROCKED. She's one incredibly multi-talented lady.
Meanwhile, back to this particular tour, which occurred in April of this year, the backing vocals were in the capable hands not only of Crystal, but also Tommy Byrnes, the lead guitar player, Mark Rivera, who took over for Richie Cannata around the same time Crystal joined the band. Mark is the sax man, and doubles on keyboards/synths/guitar, and he does backup vocals, too. Carl Fischer, who has joined Billy for this particular tour also helps with some of the backing vocals. Carl plays trumpet/trombone. And finally, more backup vocals from fabulous 5-string bass man, Andy Cichon.
About Tommy Byrnes
I first remember Tommy at a show we went to in Memphis TN, some years ago. Tommy replaced David Brown, who was Billy¡¦s lead guitarist for many years, prior. I have one of Tommy's guitar picks that I got that very night in Memphis and it's proudly displayed on my music studio "wall of fame¨ in my home, along with that evening's set list. Tommy was the musical director for Billy's collaboration with Twila Tharpe and the Tony award winning " Movin' Out ¨ while on Broadway in New York. For those of you not aware, Movin' Out is a musical of 26 of Billy's better known songs, interwoven into a story via song and dance, and centered around the town sweethearts (from Scenes From an Italian Restaurant on the LP "The Stranger¨), Brenda (er) and Eddie. Remember them? "... Brenda(er) and Eddie were the popular steady's and the king and the queen of the prom - , ridin' around with the car top down and the radio on....¨ NOW do you remember them? Yeah, thought so! The story is all song and dance - with the dance part coming from Twila Tharpe. Both Billy and Twila won Tony Awards for this show. Not a bad indication of how popular the show became. Michael Cavanaugh was the pianist and vocalist for the Broadway production. It would later go on the road, and be done in London - both James Fox and Darren Holden were also one of the piano guys/vocalists for these shows. Tommy Byrnes did a great job as musical director for it.
About Mark Rivera
Primarily the sax man for Billy, Mark is also quite versatile and can play not only woodwind instruments, but also guitar and keyboards. Mark adds a lot of energy to the show - he's a real true showman - and he adds a LOT of backing vocals, too. I'm not certain of the year, but around the same time that CT joined the band, Mark joined, too. I know he was actually with the band when it was comprised of Russell Javors/rhythm guitar - Liberty DeVitto/percussion and drums -- David Brown/lead guitar and backing vocals- Doug Stegmeyer/bass guitar and backing vocals (Unfortunately, Doug was found in his home after having committed suicide in 1995). So, I believe it was just before or just after The Nylon Curtain was released when Mark came aboard..... I recall seeing him on the HBO concert - HBO featured Billy's concert "Live From Long Island¨ which, of course, I recorded at that time. In fact, I watched this show just a couple weeks ago. It's an integral piece to this story, really. Mark did an outstanding job as the new kid on the block of Billy's band, during this show. He was very much the showman, and he seemed to enjoy making Billy look really good, which he certainly did. I always enjoy watching Mark a lot.
About Andy Cichon
Remember me talking about the night CT was throwing out drumsticks - at the December 1999 concert at the Savis Center in St. Louis? Well, there was also another big thing that happened that night up on the stage. Toward the end of the evening, Billy introduced the bass player who was filling in for his regular bass man at that time. Now, no one knew this guy, but he, we noticed, was really doing a fabulous job of keeping up with Billy and the rest of the band. He was awesome. Andy Cichon actually hails from Australia, and unbeknownst to me on this night, had been touring with Shania Twain. Oddly, I do remember thinking I'd seen him somewhere before, but I could not place where. What I do remember was Billy's announcement that Andy had NEVER played with the group, before that day. He stood very close to the keyboard from time to time so that he could watch Billy's left hand play bass notes, but he never once looked at a piece of music, nor did he miss one single note, that I could tell. He was darned good. I was pleased to be able to tell him that in person and I recall him blushing and saying "Oh no! Do you really REMEMBER that night?¨ I told him yes, and that I was incredibly impressed with his ability to get every note of every song, no matter what the song - it was, correct!!! He didnt seem to recall that experience with quite as much fondness as I.
Andy has been a part of Billy's touring band ever since that night. When I returned home, I wanted to figure out where I'd seen Andy actually perform before. I figured it must have been with Shania Twain, and sure enough, she had done a special from Texas that I'd taped. I remember thinking Andy was incredible that night with Shania - great showmanship - unbelievable talent - he could sing - he could play the 5-string bass (most of them have only 4 strings, so he was SERIOUS about playing it) - and he could also play keys. Amazing talent. Andy definitely stood out from the others on the stage. No wonder he was working with Billy's band, now! (For anyone interested, the lineup of Shania¡¦s show was: Man! I feel like a Woman! - Honey, I¡¦m Home - You Win My Love - Whose Bed have your boots been under? - You're Still the One - I Won't leave you lonely - Come on Over - Love gets me every Time - I'm holdin on to love to save my life - That don't impress me much - Black eyes, Blue Tears - God Bless the Child - No One Needs to Know - Any Man of Mine - Don't Be Stupid - From this Moment On - If You're Not in it for love, I¡¦m outta here - Rock this Country.)
Other than the fact that he was the drummer/percussionist for Broadway's Movin' Out, I don't know much about Chuck Burgi, or much about the synth/keyboard player, Dave Rosenthal. I know that he is an awesome player and never seems to make a mistake! Talent abounds in this group of musicians. Nor do I know much about Carl Fischer, except that theyall are excellent players, and all did an awesome job. However, I must say, I missed Billy's "vocal assist" - Liberty DeVitto.
About Liberty DeVitto
When I say ¡§vocal assist¡¨ I don't really mean that literally, as Lib never even had a mic, as far as I recall. The story goes that Liberty always sang the lyrics to every song as they performed them. Sometimes he would actually give Billy verbal ques to the upcoming lyrics of a tune, according to Billy. Interestingly, now ¡V when not blatantly using a notebook on the piano with lyrics in it ¡V Billy uses a teleprompter. (It makes me feel so good to know I¡¦m not the only fifty something vocalist who can¡¦t remember all of the lyrics, or at least, who¡¦s been known to change a few while doing a live show, from time to time.
So, I was pleased to see that teleprompter on the stage).At any rate, when Joel recorded "We Didn't Start The Fire", and there were SO many lyrics in the song that went at such a quick tempo, I recall Billy saying how much he might have to rely on Liberty to remember all the lyrics. Lib was actually with Billy from the beginning of Joel's tour and recording days, all the way through to 2006. Liberty is also an amazing talent. He tells a story with his actions as he plays - he's very dramatic when he plays - watching him is great, he is so into the music. It looks as if he's totally engrossed with whatever song he's playing at the time , no matter what's going on around him. I'm sure this is what Liberty wanted to do all his life, and believe me, he put himself more than 100% into his work. I missed him at this show.
About the show, itself...
This concert was different from others - Billy likes to do things a bit differently, and the change-up is great for us in the audience, too. When he was touring with Elton, doing the face to face tours, the stage floor was cut with two openings, each big enough to have a very long GRAND piano and bench for the player on it. The stage was cut to allow each piano, independently of each other, to rise to the stage. Billy's piano lowered when only Elton was on stage, and vice versa. Both pianos came up when they dueted together.
This stage was similar this time in that it was cut, and Billy and piano both rose out of the darkness when the show started. It was awesome. The difference about this and the stage from the F-T-F tour is that Billy's piano could turn a 180. So, sometimes he was facing away from us, and other times he was looking right as us. He apologized to all of those of us who bought the "crappy cheap seats" which of course, got a good laugh, cause let me tell you, WE WERE WAY UP HIGH! But the seats actually turned out to be most excellent. Anyway, after he apologized, he THANKED all of us who bought, as he called them "the crappy cheap seats....and went on to say.... because our kids have to go to college!" (yeah, right)! And because, after all, that was MOST of us who were there.
Those cheap seats span more area than the expensive ones. I've never seen Billy do as much talking, particularly humor, during one of his shows. He was in good spirits, and he was quite funny.
The set wasn't fancy. Everyone fit with plenty of room on stage, but I recall times (other shows) when there was elaborate staging done. The lighting was elaborate, and has been for years. But insofar as the stage went, the piano turning was the biggest thing to happen. No ramps for Billy to run around on - only a clear acrylic enclosure for Crystal, and another for Chuck. There were a couple of small risers, yes, for CT, Mark and Chuck to work on, but nothing more than that.
Having nothing new actually released in the past 13 years (save "All My Life" which was recently recorded and released, but in a different genre than rock) ¡V the entire set of tunes, then, was solid gold. And boy, did the audience love it. He played something from almost every album - starting with 1971's Everybody Loves You Now" all the way to "We Didn't Start the Fire", and "The River of Dreams."
In fact, here's the set list:
Prelude/Angry Young Man - from Turnstiles, 1976 * My Life (your writer's favorite) - from 52nd Street - 1978 * Everybody Loves You Now from Cold Spring Harbor, 1971 * The Entertainer, from Streetlife Serenader, 1974 * Don't Ask Me Why - from Glass Houses, 1980 - Zanzibar, from 52nd Street * Miami 2017 - Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway, from Turnstiles * New York State of Mind (another of your writer's favorites) from Turnstiles * Allentown, from The Nylon Curtain, 1982 * [here, we got to vote and choose between Captain Jack/It's Still Rock N' Roll to Me/Vienna] Captain Jack from Turnstiles won, hands down - Great Wall of China from 1993's The River of Dreams * Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) from The Stranger, 1977 * An Innocent Man (from An Innocent Man, 1983 * Keepin the Faith, also from Innocent Man *( She's Always a Woman - from The Stranger, 1977 * The River of Dreams, from River of Dreams, 1993 * Root Beer Rag from Streetlife Serenader, 1974 - - Highway to Hell , an AC/DC cover - We Didn't Start the Fire, from the 1989 Stormfront album - Big Shot from 52nd Street - Uptown Girl, from Innocent Man, 1983 * and three encore tunes -- Only the Good Die Young, from The Stranger * You May Be Right, from Glass Houses * and of course, Piano Man from Piano Man, 1973.
".... It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday, and the manager gives me a smile - cause he knows that it's ME they've been comin to see, to forget about life for a while. And the piano sounds like a carnival, and the microphone smells like a beer - and they sit at the bar - they put bread in my jar and say man, what are you doing here? ...." How incredibly true these lines were, except for the fact is was a Wednesday night!
By the time Billy got to Movin' Out, the crowd was on its feet and you could see dancing and singing everywhere you turned. (especially from the not-so-talented, and quite intoxicated group of college girls sitting just to the right of me- thank goodness that singing became more work than fun, and they finally stopped).
One of the things that struck me as I first watched this, was how spry Billy was, considering he's not just so very young any more -certainly nothing like the age when I first watched him on stage...that was 30 years ago. I can say that about Billy's age, cause Billy and I are "close" to the same age...yes, he is older than I, but not by a whole lot... I was in my 20's when I first saw him, and I had no children, even! Boy, believe me, that thought was a sobering one...I was amazed at the vitality of all the players, especially Billy.
And, he was in the best voice I've heard him in for many years. Something about it - it was great. My wife even commented on it. He sounded strong, and clear, and could hold the notes for a long time - he was right on - his pitch was excellent....I also noticed that some of his keys were a bit lower, too - just like I play and sing them now. (Well, we just can't get up there as high with these older voices as we used to be able to with those 20 year-old voices!)
Time.......the thought of time kept running through my head. It seemed, after all, like only yesterday that I was watching Billy (totally in awe of his talent),... for the first time. Then I began to think about all of the shows I've watched, and all of the venues where I've seen Billy perform. Yes, there have been many - over a good amount of time. And, then I began to look around at his audience, and their ages. Wow. There were 60 and 70+ year-old people present, many 40-50 year olds - but as many 20 and 30 somethings were ALSO there and THEY knew every word to every song, just like us middle-aged folk did. It's quite an accomplishment for an artist who has spanned the amount of time Billy has to have such a varied age group represented, and having the time of their lives.
It also occurred to me that one of the reasons I have always enjoyed watching Billy perform is because of how genuinely he seems to enjoy what he is doing. Oh sure, there have to be times when the thought goes through his mind that he's performed one song or another a million times and he's a bit bored with it; - I am sure he does feel that way from time to time, but know what??? I have NEVER seen him appear to be anything less than completely engrossed in the tune of the moment, and, seemingly, enjoying the heck out of playing and singing it. Seems he has a super amount of respect for the members of his band, too. I am always pleased to see any artist treat their band well. He seems to literally get a kick out of being with them on stage, and he is, I believe, very aware of the unbelievable talent that surrounds him.
I thought of other artists as I watched Billy perform, and I wondered about what might have been?? What if, say, Karen Carpenter had not succumbed to anorexia nervosa?? If she and brother Richard were still making records, would they tour? What sort of music would they be doing now? How large would the crowds be? What ages would be represented at their concerts? Would their audiences get excited as this audience has here tonight at the mere intro of a song by Carpenters? I wondered just what might have happened had there been a duo in 2007 named Carpenters. I would, undoubtedly, have been at that concert to see them - but would they, too, fill a venue like the Scottrade Center? I think it could well have happened, had they continued to progress in their sound like they were starting to do before Karen's passing. It could be that they wandered back into the old "standard" genre, or perhaps they could have stayed more with the same basic type of sound, only wrapped around a different style of music than "pop". Or, what if the pop stuff was what they were still singing? Wouldn't it be wonderful to get to go to a 'Carpenters' Concert today? We can only imagine what it might have been like for Karen and Richard, right? I imagine it to be wonderful, with old and new material, solo material, and covers all thrown into one fun, well-put together show, with Karen not only getting plenty of time out front of the group, but also being able to spend a bit of time behind her true love - her drums. ;D
All these thoughts of "time¨ made me think about MY age. As I mentioned earlier, when I first saw Billy in concert, my wife and I didn't even have any children --- yet. My oldest, Jennifer, is now 28, and my son, Jonathan, is 26. As you all might guess, they both were sXXXXX-fed a healthy does of Billy's music - basically from the womb - as we listened to his music much of the time - Billy Joel and Carpenters music was playing at our home most of the time, in fact. So, I began to wonder how many of Billy's shows had THEY seen, by now. I know of at least 5. It made me smile to think about......
It's amazing what all can go through your head in a short time span. Of course, one song Billy would sing, would bring about a certain memory and then another song would bring about yet another memory of some sort. Ah yes, there were memories of some great parties and some good friends that came to mind, too. Many family gatherings as well as many lonely moments.
As I watched Billy perform, I thought about Alexa Ray , his only daughter. Lex is now also entertaining, and she performs the music that she, herself, has written. Though she loves her father dearly, Lex is NOT using his name/fame in the least with her work - in fact just the opposite - she rarely even MENTIONS her father, or her super model mother, Christie Brinkley. Lex wants to make a success of her songwriting, singing and piano playing ability because of who SHE is - and only for THAT reason - not because she's Billy Joel's daughter. I have to admire her for that - and for her, I do have a lot of admiration. It would be SO incredibly easy to say "my father is...."¨ but that just doesn't happen. I firmly believe the success for Lex IS already beginning to happen, however. One of these days, one of her tunes is going to sell millions of copies and she'll be on her way. Her shows are already well attended and quite popular. She's got a great voice, and she plays really well and man - she can truly write a great variety of songs.
So here I am at this concert, watching Billy, and meanwhile, I'm communicating on a regular basis with his lovely daughter and members of his band thanks to the internet, and it reminds me that we're all connected, more now in our high tech lives than ever - time really passes for all of us, and is our friend, rather than our enemy - and great music will last forever. The music makers are timeless for they might look a bit different some 30+ years after the career first gets off the ground, but its improvement showing, and wisdom showing, and our true lives that show up on our faces and tell our own stories. That's what I think.
One really interesting thing - I know I'm behind the times here, but since I haven't been to a concert in a while, I wasn't aware that the "lighter" that used to be lit for an encore, has been replaced by the CELL PHONE. I had to laugh, but you don't think I left my cell closed and hanging on my belt, do you?
? NO, I opened it up and screamed just like the rest of those Billy Joel lovers out there in the crowd....Now, that's technology for ya, eh?Billy was simply outstanding, as he usually is - and here's the thing...I'll keep going to his shows as long as he'll keep doing them for us. He can certainly still rock n' roll with the best of them.
"...Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound....funny, but it's still rock n' roll to me......"
I wish you all the best from here in my corner,
Tim
there's little to compare to being at a live show or concert.
I like hearing about everyone's concerts they've been to also.I saw all the shows I went to in Lubbock, tx.
At this show a great band did "Listen to the Music" (maybe Doobie Bros.?) and i loved them. WHAT I DID NOT appreciate, though, NOT ONE JOHN DENVER SONG WAS DONE! But the whole thing was so fun I quickly forgave them for that error.
