This wasn't my first foray into Rocket Man territory, and based on previous performances I'd experienced, I had high expectations for this one. And so did Dunedin. The air of anticipation was thick, the streets surrounding the Octagon packed, and there was a buzz in the city that wasn't anything to do with the impending elections. The Nats and Greens did try to profit off the concert buzz, mind you, each taking to an opposite side of the road near the stadium entrance. Points to the Greens for adding a bit of bedazzled style to their outfits.
There's no telling what particular persuasion John fans might be. In fact there's no categorising them at all. The Forsyth Barr Stadium was packed with An equal dispersion of men and women, ranging from a child who looked to be all of six years of age, to an elderly lady enthusiastically waving her glow stick. Many were adorned with oversized spectacles, feather boas, hats and Elton-esque suits to boot.
It wasn't long before it was John was onstage to entertain the audience, opening the show with rock anthem Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, followed by '80s classic I'm Still Standing - quite the apt title when you consider John this year turned 64.
For a man who's been gigging for over 40 years and who recently completed his 3000th concert, John still has a passion for live performance that's infectious. The fun police trying to quell dancing audience members had no chance as fans descended onto the pitch behind the sound console to let loose. It wasn't long before even the most reserved audience members were up in their seats dancing, too.
Over the course of the night John dipped into his vast catalogue of hits: Tiny Dancer' (which he dedicated to the ladies), Philadelphia Freedom, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues, Candle in the Wind, Honky Cat, Bennie and the Jets, Bitch is Back and Daniel, to name but a few. 'Rocket Man' was a particular treat, building to an epic piano and soulful vocal climax that stretched the song out past 10 minutes.
There were a couple of points where the show lost momentum when John covered songs from newer and lesser known albums. That said, a funked up song from a recent collaboration with Leon Russell still managed to get the audience going.
