Photo by Andy Argyrakis

Rating:

The record books keep filling up for Billy Joel, who didn’t just become the most frequently performing musician in Madison Square Garden history, but also took the all time concert sales title at Wrigley Field. Though he’ll always be a tried and true New Yorker, the “Piano Man” may as well make Chicago his second home now that he’s logged two tours with Elton John plus a pair of solo shows at The Friendly Confines, and even though Thursday’s performance came just a year after his last appearance, it was once again filled to the brim.

Though the 66-year-old headliner spent most moments seated at the piano bench, glimpses of reclaimed youth appeared when he strapped on a guitar for “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” tossed the microphone stand during “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” and bopped to the doo-wop beats of “Uptown Girl” as celeb guests Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer danced atop the piano.

No, Joel might not have anything new to tour behind (and has basically rested on his pop recording laurels for more than two decades), but like the previous round, he blended many instantly singable smashes with a handful of deeper cuts that kept repeat attendees on their toes. Naturally, the 150 million album seller started on the familiar notes of “Big Shot” and “My Life,” but quickly established this would be a radically different set from 2014, such as the audience-voted gems “This Is The Time,” “All For Leyna,” “The Longest Time,” “Just The Way You Are” and “The Stranger.”

Photo by Andy Argyrakis

Across two hours and twenty minutes, Joel took a fairly hearty approach to rockers “Allentown” and “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” but was equally captivating throughout the chilling “Goodnight Saigon” (accompanied by a choir of American veterans) and the heartfelt ballad “She’s Always A Woman,” all with his vocals firmly in tact. No matter the tone, these and so many of his selections remain a benchmark for the countless troubadours, including 38-year-old opener Gavin DeGraw, whose songbook of classic sensibilities clearly shared some of his muse’s fingerprints.

Though the 66-year-old headliner spent most moments seated at the piano bench, glimpses of reclaimed youth appeared when he strapped on a guitar for “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” tossed the microphone stand during “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” and bopped to the doo-wop beats of “Uptown Girl” as celeb guests Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer (in town for Saturday’s Oddball Comedy Fest at Tinley Park’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre) danced atop the piano. With “Only The Good Die Young,” Joel figuratively rounded the bases to cheers that likely rivaled Ernie Banks’ heyday, and though he was visibly out of breath by the final bow, everything prior to that point was nothing short of a grand slam.

Related Articles

“Fielder’s choices” and all the essentials from Billy Joel in milestone Wrigley Field sell out Billy Joel delivers a dependable Wrigley Field triple play Favs, obscure from “Piano Man” to “No Man’s Land” outline Billy Joel’s fifth consecutive Wrigley swing Billy Joel: “In Concert 2016” Tour at Wrigley Field Billy Joel: “In Concert 2018” Tour at Wrigley Field Four decades of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers get the all-star treatment at Wrigley Field Rosemont clicks its heels over Elton John’s final journey down the yellow brick road Steven Tyler steps out on his own as a roots rocker, ranks right up there with Aerosmith