After two pandemic-related postponements, Billy Joel finally made his long-awaited return to Detroit on July 9th. (In fact, while he’s played in the southeast Michigan area throughout the years, according to Setlist.fm, this was his first time playing in the city proper since 1986.) It was also the Piano Man’s first time playing the Detroit Tigers’ stadium, Comerica Park. Here are five moments that stood out:
Detroit Welcome
From the get-go, Joel gave big shout-outs to the Motor City that thrilled the packed crowd. After starting strong showcasing his robust croon and an enthusiastic call-and-response with “My Life,” he addressed the crowd: “Thank you, Detroit city – we mean it you! We’d like to thank you who bought tickets two years ago. … This is my first time playing Michigan when I’m in my 70s.” From there, he showcased his frenetic piano skills on the intense “Pressure,” as well as jaunty cut “The Entertainer.”
Bantering Piano Man
Joel kept things loose throughout the set, whether he was delivering some self-deprecating humor, keeping bugs at bay with a fly swatter, or sharing historical tidbits for his tracks.
“I ain’t no Mick Jagger; I’m a series of concentric circles,” he quipped as he stood up and showcased his dance moves for his rendition of “An Innocent Man.” He playfully continued: “There is a high note in this song that I worry about, because if I don’t hit it, it’ll be a real cringe fest.” (Never fear: He hit that high note in the back half of the track just fine, earning a hearty cheer from the crowd.)
He also memorably recalled opening for the Doobie Brothers and realizing that “Just the Way You Are” was about to become a hit based on how “the crowd went ape shit.”
Photo by @myrnasuarezphoto
Surprise Guest
File this under “unexpected collaborations that worked surprisingly well.” Midway through the set, Joel brought out a surprise guest: Def Leppard’s lead singer Joe Elliott. (Def Leppard were slated to play Comerica Park the next night on their stadium tour.) Elliott took the lead on Def Leppard’s classic rocker “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” The two singers showcased an easygoing rapport that fired up the audience members, who eagerly clapped and roared along to the track’s chorus.
Closing Main Set Strong
The main portion of the set ended strongly with “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and “Piano Man.” The former benefitted fittingly from alternating red and white lighting schemes, timed perfectly with the “a bottle of red, a bottle of white” line. And on the latter, of course the crowd immediately recognized the hit from the opening piano bit, as a sea of waving lights greeted Joel. (The track’s lyrics especially hit home since the show was on a Saturday night.) As the song reached its iconic chorus, the house lights went up and the fans eagerly belted out the words.
Encore Delivering the Hits
After briefly leaving the stage, Joel and the backing band returned for a substantive encore, filled with hits front to back. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” benefitted from its fiery accompanying visuals and images of the historical events rattled off in the track; “Uptown Girl” sparked another huge singalong; “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” thrilled with its rollicking guitar riff and electrifying saxophone interlude; and “Big Shot” showcased Joel’s spirited croon.
Joel closed out the set with “You May Be Right,” which elicited another huge clap along and a big cheer when the stage briefly went dark for the “turn out the light / don’t try to save me” line. The band kept the rocking vibes going till the very end by interpolating Led Zeppelin’s classic “Rock and Roll” in the back half of the track.
