Elton John outshines his legend at sensational final Milwaukee concert at Fiserv Forum

Piet Levy
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

When you've had a one-of-a-kind life and legacy like Elton John, how can you stage a proper goodbye?

Spectacularly, of course.

One of the brightest stars of the past half-century practically transformed into a supernova Saturday at a sold-out Fiserv Forum, for the final Milwaukee show of John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour.

Across a two-hour-and-45-minute set, he sounded amazing and looked and acted 30 years younger, his glowing stage presence matching his sparkly apparel. He was supported by a sensational six-piece backing band and a creatively staged production that transformed his classics into cathartic celebrations.

Elton John performs at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 19, 2019, for his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" goodbye tour.

This wasn't a mere victory lap — although John relished the opportunity to stand up from his piano and genuflect gleefully after practically every song.

This was 50 years of memories and music powerfully and passionately encapsulated in one of the most meaningful pop tours of the decade — led by a man, nearly destroyed by addiction, who knew how lucky he was to be standing on that stage. 

And, with that clearly in mind, he gave Saturday's show his all. Despite his incredibly demanding touring schedule, John's 72-year-old voice was remarkable across every note, whether he was taking "Border Song" to church or tearing into "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" with zestful aplomb.

His signature piano work was just as absorbing — as on a somber, solo rendition of "Candle in the Wind" — and, when occasion called, vibrant. There was a moment during "Levon" when John was having so much fun his piano notes were practically sprinting, nearly leaving everyone else in the band in the dust.

But what a band it was, including three musicians — guitarist Davey Johnstone, drummer Nigel Olsson and percussionist Ray Cooper — who first started working with John at or near the beginning of his career, and were determined to top themselves for this final stretch.

Not content to be upstaged by John during "Levon," Johnstone, clutching a glittery gold guitar, supplemented his squeals and crackles with slick nods to the Beatles' "Day Tripper" and the Who's "Baba O'Riley." And on acoustic guitar, Johnstone led John's piano through a dreamy melody at the tail end of a radiant, 10-minute rendition of "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)." And through bongos, chimes and other textures, Cooper complemented John's go-to lyricist Bernie Taupin's cinematic lyrics and John's grandiose piano for deep cut "Indian Sunset," one of the most dramatic performances of the night, even with just two people making the music.  

Elton John performs at a sold-out Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Oct. 19, 2019.

And the often bold visual presentation made the exquisitely performed music all the more resonant. "Daniel" showed a young man, shirtless and sleeping in front of old footage of a beach vacation, turn into a dying soldier in the blink of an eye over somber war footage. And "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" concluded with clips of John singing over decades, powerfully climaxing with a live shot from Saturday's show taken of John at a moving piano, before he stepped into an elevator that took him through a starry screen. The parting shot: John walking away from us through Oz, his legend no doubt destined to be just as treasured for generations to come as that classic book and film. 

But the most stirring visual Saturday wasn't planned.

During "Your Song" — which, almost miraculously, was even more moving live than the timeless recording — a few stray pieces of gold confetti, previously unleashed over the floor for "Saturday," somehow floated up to the upper bowl, glistening, dancing, to John's music.

That moment was nothing short of magical  — just like the show itself. 

Peex provides exceptional sound experience at Elton John

This may be the end of John's touring days, but it may also be the beginning of a new frontier in live concerts.

The "Road" tour marks the introduction of an enhanced sound experience for fans, called Peex. For $15 Saturday, fans were able to rent earbuds and a palm-size device that synced up with their phones. And through the Peex app, they could adjust five different channels of the sound throughout the show. 

I used Peex myself, and it made John's show the richest sounding concert I've ever attended. I was concerned about an echo effect between what I could hear on the earbuds and in the room itself, but the sound was perfectly synchronized. And any moments of static  — it happened perhaps a half-dozen times — lasted a split second.  

Through Peex, I was able to scale back the band so I could really focus on John's voice and piano for "Your Song." Matt Bissonette's bass was often lost in the regular mix, but I was able to crank up his audio level and relish his funky grooves for "Take Me to the Pilot." And as great as Johnstone's guitar solos sounded in the upper bowl, through the headset his notes were infinitely sharper.

Elton John's memorable words in Milwaukee

  • "In 1990, I had felt that I had no decency left in me. I was at the bottom of a very long and winding pit as it were. So I had two alternatives. One was to carry on like I was doing, and the other one was to ask for help, and I decided on the latter option. It's so difficult asking for help and you're so proud. … But when I asked for help, I got it in droves, and the kindness I received from people I never knew, complete strangers, filled me with love and hope, and made my life instantly better. And I became sober and I became clean."
  • "When I got sober, I set up from my kitchen table the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine how far it would grow or how far we would come. In 1992, it was a death sentence … and people would die right, left and center. Now in 2019, there is no need for anyone to die from this disease. We do not have a cure or vaccine, but we have the medicine to stop the spread. What we have to do now is get the prices of medicine down, we have to get medicines to people who need them most. … But we have to stop the terrible stigma and the ignorance and the hatred that surrounds (AIDS). So as I get older, I get more hopeful, and I honestly believe in my lifetime I will see an end to this pandemic."  
  • "It's the 50th year since I've started out, and it's been a miraculous, wonderful journey, but I could never have thought it would happen like this. I'm so grateful, I'm blessed, to be able to play music for a living, and to have the career that I've had. … You responded quite brilliantly throughout those 50 years. And I will miss you guys. I will take you with me in my soul and in my heart, and I've had enough support to last me about a million lifetimes. My life has changed, it's gone into another direction now. Ten years ago, I didn't have a family, now I have one, and I need to be with them. But I would like to say from this Englishman to you great American people, who have given me so much love, kindness, loyalty, and support, and have been so generous all that time, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."

The set list

1. "Bennie And The Jets"

2. "All The Girls Love Alice"

3. "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues"

4. "Border Song"

5. "Tiny Dancer"

6. "Philadelphia Freedom"

7. "Indian Sunset"

8. "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)"

9. "Take Me To The Pilot"

10. "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"

11. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"

12. "Levon"

13. "Candle In The Wind"

14. "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"

15. "Burn Down The Mission"

16. "Daniel"

17. "Believe"

18. "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"

19. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"

20. "The Bitch Is Back"

21. "I'm Still Standing"

22. "Crocodile Rock"

23. "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting"

Encore

24. "Your Song"

25. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

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Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

Piet also talks concerts, local music and more on "TAP'd In" with Jordan Lee. Hear it at 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMS-FM (88.9), or wherever you get your podcasts.