December 7th: Billy Joel

In December 2015, we were in a car, driving to our new home in Texas. It was a long drive full of random question and answers to pass the time. Lehi asked what artist/band I would want to see live the most--his response was Billy Joel. A month later, Lehi saw that Billy Joel would be visiting San Antonio in 2016 (for the first time in 16 years). A year later, we fulfilled that wish and crossed that off the bucket list--and it was one of the best we have done so far.

First off, Billy Joel is considered a legend. In order to get that status, you have to be old (scientifically speaking). He proved to be "the entertainer" for us at 67 years old. He was phenomenal. Here are a few highlights of the concert:

1. Obviously reading off a list of the songs that would be performed that night. There were a few times he picked it off the piano, said "let's see what's next," and scanned the sheet.

2. Giving the audience a "choice" between two songs that could be played. The song title with the loudest cheer "won" the serenade bet.

3. Playing Christmas snippets to lead into the next song. (Clearly embracing the December spirit).

4. Highlighting some of the historical inaccuracies in his song "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
    -"east and west of the Rio Grand" --you can only go North and South, there isn't an East and West
    -Billy was actually shot, not hung
    -No on knows where he was buried

5. Featuring many of his band members/staff with their own solos. One of the most memorable was his stage manager's performance (please note, he is not a band member). Billy prefaced the song with statements like "now, you may have heard this one in church before." "It is a very spiritual song." and then hearing "Highway to Hell" played.

6. The total 80's style graphics (crazy lights, weird shapes morphing, etc.)

7. The "encore" being a series of top hit songs. Lehi commented, "Oh yeah, we haven't played this number one hit yet, here you go."

8. Hilarious side comments. He is a funny guy!!

9. That single piano in the center of the stage with all the lights on a single man.

10. Making you want to take piano lessons for the sole purpose of playing Billy Joel songs.

Seriously one of the best concerts ever. We LOVED him. The piano man was amazing live.