BILLY JOEL!!!!

Wow! Russ and I went to see Billy Joel last night at the Oracle Coliseum in Oakland. What an awesome show. It was a bit humorous walking in and noticing the crowd. Oh how things have changed! First of all, the majority of the heads showed at least SOME gray. Then, I saw many people walking with big water cups in their hands instead of beer (myself included). It was just not what I saw when I was younger. I've seen U2, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Van Halen, Jimmy Buffet, Paul McCartney, Guns N Roses, Aerosmith, Rush, REM, Hootie & The Blowfish, Bush, No Doubt, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Indigo Girls, Heart, George Clinton and the P Funk Allstars, lots of college bands, and of course, Sesame Street Live. :) (My first concert was Tears for Fears in 7th grade.) But, when Billy Joel came to town I was either not there, the show sold out immediately, or I didn't have enough money! Billy Joel is one of those artists that I have always really enjoyed and have always wanted to see live. I had a 45 of "Just the Way You Are" at age 5 that I played constantly.

Anyway, it was great. Even though we were WAY up there in the 200 section and sat the entire concert, it totally rocked! The show started with the piano rising up through the stage and him playing "Angry Young Man." The rest of the show is as follows:
2) My Life
3) Everybody Loves You Now
4) The Entertainer
5) Downeaster Alexa
6) Allentown
7) Zanzibar (52nd Street)
8) New York State of Mind
9) Root Beer Rap? Raft?
10) Movin' Out
11) Innocent Man
12) Don't Ask Me Why
13) She's Always a Woman
14) Keepin' the Faith
15) River of Dreams
16) Highway to Hell - AC/DC, sung by one of his long-time roadies
named Chainsaw - funny. "If you don't like it, you can boo him right
the hell off the stage" - Billy Joel
17) We Didn't Start the Fire
18) Big Shot
19) It's Still Rock n Roll to Me
20) You May be Right

ENCORE
21) Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
22) Only the Good Die Young
23) I Left My Heart in San Francisco
24) Piano Man

My goodness his music, total engagement of the crowd, energy level, and humor were captivating. The best thing was that I got to see it with Russ!

So, we had a wonderful evening! Now, I've just got to make a playlist on my ipod with all of these songs. :)