{"id":21704,"date":"2016-09-28T04:59:54","date_gmt":"2016-09-28T08:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=21704"},"modified":"2016-09-28T05:01:11","modified_gmt":"2016-09-28T09:01:11","slug":"httpwww-thevalleyledger-comp1904-421","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=21704","title":{"rendered":"SIR ELTON JOHN GIVES ALLENTOWN A WONDERFUL CRAZY NIGHT"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.df-foto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Story &amp; Photographs by Diane Fleischman<\/b><\/a><br \/>\n<div id=\"su_carousel_69f24cb82e470\" class=\"su-carousel su-carousel-centered su-carousel-pages-yes su-carousel-responsive-yes su-lightbox-gallery\" style=\"width:100%\" data-autoplay=\"3000\" data-speed=\"600\" data-mousewheel=\"true\" data-items=\"2\" data-scroll=\"1\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slides\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0368.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0368.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_0368\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0430.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0430.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_0430\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0505.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-2\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0505.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_0505\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0619.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-3\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0619.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_0619\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0667.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-4\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0667.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_0667\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0682.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0682.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_0682\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-nav\"><div class=\"su-carousel-direction\"><span class=\"su-carousel-prev\"><\/span><span class=\"su-carousel-next\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-pagination\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Making his first visit to Allentown, Sir Elton John performed to a sold out crowd at the PPL Center Tuesday night.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Out on a world tour for his 32<\/span><sup><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;\">nd<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\"> release, \u2018Wonderful Crazy Night\u2019, Allentown is one of nine stops in the United States.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Out of the nine concerts, three were held in Pennsylvania.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Fans spanning several generations filled the venue full of high electricity in anticipation of a once in a lifetime experience.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">With a catalog of music that covers close to 50 years, this performance was jammed packed with his most popular classic hits, and a few from the new release as well.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The stage was set low, creating a more intimate setting, giving everyone a good view, including those seated behind the stage.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">A heavy bell sounded through the stage and the evening begins with \u201cFuneral For a Friend\/Love Lies Bleeding\u201d.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The crowd rose, and roared as John took the stage, donned in a dark blue sequenced glitter jacket, with a blue shirt, and matching pants with a glitter stripe going down the sides.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The excitement continued to build as he followed with \u201cThe Bitch is Back\u201d, \u201cBennie and The Jets\u201d, and \u201cI Guess That\u2019s Why They Call it the Blues\u201d.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">As John approaches his 69<\/span><sup><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;\">th<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\"> birthday, his stamina and energy onstage does not falter.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Behind the piano, his fingers limber, and his voice fluid, as he sang with great diction and sharp punctuation.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">On this tour, John consistently plays over two and half hours, performing twenty five songs.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Joining him onstage, are several musicians that have been with John for over 40 years with two drummers, Ray Cooper, and Nigel Olsson, and Davey Johnstone on guitar.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">From the new release, John performed \u201cLooking Up\u201d, an upbeat snappy tune which immediately got the audience clapping along, and \u201cA Good Heart\u201d, a ballad, as John dedicated, \u201cfor all you lovers out there\u201d.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">There was no skimping on the song lengths, some were supersized with added solos and long introductions, such as <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cTiny Dancer\u201d and \u201cRocket Man\u201d, in which the intro was nearly ten minutes long.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cLevon\u201d highlighted John\u2019s dexterity at its finest, as the piano melody grew faster and faster and shifted over to Johnstone with a meaty guitar solo.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Fan favorites were \u201cYour Song\u201d and \u201c Goodbye Yellow Brick Road\u201d, as the audience sang along, and a welcomed surprise performance as John broke into \u201cHave Mercy on the Criminal\u201d, from the \u201cDon\u2019t Shoot Me, I\u2019m Only the Piano Player\u201d album.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Rounding out the set were, \u201cSad Songs\u201d, which added a new funk to the beat.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">A beautiful performance of \u201cDon\u2019t Let the Sun Go Down on Me\u201d, became powerful as the crowd sang along.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The set closed with \u201cSaturday Night\u2019s Alright For Fighting\u201d, leaving the crowd wanting more.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">John returned to the stage alone for the encore of \u201cCandle in the Wind\u201d, with the band joining him on stage half way through the song, and the show ended with \u201cCrocodile Rock\u201d leaving the audience extremely satisfied.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Sir Elton John took a few moments to thank the crowd for all of their support over the years, and the gratitude felt was mutual.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">We hope that John will revisit the Lehigh Valley again as the crowd certainly felt the love from this legendary artist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner3023'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/' target=\"_blank\" data-id='3023' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner7036'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com' target=\"_blank\" data-id='7036' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&hellip; 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