With nods to the Beatles, Billy Joel & pals play Shea stadium's last concerts
BY JIM FARBER
DAILY NEWS MUSIC CRITIC
Thursday, July 17th 2008, 4:00 AM
Billy Joel performs Wednesday night at the first of two concerts titled 'The Last Play at Shea: From the Beatles to Billy.' Click to see more pictures of the concert. Keivom/News
Billy Joel performs Wednesday night at the first of two concerts titled 'The Last Play at Shea: From the Beatles to Billy.
Forty-three years ago, the Beatles played the first concert at Shea Stadium. Wednesday night, Billy Joel played the last.
While he'd be quick to admit that the comparison isn't exactly flattering, the Piano Man still served as an apt, genial and energetic host for the stadium's send-off.
Joel's concert (with another on tap Friday) exuded just the right balance of nostalgia and local color for a place that holds deep memories for millions. Performing no song newer than 15 years old, with many older than 30, Joel pounded through his hummable catalogue with aplomb, affection and wit.
The show stressed a sense of place, opening with Joel belting "The Star-Spangled Banner" - and even clearing the most courageous notes. Then he launched into the apocalyptic fable "Miami 2017," a song that, despite its title, contains more references to this town than a full season of "Sex and the City."
To make up for the venue's Herculean scale, Joel leaned into his songs with extra muscle. Such flourishes helped make up for the fact that the stadium's video screens were woefully out of sync with the singing. Joel acknowledged his physical distance from the crowd but not the technical flub.
"In case you can't see me," he said, "I have long, golden hair."
Ever the crowd-pleaser, Joel stressed the hits. For the standard "New York State of Mind" he brought out guest Tony Bennett. John Mayer played guitar on "This Is the Time." He also invited Don Henley to bellow "Boys of Summer" and John Mellencamp to do "Pink Houses."
Joel wore the mantle of the stadium's historic closer with humility, expressing surprise at his longevity. But the melodic assurance of his music and his populist point of view account for that, despite how often the latter leads him into bombast and cliche.
On one level he actually bested the Beatles, though not in his few Beatles covers here. While in '65, fans could barely hear a thing, here the audio was impeccable. Aided by that, Joel's hits never sounded punchier.
jfarber@nydailynews.com
