The eye glasses were small and ordinary. The shoes were not platforms, though they were silver. And his hair was, well, pretty normal looking.

Elton John may not look like the outrageous glam rocker of his youth, but boy, Sir Elton still knows how to put on a terrific  show.

When you've got a catalog of classic songs going back to 1970, a love of performing, a strong, rich voice and a wicked way with the piano, how can you go wrong?

Sir Elton, who is now 61,  played for close to three hours at the Giant Center Wednesday night, performing 25 of his top hits.

He didn't have to put his soul into it. After all, John has the fans in his pocket. He's sold more than 200 million records, has had more than 50 Top 40 hits and nine No. 1 hits.

And he dipped back into the past for all the songs the audience wanted to hear, including "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," "Good-bye Yellow Brick Road," "Daniel," "Honky Cat," "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" and "Crocodile Rock," among many others.

But this wasn't one of those jaded nostalgic concerts where the hits sound just like they do on the record.

John gave almost all of them new flourishes and drama. His piano playing was phenomenal throughout the night, from the jazzy solos in "Madman Across the Water" to the rollicking "Honky Cat," and the rock solid power of "Bennie and the Jets."

Wearing a black jacket with tails that had "Music Magic" written in glitter on the back, John came out to huge cheers just a little after 8 p.m.

He started out with "Funeral for a Friend," and it quickly became clear that he was going to take his songs in all different kinds of directions.

His piano playing was beautifully fluid, adding grace to just about every song he played.

The tour is called "Rocket Man: Number Ones," and "Rocket Man" was one of the highlights of a show filled with them.

John and his terrific band (including original drummer Nigel Olsson) turned it into an epic and it worked beautifully.

Other highlights included a very moving "Candle in the Wind," with its original lyrics, a rousing "Good-bye Yellow Brick Road" and a beautifully sad "Daniel," .

After each song, John would stand up, smile broadly and wave to all portions of the crowd. He was clearly having fun, with a gee-whiz-can-you-believe-how-great-that-song-is! expression on his face.

His band was solid throughout the night, but it was clear that John and his piano were the stars.

As someone who well remembers the early Elton (in other words, I'm getting up there in years) I thought the sound was pitched too loud (my ears are still kind of ringing this morning). I also felt it was muddy and echoed a bit too much at times, though it settled down as the night went on.

John thanked his sound guys, the Clair Brothers, from the stage, reminding the audience they are based in Lititz (to great cheers) and noted that he's been working with them for more than 30 years and called them "the best, best, best."

He brought the show to a close with some of his rowdier songs, including "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" and "Pinball Wizard."

But it was "Your Song" that ended the evening. John dedicated it to the audience, thanking everyone for sticking with him for almost 40 years.

It was a perfect closer. 


Staff writer Jane Holahan can be reached at jholahan@LNPnews.com or 481-6016.