Mary Genrich | Staff Writer
Sept. 22, 2022
Sir Elton John performed his last concert in Pittsburgh as part of his tour named “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour” on Friday.
PNC Park was packed full of people dressed up in Elton-inspired outfits and lots of funky sunglasses. The sold-out crowd was more than ready to see this musical legend perform. For many, it was likely the last time they’d ever see him live and in-person.
As Elton was about to get on stage around 8:05 p.m., the crowd was roaring with excitement.
He started the night off with one of his biggest hits “Benny and the Jets,” which was accompanied by his famous piano playing.
Elton is also well known for his fashion, and of course he had outfit changes throughout a concert that lasted approximately three hours.
He entered the stage in a black coat that looked more like a cape, and the outfit had gold sequins on it. His “EJ” initials were embroidered on the back.
To top off his first look, Elton wore his oversized pink sunglasses, full of rhinestones.
The best video enhancement throughout the night came when Elton performed “Rocket Man.” Graphic displays near the performance stage showed pictures from space, in addition to a view of Earth from space. Surrounding sounds made concert attendees feel like they were taking off in a rocket ship bound for outer space, as there was also a countdown to zero that accompanied these sounds.
Aside from the visuals displayed during “Rocket Man,” Elton’s visuals on graphic boards during other song performances were disappointing and a major distraction from the amazing music being played. These visuals likely could’ve been enhanced or eliminated.
He also played “Tiny Dancer” and “Candle in the Wind,” which were crowd favorites leaving concert-goers emotional.
Before Elton changed his outfit, his piano brought him closer to the stairs, so he was able to exit the stage and quickly change. He reentered the stage a few minutes later in a baby blue suit that also had diamonds on the cuffs of the sleeves.
“Crocodile Rock” and “Saturday Night” got the crowd on its feet, as many danced to the classic hits. It was apparent that Elton enjoyed playing these songs, and was getting joy out of the crowd’s favorable reactions.
Elton ended the lineup of songs with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” all but cementing his farewell in Pittsburgh. Before leaving the stage, he said that he appreciated the people that dressed up and came out to support him at the concert.
Before people left the venue, a cartoon rendering of Elton waving goodbye as he skipped down a yellow brick road was displayed on the video boards.
In the ultimate farewell, the 75-year-old captivated his Pittsburgh audience and put on an exceptional performance.