McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Sunday 8 January 2023
Photographer/reviewer: Kevin Bull
Elton coming to Newcastle was a big thing for the town, and to do it within the football stadium twice over, it bought out everyone who even had a passing interest in catching this giant of the music industry live for the final time.
Driving up from the Central Coast, we thought we here getting there early, you know, get a close enough park, have a beer at Wests, then walk over. Yeah, and I think everyone else had the same idea. Two hours prior to show time, the streets are already full and the queue to enter the stadium already starting to grow. Wests is also full, we join them for a quick beer before making the short 20 minute walk to what is the centre on Newcastle for tonight.
I’ve been fortunate to have seen Elton three times prior, twice over the past decade in the Hunter where I photographed, and back in the ’80s when Elton toured with an orchestra. Even though I’m not a massive fan, I’ve always taken the opportunity to see him live if it came up. It’s like Billy Joel, Springsteen, you have to see them live at least once. Twenty minutes prior, us photographers are met at the box office and escorted into the venue, making our way to the mixing desk about 50 metres from the stage. This is where we get to shoot the first (‘Benny and the Jets’) and fifth (‘Tiny Dancer’) songs.
As the clock is about to tick over to 7, enter stage left Nicole and Keith (with Richard Wilkins in tow) and we all loose our shit. Everyone turns around to take photos as they make their way through the crowd to the sound desk next to us. Ohh, and Elton has taken to the stage.
As mentioned prior, ‘Benny and the Jets’ opened the night. I know this song, everyone knows this song even if you don’t realise it. I played tonight’s setlist to my late 20s workmates, and they knew majority of the songs. “I didn’t know that this was his song…” That is what Elton’s music has done, it is pretty much known to us all simply because of the gifted songwriting and the connection this can make with us. It was a hefty 22 song setlist of songs that everyone knew.
Staging and visuals were top class, and it is something that holding a show at this stadium can deliver. Anything that can be done in the Hunter can be done here. And even though he can’t run across the stage and slide on his knees, Elton warmly acknowledges the standing ovation he receives following each song, and his voice is still beautiful. It is a voice unique to tonight’s songs.
Personally I loved the show as I am sure all that attended tonight also feel.
