Billy Joel’s first-ever Comerica Park concert has a ‘sweet’ surprise fans never saw coming

DETROIT — It was a pretty good crowd for a Saturday and they were treated to a big night of music at the first-ever Billy Joel concert at Comerica Park and his first stadium show in Michigan this century.

Joel performed at the Detroit Tigers’ home stadium on Saturday, July 9, and as if more than two hours of mostly hits from the sixth-biggest record artist of all time weren’t enough, the “Piano Man” gave fans a candy surprise that no one’s coming saw.

Joel took the stage just before 9pm as the sun set over the packed stadium, with fans waiting more than two years for this concert after it was announced in 2019 and postponed two years due to COVID.

“I want to thank those of you who bought tickets to see the show two years ago,” Joel told the crowd after opening the show with “My Life.” “Who the hell knew this was going to happen? But this is also a first for me. This is my first time playing Michigan while I’m in my 70’s. I had no idea I would be able to do this.”

Joel performed on stage for 2 hours and 20 minutes while trying to knock away some bugs that were buzzing around his piano with a fly swatter all night. He also nibbled a bit with the crowd.

“This next song (“The Entertainer”) is off an album that came out in 1975. The album was called “Streetlife Serenade”. (crowd cheers) “Don’t beat me up. You don’t have this album. Nobody bought this album. I don’t even have a copy of that album.”

Joel and his band, which consisted of a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, backing vocalists, and a horn section, regularly messed around with the crowd by starting to play songs they didn’t want to finish, like “I Heard It.” Through The Grapevine.

Joel also started performing a Doobie Brothers hit while sharing a short story about opening for them in the ’70s. He also went into a Rolling Stones song for a hot second while jokingly comparing himself to Mick Jagger when Joel left his piano to get up and sing a song for the first time.

The night’s biggest surprise was Joel’s light-hearted introduction of rock singer Joe Elliott, whose band Def Leppard is playing at Comerica Park the following night, tonight, with Joan Jett, Poison and Motley Crue.

Joel and his band teamed up with Elliott for Def Leppard’s signature rock hit “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” to a loud ovation afterwards. This could be the first and last time anyone in the crowd will ever see this combination on stage together. Billy Joel with Def Leppard. fun times.

Joel, now 73, showed off his still-powerful voice on songs like “Just The Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out,” “She’s Always A Woman,” and “Innocent Man.” In case you’re wondering, yes, Joel hit the high notes on this song. In fact, he hit every note in every song, much to the delight of the crowd who waited so long to see him.

The 25-song setlist also included many other hits with “Keeping the Faith”, “Allentown”, “I Go To Extremes”, “Only The Good Die Young”, “River of Dreams” and “Piano Man”. Joel had his backup singer Crystal Taliefero show off her vocals with “Dancing in the Street” as part of an interlude during River of Dreams.”

As if all those hits weren’t enough, the encore included “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, “Uptown Girl”, “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me”, “Big Shot” and “You May Be Right”. ”

It took more than two years for this concert to take place and develop into a truly unique event for the Michiganders.

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