Billy Joel Live at Kauffman Stadium: Review

When I opened an envelope from my parents in March on the night of my birthday, I expected a simple Hallmark greeting card. Instead, I pulled out the two folded papers and read “Billy Joel In Concert: Kansas City,” beginning the six months of anticipation for his Sept. 21 concert.

The KC show was the first concert hosted at Kauffman Stadium in 39 years. After stepping out of the $70-round-trip Uber, my brother and I quickly realized that we were some of the only ones in the stadium who would know that “tea” isn’t always a drink.

We found our seats on the field, the equivalent of floor seats at the Sprint Center, and I was shocked to be situated within 100 yards of the stage on center field. With no opening act — because who could ever deserve to open for the rock-n-roll legend — the lights shut off all at once. Almost simultaneously, the stadium erupted with cheers when the first few notes from an electric guitar from the song, “Big Shot,” were recognized blaring through the stadium. When Joel started singing, I was surprised by how exhausted his voice sounded in comparison to his recordings from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

He went on to play his classic hits like “Vienna,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “She’s Always a Woman,” as well as his lesser known song, which Joel calls “track albums.” He threw in instrumental cover snippets of the classic rock staple “Layla” and a full cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” in tribute to Aretha Franklin.

Joel connected with the crowd by taking short breaks after every few songs to joke about his old age, saying “I know what you’re thinking, ‘What happened to him?’ Well, I got older, but I didn’t expect to look like Dr. Evil.”

When the set list closed with his most recognizable song “Piano Man” and Joel walked off stage, I looked around me and the entire stadium was illuminated by phone flashlights — an attempt to get an encore.

After a few minutes of cheering under the smartphone-lit stadium, the speakers started to play “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and Joel left his usual spot on the piano to pick up a guitar for the first time in the night. He went on to finish the encore with “Uptown Girl,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” and “You May be Right.”

Now that the six months of anticipation are over, now begins the next four until Elton John arrives in KC at the Sprint Center on Feb. 13 for his farewell tour.