Fan report by Marian Joy Friedman-Kaplan.

It is difficult to believe, but the show at the Civic Center in Portland, Maine was the finest show yet. True, if a fan were to pick one place to see Elton, it would have to be Madison Square Garden, but it is not the only place to experience Elton at his best.

The Civic Center at Portland, Maine, to me, was Elton at his finest and I think, the people of Portland, had a lot to do with that. To make a general statement and for lack of a better word, they are happy people who open doors for you, warn you to be careful of the ice on the street and thank you for shopping in their store when business is slow. This attitude was very present at the concert as well.

Some lady just walked up to me and started talking to me determined to have a friendly exchange. A courier who jumped to open a door for me when I arrived earlier that evening, ran over to me in the auditorim and hugged me exclaiming that Elton's people got word he was recovering from cancer and provided him with a front row seat. He was completely besides himself. That is only the beginning.

When the time arrived for Elton to make his entrance, the crowd went wild. I don't know. I've seen Elton in concert many times but to me, Elton was having a particularly good time that evening, enjoying his craft and enjoying genuine affection from a very uniquely affectionate crowd in a town called Portland, Maine.

The only sombering moment was before his introduction to "Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes". I don't always agree with this superstar, sometimes he even angers me but it was clear to everyone his sincerity, the depth of his sorrow and frustration at the complete lack of action taken by the US government in the early 80's and ultimatley the loss of so many lives to this horrible disease called AIDS.

Following is the complete set list of the Portland, ME solo show on February 28, 2008.

• Your Song
  
• Sixty Years On
  
• The Greatest Discovery
  
• I Need You To Turn To
  
• Border Song
  
• Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes
  
• Daniel
  
• Honky Cat
  
• Rocket Man
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Mona Lisa's And Mad Hatters
  
• Nikita
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Ticking
  
• Roy Rogers
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Levon
  
• Carla Etude
  
• Tonight
  
• Blue Eyes
  
• Bennie And The Jets/In The Mood
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

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