Fan report of the February 18, 2004 show by Marian Joy Friedman.

Today’s Las Vegas is not your parents' Las Vegas and Elton John's “Red Piano” is unlike any Elton John show you ever saw. No hallucinogenic necessary. I attended tonight's show with my sister in honor of her birthday and what a celebration it was. Spectacular videos that are indescribable except that for this art novice, at times reminded me of Peter Max back in the 70's. The first song kicks off with the word "ELTON" in neon lights and from there, the visuals grow and grow. Colorful and huge blow-ups with similarly stimulating videos. If you are allergic to anything risqué, you may find yourself needing Claritin rather quickly. I find myself at a loss for words in describing this show. It is unlike any show or style of art I know. There is simply no show to compare it to.

When we arrived, we first stopped, of course, at the Elton shop. My recommendation: all the t-shirts should say "Vegas" on them and the elton john shop needs to start selling the fancy pens found in other casinos, but here say "Elton John, Vegas" on them. I don't think there would be a person not walking around with an Elton John pen! In general, the prices are very fair for casino prices. The shop offers a wider range of sizes as well and merchandise that will be new to all fans. It is a must see, must shop store.

After checking out the casino, the shops, and mini-exhibits and so on, we dropped off our purchases at the car and made our way to the Colloseum itself. Forget about a camera. Don’t even try it. You have to go through metal detectors and they ask you point blank - do you have a camera on you? I asked them, if i did, would it be ok? They said no that is why we are asking each person and double checking them. Unless you want to be hauled away to camera prison, forget about even trying to bring a camera into the Colloseum.

You’ve heard most of it before in the other review. The theatre is really nice and of course, red. The stage is much lower then at the huge venues. The accoustics were great and all in all, a very elegant theatre.

The show begins and Elton enters stage left. Unpretentiously I might add. The first song is “Bennie and the Jets” with the very cool neon letters ELTON. And the show just grows from there. This show is Elton's show. It’s an expression of his life over the last four decades, his love of color, art and piazzas and it is risqué. Not the Moulin Rouge but still. And the videos are amazing and out of this world. Something that has to be seen. Although I found myself confused at times, I never said I understood art very well. All in all, the videos were great. If there is one bad thing to be said about the visuals is that they can at times take away from the fact that you are seeing the man and his band. The visuals are big and and capturing. You will find yourself engulfed by the visuals. But the visuals, in my opinion, are an expression of Elton's life, beliefs and love of color and art.

What I really want to tell those reading this is that do what is necessary. Get front row seats or very close to that. Why? Because at one point in the show they let people from the very front up on stage to dance right on stage at the piano. Can you believe that? We could have gotten onto the stage but forget about it. This jersey lady is just too frightened and I had to hear about it for the next 3 days how we could have been on stage with Elton John!

Confetti was falling from the ceiling as well as huge balloons. Remember the days when people used to bring a huge ball and the audience tossed it around? It was a great thing for audience participation and the overall level of excitement.

This was truly a memorable show. One not to be missed. If you are sitting on the fence about visiting Vegas, take a dive to the right side because this is a show not to be missed. And today's Vegas has everything needed to have a great time away: great restaurants, great entertainment, 24 hour spas, open all night eateries, movie theatres and for those that dare, drive through wedding chapels and of course, 24 hour Kinko’s where access to a computer anytime of the day is no longer an issue.

The set list:

• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Believe
  
• Daniel
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• I Want Love
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• Pinball Wizard
  
• The Bitch Is Back
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Your Song

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