Fan report by Richard Antoine Cornforth.

I’m writing this in a daze, back in Québec city- tongue tied and twisted, under the spell of yesterday’s incredible evening with the great Sir Elton John. You would think that after thirty years of seeing this legendary man in concert the magic might fade or be replaced by subdued admiration… not at all!

In the second that the hammer hit, Elton took us on board the main express and quite simply showed us why his legacy endures. Two and a half hours of musical bliss and no better ticket to ride anywhere on the planet.

I got to Portland’s Civic Centre about 45 minutes before the show and already the energy level in the audience was spectacular. Some really cool fans in their «Elton Rocks Vegas» T-shirts shared stories about the Red Piano and I had a few good laughs chatting with a couple of eccentrics. I settled in my excellent piano side Rocket seat (thank you eltonjohn.com) and started smiling like I did in 1974, the year I first saw EJ in Montréal.

Lights down - Davey & Nigel, Guy Babylon, Bob Birch and John Mahon make their way across the stage and then voilà the spotlight hits the One who’s been known to change the weather! The crowd instantly erupts and Elton grins in his childish, mischievous way as he gets to his piano on cue for the first lines of "The Bitch is Back2.

This New England crowd was on its feet singing and dancing for almost the entire show. After hammering out "Bennie And The Jets" and elegantly saying hello in his black and red outfit, Elton settled down to play "Levon". This song just gets better and better with the years. I have never heard him sing it so beautifully.

In hits like "Daniel", "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" or "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", Elton’s vocal range has changed, but we feel the strength in his voice and the delicate sensitivity of his register.

"I Want Love", "Tiny Dancer" and the brilliant solo interpretations of "Nikita", "Original Sin" and "Candle In the Wind" were particularly moving this way. So many highlights throughout the evening.

What hasn’t been said about the "Rocket Man" and his timeless flight? Elton’s piano playing is pure creative genius. An incomparable pleasure and privilege to hear live… He is such a generous musician and master performer.

An hour and a half into the set Elton and the band had yet to play: "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", "Believe", "All The Girls Love Alice", "I’m Still Standing" and "Saturday Night’s Alright"… quite the line up for any fan! Total heaven for me.

As he introduced "Believe", there was a very touching moment when Elton mentioned this song was about love and the hope for a better world and everyone spontaneously cheered. Towards the end of the show, just before "Crocodile Rock" and "Pinball Wizard", I made my way to the front of the stage and got to hang out in front of the piano for the encores.

There’s something quite extraordinary about making eye contact with Elton John as he is singing "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me". To see him smile as he plays "Your Song" two feet away from you is even better. To walk away with a signed copy of 'Are You Ready For Love' made it perfect.

Thank you Sir Elton for all the joy your music has brought to my life. May you continue to improve, through your music and love, the lives of everyone around you for many years to come. See you at Wembley this summer.

Following is the complete setlist of the Portland, Maine show on April 24, 2004:

• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• Levon
  
• Daniel
  
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  
• Ballad Of the Boy In The Red Shoes
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
  
• I Want Love
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Nikita
  
• Original Sin
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Believe
  
• All The Young Girls Love Alice
  
• I’m Still Standing
  
• Saturday Nights Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
  
• Pinball Wizard
  
• Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
  
• Your Song

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