Fan report by Jon Blakeman.

Last night was a show for true EJ fans, this was not your 'greatest hits' package. The setlist mainly featured songs from 1970-71, opening with five tracks from the "Elton John" album then a couple from "Tumbleweed" and later four from "Madman".

At 57 his energy is truly amazing, for two and a half hours he belted out more or less 25 songs with no real break other than a drink of water! Along with the band, the orchestra and the choir it was like those early classic albums were being created all over again. His voice seems in such great shape, the power and control was perfectly demonstrated when he sang "The King Must Die" and "Have Mercy On The Criminal".

For me the high points were seeing him perform songs that have not been seen on any of his setlists for many years. Before nearly blowing the roof off with "Tell Me When The Whistle Blows" he told the crowd how it was nearly 30 years since he had sung the song, the last time had been when he performed the whole of the Captain Fantastic LP at Wembley. "The King Must Die" and "Madman Across The Water" had not been performed since the Australia concerts of 1986. With the exception of "Believe" and "This Train..." all of last night was classic Elton John 70-76!

The sound quality was very good and the performance was flawless, this was my first ever EJ concert and I am lucky enough to be able to see him again on June 29, 2004. After his usual encore of "Don't Let The Sun..." and "Your Song", Elton left the stage - but the crowd wanted more!

After five minutes of constant applause and foot stamping he reapperaed in a black tracksuit. He explained they didnt have anything else to play, he asked James Newton Howard to just start something ... then the crowd got the beat going and EJ gave us a rockin rendition of "Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting" where he really went for it on the piano at the end.

It was just an awe inspiring night for me, to see my idol live in concert, to watch a living legend do what he does best. Fans are in for a treat if they see him play Radio City Music Hall, there he will play "Hey Jude", "All The Nasties" and possibly a new track from his forthcoming album Peachtree Road, out in November 2004.

Following is the complete set list from the Birmingham show on June 28, 2004:

• Sixty Years On
  
• The Greatest Discovery
  
• I Need You To Turn To
  
• Border Song
  
• The King Must Die
  
• Burn Down The Mission
  
• Believe
  
• Come Down In Time
  
• Tell Me When The Whistle Blows
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Madman Across The Water
  
• Holiday Inn
  
• Levon
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Have Mercy On The Criminal
  
• Carla/Etude
  
• Tonight
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• Your Song
  
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) [one more time]

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