Billy Joel’s first concert in Comerica Park was an unprecedented surprise for fans

DETROIT – It was a good crowd for Saturday and had a great music night at first Billy Joel party Ever at Comerica Park and his first stadium show in Michigan this century.

Joel sang at the home of the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, July 9, and as if more than two hours of songs by the sixth best-selling artist of all time weren’t enough, “The Piano Man” gave fans a surprise treat no one else saw coming.

Joel took the stage just before 9:00 p.m. as the sun set over a stadium packed with fans who had waited more than two years for this concert after it was announced in 2019 and postponed for two years due to COVID.

“I would like to thank those of you who bought tickets two years ago to see the show,” Joel told the audience after starting the show with My Life. “Who knew this was going to happen? But it’s a first for me too. It’s my first time playing in Michigan and I’m in my 70s. I had no idea I’d be able to do that.”

Joel sang for 2 hours and 20 minutes on stage while using a fly bat all night long to try to get rid of some bugs that were hovering around his piano. He was also fed up with the crowd a bit.

This next song (“The Entertainer”) is from an album released in 1975. The album was titled Streetlife Serenade. (Crowd cheers) “Don’t erupt at S@#^me. You do not have this album. Nobody bought this album. I don’t even have a copy of this album.”

Joel and his band, which includes bassist, bassist, keyboardist, backup singers and a horn section, periodically played with the audience by starting songs they had no intention of completing, such as “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.”

Joel also began performing the Doobie Brothers song while telling a quick story about opening for them in the ’70s. He also went to a Rolling Stones song for a hot second while jokingly comparing himself to Mick Jagger while Joel left the piano to stand up and sing a song for the first time.

The biggest surprise of that night was Joel’s no-nonsense introduction to rocker Joe Elliott who had banded him, Def Leppard, playing Comerica Park The next night, tonight, with Joan Jett, Poisson and Motley Crue.

Joel and his band teamed up with Elliott for Def Leppard’s signature rock song, “Pour Some Sugar on Me” to standing ovations afterwards. This might be the first and last time anyone in the crowd sees this group together on stage. Billy Joel with Def Leppard. Fun times.

Joel, 73, has showcased his still going strong vocals in songs like “Just The Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out,” “She’s Always A Woman,” and “Innocent Man.” In case you were wondering, yes, Joel hit the high notes in that song. In fact, he hit every note in every song, much to the delight of audiences who waited so long to see him.

The song list of 25 songs also included a lot of hits such as “Keeping the Faith”, “Allentown”, “I Go To Extremes”, “Only The Good Die Young”, “River of Dreams” and “Piano Man”. Joel allowed his backup singer, Crystal Talavero, to show her vocals with “Dance in the Street” as part of a break during River of Dreams. “

As if all these songs weren’t enough, he made appearances on “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Uptown Girl,” “Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Big Shot,” and “You Might Be Right.”

It took more than two years for this party to take place and it turned into a true once-in-a-century event for Michiganders.

More from MLIVE:

Detroit celebrates new Red Wings coach who wants to meet but probably won’t be in Michigan

Brett Michaels health update after being hospitalized before Comerica Park show

Kid Rock left a ton behind in his former Detroit mansion: Here’s a rundown