Elvis. Sinatra. Dino. All legendary Vegas performers from years past, all relegated to memories and the passing of time. Of the new class of musicians that call the city of Las Vegas home, the most likely to be added to that premier list is probably Elton John. One of the best selling singers of all time, Elton John in Las Vegas takes the entertainer - already noted for his ebullient and energetic stage shows – to an even higher level with his “Red Piano” show.
Indulgence was always a part of the game with Elton John concerts – he always had a bit of a Vegas showman in him. His over-the-top stage persona, complete with crazed costumes and ridiculous sets, gets new life at Caesars Palace. Though he might not rock with as much as abandon as he once did, he now gets a hand from David LaChappelle, whose extravagant visuals add new subtlety to some of John’s best known songs. In fact, much of the outlandishness that was once found in an Elton John concert is now derived from the acres of neon that adorn the Colosseum stage.
Elton John in Las Vegas feels natural, like it was predestined. Not so with the set list, however – though it obviously defers to many of his most popular songs, from “Rocket Man” to “Your Song” to “Bennie and the Jets” – John reminds us that he is not a has-been, peppering a couple more recent compositions in the mix. Strangely, it’s these new songs, laid within the context of this whole career that seems to produce the most awe amongst the crowd during the Elton John Las Vegas show.
Most of the singer’s massive body of work has been critically lauded, and Elton John in Las Vegas is no different – habitually named amongst the city’s best shows, the popular singer continues to headline on one of the biggest stages in the world. And while no Elton John concert is likely to disappoint, his “Red Piano” show is a wonderful time, a career distilled into its greatest parts, augmented by lights and video – everything you would expect from a Vegas production.
Due to other obligations (not to mention having to share
the Colosseum stage with Bette Midler), the Elton John
Las Vegas show does
not play regular dates, so it’s best to check ahead
to see when he’s around.
Elton John Tickets
Artist Biography:
Elton John, or shall we say - Sir Elton John – has sold over 250 million albums, so there’s little one can say about that isn’t a testament to his great talent and longevity. And when it comes to concerts in Las Vegas, he has no equal in terms of star power. Maybe Elvis, in his prime, could pull in tourists like John does nowadays. The Beatles certainly could, but they’ve been relegated to tribute shows like Beatles LOVE – with Elton you get the whole show, one perfected by a four decade long music career.
Riding his piano-based tunes in a time when guitar rock was all the rage, John’s list of hit songs reads like a sampler album of the 1970s – a time when we had a string of seven consecutive albums go to #1 in the United States. “Tiny Dancer,” “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” “Goodbye Yellowbrick Road” – and these are only a fraction of the singer’s hits, over 50 of which have made their way into the Top 40. But chart success does not make a singer important – it’s his widespread influence over the world of rock and pop that has elevated him to legendary status, and Elton John in Las Vegas is a fitting way to celebrate one of the most innovative and talented careers in music history.
