Just one day after Elton John received the National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden at the White House, Sir Elton Hercules John put on a truly transcending and divine performance at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, on Saturday, September 24th.  This Saturday night would not be right for fighting but rather celebrating and taking in the career that belongs to Elton.

The Rocketman came to Nationals Park as part of his worldwide "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour and a journey towards the end of a truly spectacular live performance career.  Fans around the globe are sad to see this journey come to an end, but it is also a journey that everyone in attendance was ever so grateful to be a part of. Some fans in attendance at Nationals Stadium had only taken a few steps down the yellow brick road with Elton John, while others had walked beside Elton for decades. It was easy to understand why people have taken the journey with Elton as his music reaches far into our DNA as music fans, across generations, across musical genres, continents, and cultures. Elton John's music is honest, heartfelt, and has a universal appeal. 

Perhaps the greatest gift on this last three-year ride of touring is that Elton has many of the same core musicians in his touring band that played on his classic albums and bands over the past fifty-plus years. Elton John and his band are not trying to replicate the sound or recapture that "lighting in a bottle" synonymous with Elton's studio and live recordings throughout his career. The very elements of Elton's "lightning in the bottle" were right there on stage with Elton and right before our very eyes. The sound fans are treated to on this tour is the same sound and quintessence of Elton John that only the original players could achieve. Guitarist Davey Johnstone, who is Elton's band leader, has been with Elton since 1971, first appearing on the album, Madman Across The Water. Veteran percussionist Ray Cooper joined in 1971, adding his highly sought-after playing and his animated stage presence. The longest-tenured band member, drummer Nigel Olsson has played with Elton since 1969. Nigel wrote the road map for pop drumming and played just as brilliantly on Saturday night as he did in the 1970s. Well-traveled bassist Matt Bissonette filled the considerably large shoes of original bassist Dee Murray, who passed away in 1992. Rounding out the band was percussionist John Mahon and keyboard player Kim Bullard.

After kicking the night off with "Bennie and the Jets", Elton proclaimed, "This is my last ever appearance in Washington DC, so let's make it a good one!" And with that brief remark, we all knew that this would not be a leisurely journey to the end of Yellowbrick road but a rollercoaster of joyous, sentimental, and exuberant frenetic energy. Elton and his band moved adeptly through his staggering catalog, crushing versions of "Philadelphia Freedom", "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", then "Border Song", pausing to tell the story of Aretha Franklin performing that song at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine in New York City at her last concert.

Hit after hit ensued with "Tiny Dancer", "Rocket Man", "Take Me To The Pilot", "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", "Levon", and a show-stopping solo "Candle In The Wind".

Gone are the days of his wild, over-the-top costume changes. Instead, tonight saw subtle costume changes - a new jacket, different colored glasses, or in the end, a bathrobe. Although in our mind's eye, we can still see the costumes of yesteryear sparkling, twinkling, and quacking. Tonight Elton gave himself a short break to change some clothes with a piece of familiar ethereal music as wind and chimes started to bellow from the PA system until the band took over for "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding".  Elton's piano seemed to magically take a ride back and forth across the stage, giving folks on each side a better view and a little big stadium drama as the band continued to find the center of every song. Elton has always been one of the most exciting showmen to entertain an audience, and this piano magic was now added to the Rolodex of mythical stage moments Elton would provide to an audience.

In between songs, Elton stood thanking the crowd for the thunderous applause, pointing at individual fans, and commenting on people who dressed as some of his famous concert characters. He was friendly and grateful as he brought tears to many and happiness to everyone. By the time he had finished his two-and-a-half-hour show, he and his band had delivered precisely what fans came expecting - that magic in a bottle that is, beyond a doubt, Elton John.

The band finished their third of three encore songs with "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" as his piano once again slowly glided across the stage to the bright yellow lights on the right. When the song finished and he and the band took their final bows, Elton stood on a platform at the back of the right side of the stage, which slowly rose to the top of his stage set. With a final wave, he walked through an open gap in the set towards the end of Yellow Brick Road. As the crowd was left to revel in the night, there were beaming smiles found across the endless aisles of fans - the mood elevated, a grateful mass feeling better for the experience. Although people may have been sad that the show was over, they were clearly grateful they had one last opportunity to see a living legend as he performed one last time in Washington, DC.

There are precious few shows left for Elton and the band on this tour, his last. So if you feel like you owe it to yourself, do not wait and do not let the sun go down without seeing Elton John on his final tour!  

Farewell Yellow Brick Road and Farewell Elton!

(Click here for tickets to Elton John's remaining performances.)