He’s not cool, he’s not edgy and he most certainly did not start the fire. But who cares? Not the crowd that crammed inside the Hammersmith Apollo last night for Billy Joel’s first London show since 2006.
The Piano Man’s sold-out UK tour marks but the latest chapter in a career that has taken in 12 albums, six Grammy awards and three Mrs Joels.
Nowadays, the 64-year-old prefers to spend his time composing never-to-be-released classical music but there was no sign of rustiness in this accomplished return to the pop arena.
Looking like the late Oliver Reed and sounding like the American Elton John, Joel began with the galloping pop-rock of This Is My Life. Behind him, an eight-piece band provided harmonies, handclaps and some of the cheesiest saxophone solos in living memory.
New York State of Mind proved that Joel’s skyscraper of a voice is still in working order, before Uptown Girl brought the well-heeled west London crowd to its feet.
Guilty of being over-earnest in song, Joel was surprisingly funny between them. Whether questioning Madonna’s vocal ability, reminiscing about having his bum pinched at one of Sir Elton John’s soirées or leading a self-mocking cover of The Beatles’ When I’m Sixty-Four, he was a warm and winning host.
There were, alas, some troughs. She’s Right on Time was ham-fisted dad-rock, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant went on longer than a three-course meal, and when Joel abandoned the piano to gyrate at the front of the stage during an encore of It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, it was toe-curlingly naff.
For the most part, though, this was a masterful display from one of pop’s premier songwriters.
