Goodbye Yellow Brick Road? Not by the looks of Elton John's 2nd Phoenix farewell concert

Like many local fans, I had already said goodbye to Elton John the first time his farewell tour played metro Phoenix.

That was in early 2019, at Gila River Arena (now Desert Diamond Arena) in Glendale.

I left thinking, "There's no way that man is ready to retire."

Now he's back for two return engagements on the road to never doing this again.

And having just seen the joy he took in interacting with his audience, the members of his backing band, his own piano and the awe-inspiring catalog that's kept him on the road these past five decades at the first of those two back-to-back performances Friday, Nov. 11, at Chase Field?

I still don't buy it.

From the time he took the stage in his glittering tails and those signature Elton John glasses to begin the 23-song survey of his catalog by banging out the first iconic chords of "Bennie and the Jets," it felt like there was nowhere else on Earth he'd rather be.

Songs often ended with him getting up from his piano and throwing his outstretched arms above his head while basking in the audience applause, occasionally slamming the piano lid to punctuate the moment.

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The rapport between John and his bandmates was a joy to witness as they stretched out the arrangements, nowhere more so than on "Rocket Man," where he and lead guitarist Davey Johnstone traded licks in an extended jam that ventured into space-rock territory.

It's a stellar touring band — longtime drummer Nigel Olsson, percussionists Ray Cooper and John Mahon, bassist Matt Bissonette and Kim Bullard on keys, with Johnstone as their musical director.

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Elton John's setlist focused on the '70s

The more-than-two-hour performance was packed with hits and put the focus squarely on the '70s, a decade he defined as much as anyone.

And when they did venture into the '80s, hits like "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" and "I'm Still Standing" sounded grittier and more in keeping with the spirit of his '70s recordings than they did when they were soaring up the pop charts.

There are obviously aspects of his stage show from the '70s that John no longer does.

He turned 75 in March.

I'm still not sure how those piano handstands ever worked. But anyone expecting him to bring that kind of physicality to his performance after all these years should just stop talking now.

His voice has also obviously aged a bit these past five decades.

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There are parts he didn't even try to hit. His bandmates took the notes that would've fallen in his upper register back in the '70s. Except "Crocodile Rock." He let the fans step in and handle that falsetto.

Which reminds me. To the people sitting in my section during that one? Sorry. I should not have done that.

Elton John still sounded great, though.

His voice was wonderfully expressive, especially on the more emotional material, from "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (a song Elton and I both consider a personal favorite) to "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "Border Song."

And his piano work was just phenomenal throughout, from the cascading fills of "Bennie and the Jets" to the New Orleans flavor he brought to "Take Me to the Pilot."

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Elton John thanks Phoenix for the memories

After bringing the set to a crowd-pleasing finish with "Crocodile Rock" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," he launched the encore with a track that topped the U.S. dance charts and the U.K. pop charts in 2021, a pulsating mashup of "Rocket Man," "Kiss the Bride" and "Sacrifice" with Dua Lipa, who appeared on the video monitor.

When it was through, he reminded the crowd that he had also scored a recent hit with Britney Spears.

The encore really hit its stride, though, when he followed with "Your Song" and bringing the night to a bittersweet close with the only thing that would've done the trick, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

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But first he said goodbye to Phoenix, recalling his earliest memories of performing in the Valley, from Veterans Memorial Coliseum to Big Surf.

"You used to play on stage and people used to surf on a man-made lake," he said. "It was the oddest thing."

He also gave a shout-out to the Arizona Biltmore, where he liked to stay, before explaining why this was, in fact, goodbye for real this time.

"I won't be playing more shows," he said.

"Because I want to spend time with my family after next year. I have two beautiful sons. We're a great family and I need to spend time with them."

Then, he added, "I will miss you guys. But I'll remember you in my head, in my heart, in my soul.... You've been so kind. I will never forget it. Thank you for everything."

It was the perfect ending to a show those fans will have no choice but to remember in their head, in their heart, in their soul.

Elton John returns to Chase Field on Saturday, Nov. 12.

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Elton John farewell tour setlist 2022

"Bennie and the Jets"

"Philadelphia Freedom"

"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"

"Border Song"

"Tiny Dancer"

"Have Mercy on the Criminal"

"Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)"

"Take Me to the Pilot"

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight"

"Levon"

"Candle in the Wind"

"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"

"Burn Down the Mission"

"Sad Songs (Say So Much)"

"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

"The Bitch Is Back"

"I'm Still Standing"

"Crocodile Rock"

"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"

Encore:

"Cold Heart"

"Your Song"

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Elton John tour 2022 concert review: Saying farewell in Phoenix