'SIR ELTON' WOWS 11,000 AT SIU (CONCERT REVIEW)

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Not many popular music performers sitting at a piano could hold the rapt attention of an arena packed with 11,000 people. Elton John can and did Wednesday night.

Once the king of star suits and duck costumes and outsized eyeglasses, Elton John is now a Sir, wears slightly glittery suits and treats his music with R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

The audience overcame a massive traffic jam to hear two and one-half hours of Elton's favorite hits Wednesday night at the SIU Arena.

John proved to be a chunky munchkin of an icon who on one level is the world's greatest piano bar singer. On another he sings and plays in the company of angels and is perhaps Princess Diana's true prince.

He sang plenty of hits -- "Crocodile Rock," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" and many more -- along with more obscure tunes like "Sacrifice" and a favorite of any old-time fan, "Come Down in Time."

He played them all with enthusiasm and even passion, not to mention the skill of perhaps pop music's best pianist and skillful phrasemaker.

"Tryin' to Drink Whisky from a Bottle of Wiiiieeen," he sang in one of his most rollicking tunes, "Honky Cat."

His piano intro to "Take Me to the Pilot" was soul shaking.

This was a warmer, more elated Elton John than in the old days, a middle-age star who skipped the high notes and stopped the concert a number of times to shake hands and sign autographs for the crowd down front.

One of them carried a poster that read "Sir Elton: Do You Feel Our Love Tonight?"

In the audience were Larry and Eileen Mars of Herrin, both of whom had seen Elton John in the days when his costumes competed with his music.

"I saw him here years ago when he threw his piano stool off the stage," Eileen said. Larry Mars said Elton John's piano playing has always set him apart from the crowd of performers.

Also attending the concert was Show Me Center director Davis Ross with his family from Cape Girardeau. This was Ross' fifth or sixth Elton John concert. Part of his attraction is his staying power, Ross said.

"When you've been at it 30 years, you've got a lot of stuff people like," said Ross. "There's a memory lane."

You could make a case for Elton John's voice being the most familiar in the western world. He has had a song in the top 40 every year since 1970.

Ross' 16-year-old daughter Erin is an Elton John fan as well. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on You" is her favorite composition. And a favorite of many others judging from its reception Wednesday.

"He just writes so well," she said.

Toward the end, Elton John brought the crowd to its feet for the last time with "Bennie and the Jets," ending with a classic rock 'n' roll riff that befit a classic performer.