Billy Joel thrills fans at intimate Long Island show

Billy Joel treated fans to a rarities show in Long Island, New York on Wednesday (16Oct13), telling the crowd at the tiny Paramount Theatre in Huntington he’s “tired” of playing his hits. The Piano Man is making preparations for upcoming European dates and he staged a last-minute show, which sold out within seconds of going on sale on Tuesday (15Oct13).
Promising the 1,600 fans in attendance “some other stuff that we haven’t done for a long time”, Joel opened with Everybody Loves You Now from his 1971 debut album Cold Spring Harbor and continued with rare tracks including Vienna and Room of Her Own.
Introducing Blonde Over Blue, a tribute to his ex-wife Christie Brinkley, Joel told fans, “I don’t think we’ve ever done this one, ever, so this might be a train wreck. This may be the only time we ever do it.”
But the track was flawless and Joel said, “I like that one. I’m going to keep it.”
There were a few fan favourites and hits thrown in for good measure, including New York State of Mind, Movin’ Out, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, We Didn’t Start the Fire, It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me and Only the Good Die Young.
And he couldn’t perform without playing his signature tune Piano Man.
After announcing tentative plans to retire earlier this year (13), Joel seemed more than happy with his performance in Long Island at one of his most intimate gigs for years, and it appears he’s considering his first major American dates since 2009 after his run of upcoming arena shows in England and Ireland later this month (Oct13).
He left the stage at the Paramount to a rapturous standing ovation, and told the crowd, “Maybe we’ll see you soon.”