RE: Elton und Ray Tour 2010

Hier ist ein Bericht vom gestrigen Konzert. Elton hatte wohl seine Donald Duck-Wolke dabei=) Er hat übrigens Rocket Man getragen...

TORRENTIAL downpours, thunder and lightening did little to deter more than 9000 loyal Elton John fans from gathering to see him perform last night in Nelson Mandela Bay for the final concert of his countrywide Under African Skies tour.
Despite a massive thunderstorm as people gathered at the NMMU south campus sports fields where the open air concert was held, the British pop legend – arguably the biggest global star to perform in the region so far – entered the stage to loud applause.
Having been escorted in by police, the singer-songwriter, aged 63, donning a red shirt and sequinned black jacket, immediately sat down at the piano for his opening song,The One.
After the song, John, who spoke little during the 2½-hour performance, said: “Good evening, Port Elizabeth. I’m very happy to be here. I’m sorry about the rain. It’s rained everywhere we’ve been so far.”
He went on to sing songs from throughout his wide-ranging repertoire, including from his album Elton John, released four decades ago, as well as his upcoming album, which will feature Neil Young, among others.
And despite the intermittent rain which later cleared, fans were thrilled.
“It’s worth being here,” said Bay accountant Lientjie Geyer, who was soaked through by the rain. “It’s amazing. It’s Elton John!”
According to Loryn van Eck of Magnetic Storm, spokesman for the Bay concert, a large contingent of fans had travelled from far and wide to make it to the tour’s finale.
“We have had many calls from people wanting to make sure the concert was going ahead because they were travelling long distances,” she said.
East London couple Les and Mariette Bank made the trip yesterday because of the “once-in- a-lifetime chance”.
“The excitement is really having an international performer of his calibre coming to the Eastern Cape. It’s a sense that when these opportunities arise, try and make the effort to go,” Les said. “He has always been a class act in terms of his performance.”
Having travelled from his Karoo farm Honingkrantz, near Graaff- Reinet, Richard Biggs said: “My wife and I and three other farming couples decided to make the trip. We’ve known his music since we were teenagers and I’m 50 now. His music is legendary.”
Having started with some of his lesser-known songs, John got help from the audience when he sang well-known hits such as Your Song, Candle in the Wind,Don’t Let the Sun Go down on Me and Daniel.
Percussionist Ray Cooper also impressed the crowd with his performance on the bongos, timpani, xylophone and vibraphone.
But towards the end of the concert the skies again opened, which saw fans, finally fed up with being cold and wet, begin to leave en masse. Although John’s travel plans are a secret, it is widely believed he will leave for his London home from the Bay today.