Elton wows the crowd

REVIEW | Foy Vance & Sir Elton John, Fischer County Ground, Grace Road, Saturday, June 11:

“I like the fact that in Test matches you can play for five days and no-one wins.” (Elton John, 2006 – eltonjohn.com)

Unlike a close contest between leather and willow that ends in a draw, music was the big winner at the Fischer County Ground tonight.

Foy Vance warmed up the crowd with a charming array of tunes and Sir Elton John then rolled back the years in playing a wonderful set in this corner of LE2.

Elton absolutely delighted a sizeable Fischer County Ground crowd; in cricket analogy, this performance was a ten-wicket triumph with plenty of overs to spare.

This ground has played host to some greats over the years. David Gower used to wear the gold fox with pride as he stroked the ball elegantly around the field while Graham McKenzie would steam in from the then Hawkesbury Road End. Raymond Illingworth, Tony Lock and James Whitaker used to diligently set their fields on the hallowed green turf of Grace Road.

A legend of a different profession came to Aylestone tonight. Positioned where Brian Davison or Paul Nixon once sent booming drives through mid-off, or where Jonathan Agnew may have fielded at third man to a right handed batsman, was the stage that Elton was situated.

Nixon himself was part of the audience as Leicestershire cricketers past and present came to enjoy a unique night.

As a former Chairman of Watford Football Club, Elton recognised the wonderful achievements of the footballing Foxes during the concert, his first in the city for four decades. The Fischer County Ground was a fitting venue given Elton's love of cricket.

“It’s my first time at Grace Road,” said Elton. “It’s great to be back in Leicester for the first time in 40 years, when I played at the De Montfort Hall.”

Elton sung some hits from his new album Wonderful Crazy Night and also rolled out the classics. He had the Fischer County Ground on its feet.

There was a lively start as The Bitch is Back was high up the set list while Benny And The Jets was also an early tune before Daniel echoed around the venue.

Philadelphia Freedom has a wonderful rhythm and the crowd got heavily involved with favourites Rocket Man and Tiny Dancer. The wonderfully melodic tones of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word were then introduced - it was a set of great balance.

The crowd greatly appreciated Your Song and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, signing and swaying in unison, while everybody was on their feet as I’m Still Standing lit up the FCG with a bright yellow backdrop.

Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting was an obvious choice of hit for this evening and naturally went down really well before Elton returned to sing Candle In The Wind.

As Eric Dier was whipping a free-kick into the top corner for England against Russia, Elton thanked the sizeable crowd before a burst of Crocodile Rock was a fitting way to end the evening’s entertainment.

Playing to a cricketing backdrop was fitting as Elton used to enjoy the Ashes tours of Australia when his friend Sir Ian Botham was England’s spearhead Down Under.

Botham once had a marvellous first innings in a County Championship game at this venue, following up 5-38 with a sparkling 152. Somerset went on to beat Leicestershire by an innings and 71 runs despite Gower making 73 in the second innings.

On his website, eltonjohn.com, it states that “The quintessentially English game of cricket has long fascinated Elton, and he often attends matches around the world when his touring schedule dovetails.”

You’re more than welcome back to watch a game here any time, Sir Elton. Thank you for a great evening.

* Thanks to Jason Senior at REDPIX for the photograph of Sir Elton.