"That's Your Song, Youngstown!"

ELTON JOHN, AS SEEN ON THE GIANT SCREEN AT THE COVELLI CENTER

Boy, we swore we'd never go to another concert after we were wowed by Green Day last July in Pittsburgh. Little did we know, Elton John would be coming to Youngstown.

Yes, THAT Sir Elton. In Youngstown. Ohio.

He's a legend. You have to go see a legend.

Well, we scored great seats and were among the lucky 7,000 or so fans who filled the Covelli Centre Saturday night as Elton performed his classic hits for nearly three hours.

Green Day? No. But I gotta tell you, that 63-year-old icon gave them a run for their money. He was absolutely the embodiment of Capt. Fantastic. We had heard he was performing two-and-a-half hour shows as he wound his was to Youngstown after stops in Grand Rapids, Mich. and Toledo. He was just nine minutes away from an even three hours when he finished in Youngstown.

I won't bore you with the set list – if you can think of a top Elton John hit, he probably played it. I was just happy to be there to watch this city come absolutely alive. We hung out a bit downtown before the show and it was, to borrow an express, hopping and bopping. This Valley, which has yet to battle back from the destruction of the steel industry back in the late 1970s, let alone the current economic mess, is in need of a boost and this year has seen some positive business developments: The home of the GM Cruze, a third shift, a growing business incubator, hundreds of call center jobs, a top ranking from Entrepreneur magazine, etc.

But while these developments help with the economic morass, the soul needs nourishment, too, and the Covelli Centre and Eric Ryan are working hard to improve our quality of life. Elton John, "Walking with Dinosaurs," the WWE, etc. It's going to be an interesting summer for the small arena.

I'll have some video later (that was not mine up top - that guy was a lost closer than me!) but here are some pics of a truly magical evening:


THE VIEW FROM OUR AWESOME SEATS!


WE ENDED UP SITTING NEXT TO THE FRANKOS THANKS TO TODD'S SCHEMING!


AFTER THE FINALE, THE CROWD WENT WILD>


THIS FAN GOT HER GIANT EYEGLASSES SIGN SIGNED BY ELTON.

During the encore, after a rousing rendition of "Your Song," Elton told the crowd, "That's your song, Youngstown!"

And it really felt that way! A special night, indeed!

More later,


Mark