Review Originally Posted on alt.fan.elton-john a day after the show.  This explains the hurried writing and probably (in retrospect) exaggerated comments.  It does, however, capture my thoughts at the time of the show so it's worth keeping on this website for posterity...

ok here's the review...
 

After pulling an all nighter monday and having been awake about 40 hours, me
and my friend walked to downtown (we go to Syracuse University) around 6 and
went and picked up our tickets at the war memorial.  we then went to armory
square to grab a bite to eat and found lots of fans making the restaurants and
bars VERY crowded.  Eventually we went back to the venue and found our
seats...about midway back and on the side (the war memorial holds around 7200)
about 5 minutes before the lights went down.
 

Elton came out (wearing a black suit with sequins, red sunglasses) to an
instrumental number which i didn't recognize and don't think it is from
anything he has put out.  he promptly sat down at the piano after several bows
and started into "Your Song"...for which the crowd went nuts.  The set list (in
close to the correct order)  and notes follow:
 

Your Song...after this Elton explained that it would just be "me and this 9
foot black grand piano" for the show.
 

Skyline Pigeon...very true to the "here and there" version of the song.  Elton
mentioned (as he has before) that empty sky was the first group of songs him
and Taupin really felt good about.
 

The Greatest Discovery...i remember that he played this pretty much like it was
on the "Live w/ the symphony" Cd...without the symphony of course.
 

Border Song...Elton first really showcased his amazing improvs and sheer speed
on this fan fave.  he drew out the last line in true "blues" style.
 

Honky Cat...this song was another showcase of speed and improv...perhaps the
fastest of the night.  For those of you who have not seen Elton play live (as i
hadn't) you can't really tell how fast and effortlessly he plays until you see
it. live albums and TV can't do justice.
 

Daniel...this song was really very pretty on just a piano.  
 

Rocket Man...the one two punch of daniel/ rocket man really warmed the crowd
up.  Rocket Man was about a fifteen minute version with an amazing light show.
it dragged slightly i felt, but overall a definite highlight
 

Tiny Dancer...don't remember much about this except that it sounds much
different with an older Elton singing it.  perhaps more emotional.
 

Someday Out of the Blue... i really like this song- but most of the crowd took
it as a cue to get up and go pee (unfortunately). very much like the album
version. They also played el dorado scenes on the video monitor for this one.
 

Philadelphia Freedom...not one of my fav Elton songs and i felt that it lacked
something without the synth.  the crowd seemed to really like it though.  maybe
someday i'll come around.
 

Blessed...This song is one of my faves from MIE- it was very emotional and true
to the original.  you could tell he poured his heart into this one.
 

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word..this song was also very sad. by this point
the show was taking on a very emotional and melancholy feel- so this song fit
the mood perfectly.
 

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues...This one was also different with an
"older" Elton voice. Very cool.
 

Carla/Etude/Tonight....another "crowd cue" to go pee. I however found this to be
one of the most enjoyable parts of the evening.  The sheer beauty of this trio
was amazing. The video screen had lots of psychedelic colors over images of EJ.
 

Harmony...a nice surprise which Elton announced as a "fan fave".
 

Burn Down The Mission...this is one of my fave EJ songs and this was a faithful
rendition somewhere between the "live in Australia" CD and "11-17-70".  Elton
the speedster returned on this one (as did the peeers).
 

The One...This was very much like the album version.  made me wish my
girlfriend (who is not an EJ fan in the least) was with me at the show.
 

Ticking...Elton said that he was playing this because of it's relevance to
today's news (columbine, etc.). definitely a cool addition.
 

Blues Eyes...don't remember much about this one except that he spoke "i love
those blue eyes" with alot of feeling at one point towards the end.
 

Empty Garden...this was another highlight because he announced it by mentioning
the love that Lennon had.  the video monitor showed alot of still pictures and
video footage of Lennon.  Very sad and perhaps the most tear-inducing number of
the night.
 

Take Me To The Pilot...Elton jammed for about 5 minutes before this song
started.  The version was actually on the shorter side when the song started
but very improvisational as well.
 

Crocodile Rock...this has been my fave song since i was about 6.  This version
was amazing and the crowd and him laughed together when he asked the crowd to
sing the "lalalalalala" part (his voice won't do it these days).
 

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me...very much like the MTV unplugged version
without the super-long ending.  a nice regular set closer.
 

-  Regular set was about 2 1/2 hours
 

Encore 1:
Can You Feel The Love Tonight...video footage of lion king played while he sang
this. another crowd fave.
 

Bennie And The Jets...to start this Elton ran up to the piano and hit the first
chord of the song (most recognizable chord in pop?) the crowd went nuts and he
"raised the roof" to get them to clap and cheer some more.  lots of clapping,
improv, and good times.
 

Encore 2:
Candle In The Wind...last song of the night and a nice way to leave. of course
it was the "norma jean" version.
 

the entire show was 2 hours and 50 minutes long.  Definitely the best concert by
anyone i have ever seen and totally worth the high ticket prices.  Obviously I
am looking for any recordings of the show (so speak up tapers).  If you get a
chance to see him on this tour definitely make the effort.
 

-dave