The Piano Man did Springsteen... and I got a free gig

IT IS well over a decade since the one and only time I saw Billy Joel in concert. Much as I dislike outdoor gigs and large venues, he turned in an impressive performance at Croke Park.

Though I wasn’t at The Stadium Formerly Known As Lansdowne Road on Saturday, I happened to stroll in the general vicinity

when he was doing a pre-show soundcheck. Granted, he might be considered a bit naff by the so-called cognoscenti. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t thoroughly enjoy listening to him run through old hits such as My Life and Allentown.

Almost better still, Billy also knocked out blistering versions of some other artists’ tunes. Over the course of 20 minutes or so, I heard him do a verse or two of Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, the Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Dexys’ Come On Eileen and Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back In Town.

I’d imagine anyone who was actually at the gig had a cracking night. Which is more, frankly, than I had when I went to see Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale the previous Saturday. I don’t think I have ever sat through such a pretentious, self-indulgent performance.

The only saving grace was that he didn’t hang around on stage too long, although it seemed like an eternity at the time.

By contrast, Billy Joel’s soundcheck was a delight. And €40 cheaper as well, of course.