Elton John and Brandi Carlile live in London: Super-duo deliver an incredible night for the ages
A week before releasing their joint album Who Believes In Angels?, Elton John and Brandi Carlile deliver the kind of night that we won't forget anytime soon.
“Can we get to the singing bit,” Elton John says enthusiastically while speaking to Brandi Carlile and Schitt’s Creek‘s Dan Levy during the pre-gig interview, his infamously irritable side done with talking and keen to showcase the new music that has delivered arguably his best album this century. Who Believes in Angels? was born of an intense 20 day recording session in an LA studio with 11x Grammy winner Carlile, producer Andrew Watt and long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. The resulting record is a joyous exaltation to hope, landing so perfectly in these uncertain times, delivered seamlessly through a two-decade long friendship.
When the pair return to the London Palladium stage, the opening piano bars of the new album’s title song tip its hat to vintage Elton, before Brandi’s vocals are joined by Elton to deliver the melodic uptempo number. Written by Brandi in tribute to her musical hero, the song is a vibrantly apt show opener.
Third album single ‘Swing For The Fences’ further amplifies the energy as Brandi and Elton bounce off each other vocally, the song’s message of aiming high despite the challenges – dedicated to their children – rings through the auditorium as pockets of the crowd begin to rise to their feet. The rollicking ‘Little Richard’s Bible’ – track two on the new record – is a riotous tribute to the eponymous artist and his conflicted identity. Like a church sermon, it summons the audience to their feet, hands in the air.
Filmed for ‘An Audience With…’ special for ITV, the gloriously loud staging brings the album artwork to life. Jewel colours become electric as neon signs invite us to embrace euphoria and the delirium of rock ‘n’ roll. Backed-up by Watt on guitar, Red Hot Chili Pepper’s on drums, Josh Klinghoffer on keyboards, and the Hanseroth Twins on guitar and bass, it’s a supergroup as only Elton could summon.
Next, Brandi takes the solo spotlight on emotive single The Joke, taken from her Grammy winning album ‘By The Way, I Forgive You’. Her vocals soar and swoop, summoning a standing ovation to an audience that she had won over the moment she arrived on stage. The emotion continues with ‘Who Believes in Angels?’ album track ‘You Without Me’. Written by Brandi, the song speaks of the moment a parent realises their child has now stepped into their own being, physically separate to their parent.
“It’s when you realise you can no longer pick your child up,” she says of the song’s message. It stirs audible recognition with parents in the audience who have perhaps never considered how impactful that moment really is in the dynamic with their child. Both songs are testament to Brandi’s astutely perceptive skills at storytelling.
What was originally intended to be a serving of a few songs that promoted the new album along with maybe a couple classic tracks, transformed into mini-concert spanning Elton’s musical legacy after he arrived at rehearsals the day before. The band take a seat, perching on the drum riser to watch Elton dive back into that discography with ‘I Need You To Turn To’, from his 1970 self-titled album.
Brandi joins him on ‘Tiny Dancer’, and ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, a number 1 hit with George Michael made new here tonight. It’s rousing, but served to remind us just how absolutely iconic the original duet remains. The covers continue with Brandi astounding on Patsy Cline classic ‘Crazy’, and then Elton on Jim Reeves’ ‘He’ll Have To Go’. By now we’ve moved way beyond the album promo cycle and into what is clearly simply Elton having fun with his friend and musical protégé.
‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, a moving ‘Your Song’ and a thumping ‘Bennie and the Jets’ builds to a suitable climax on a tremendous ‘I’m Still Standing’, as Brandi looks on enthralled by Elton’s vocals, unbound energy, and this very moment that she has dreamed of since she was a teenager. Nobody in the auditorium – from the fans to gathered stars Sam Fender and Ronnie Wood – knew what to expect. It certainly wasn’t the riveting journey through Elton’s musical legacy and evident passion for playing with the new that delivered standing ovation after standing ovation with each song. This is a show that will be remembered in the pantheon of great Elton moments, from The Troubadour in 1970 via the Dodgers Stadium in 1975, through to 2023’s Glastonbury set.
Retired from touring maybe, but alongside Brandi and this monumental super-group of musicians, it’s evident that Elton John’s thrill of performing live still very much ripples through his musical bones.
An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile will air on Saturday 19th April on ITV1 and ITVX.