He’s movin’ out.
As Billy Joel prepares to finish his mythical, decade-long, 104 reveal, 1.9 million ticket-selling residency at Madison Sq. Farmland, right here we’re waving the Piano Guy see you Thursday for the primary date since 2014. He holds the venue’s document for many performances, which shall be capped this night at 150.
Ultimate-minute tickets are promoting for hundreds to peer the pleasure of Lengthy Island carry out yet one more date, for the longest date.
“We wanted to make it special not only for Billy but also for the fans who have made his residency so successful,” Josephine Vaccarello, MSG Leisure government vp of are living occasions, who oversaw Joel’s keep, advised The Publish.
Essentially the most tasteful of the celebrations starts with some literal “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.”
MSG has transformed concourse length outdoor Division 113 to comprise red-and-white checked material tables, plus a juke field, with a menu that can have you ever consuming like a heavy shot.
Hen vodka parmesan heroes, 1-pound meatballs from Lavo, filet mignon sandwiches, antipasto, and cannoli shall be served. Beverages reminiscent of Lengthy Island Iced Teas and Greyhounds — vodka and grapefruit juice — additionally evoke the entertainer.
On a extra sentimental be aware, Joel — the primary MSG musical franchise — has additionally been enshrined into the Farmland’s “Defining Moments” wall. It displays memorabilia from the hour 10 years, reminiscent of i’m ready lists, apparatus worn, plus a couple of the one-time Hicksville resident’s Ray-Bans.
Over at Division 116, a unique picture sales space was once put in the place attendees can shed messages to Joel, who has taken the Lengthy Island Rail Street to his personal presentations ahead of.
That connection Joel has shared together with his die-hard enthusiasts is what made the hour decade one of these collision, stated Vaccarello, who referred to as him an extraordinary artist ready to “transcend generations.”
Joel has made it a touching custom not to promote the entrance row in entrance of his level in order ill “real fans” within the “cheap” seats, he told Billboard.
On a related be aware, Joel plays on a 360-degree rotating piano get up so he can face the target market in 4 instructions. It provides the ones at the back of the level a frontal view now and then.
He has additionally wooed concertgoers with a bevy of miracle visitors over time, letting the target market vote on which songs to play games, and preserve the overall “Piano Man” refrain for the family to sing acapella en masse.
“Every single person knows every single word to every single song,” Vaccarello added.
It’s additionally turn into a convention for enthusiasts to tide arm-to-arm on the finish of “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.” The show-stopping quantity starts with guitarist Mike Delgudice making a song the opera piece “Nessun Dorma.”
Over time, Joel additionally has invited a number of veterans onto his level when appearing his somber Vietnam Battle track, “Goodnight Saigon.”
Possibly maximum touching, in 2019, he privately invited 14-year-old Brooklynite Logan Riman, a casual pianist, onstage to do a tone take a look at. They nearest performed a duet of “Piano Man.”
“He has a love and an affinity for Madison Square Garden and the fans, and he does show it literally every time he performs on the stage,” Vaccarello stated. “And I love that about him.”
Those that attend this night also are privy to big products distinctive to that of Joel’s alternative presentations at MSG. Particular sweatshirts, T-shirts, koozies, leather-based and story varsity jackets, pins and posters shall be bought.
A different pop-up within the Farmland’s Chase Sq. front was once additionally revealed to the people since closing Friday, finishing two hours ahead of the overall efficiency.
Joel has laughed throughout the terminating bankruptcy. When addressing the residency’s finish to a family in November, he joked that everybody within the Empire Shape had already discoverable the reveal.
Vaccarello famous: “He will always be part of our family and he is welcome back any time.”
