Elton John is one of the most iconic and successful musical artists of all time. With a career spanning over 50 years, he has cemented his place in music history with timeless songs like “Rocket Man,” “Your Song,” and “Candle in the Wind.” As one of the top-selling solo artists ever, Elton John has performed in major venues across the globe, entertaining millions of dedicated fans.
One American city Elton John has a special connection with is New Orleans, Louisiana. This lively city known for its jazz music, Creole cuisine, and Mardi Gras celebrations has hosted Elton John for concert performances many times over the decades. Local fans have turned up in droves each time Elton John has visited New Orleans, eagerly awaiting his flamboyant costumes, soaring vocals, and hit songs performed with his trademark passion.
But with a long and illustrious touring career spanning over five decades, some Elton John fans in New Orleans may wonder about the specifics around his past concerts in their city. Where exactly did the Rocket Man touch down in the Big Easy? When did he first visit New Orleans, and how many times has he performed there? Which iconic New Orleans venues have hosted Elton John concerts for enraptured local crowds? Read on for a comprehensive look at Elton John’s history of concert performances in New Orleans!
Elton John’s Connection to New Orleans
While known globally as an English singer-songwriter, Elton John has always had a special place in his heart for New Orleans. This vibrant city has been pivotal in the development of major musical genres like jazz and blues that have heavily influenced Elton John’s style. New Orleans also exudes a creativity, soul, and richness of culture that speaks to Elton John as an artist.
The flamboyant showmanship and colorful artistry integral to Elton John’s performances are also right at home in New Orleans. His over-the-top costumes pair perfectly with New Orleans’ extravagant Mardi Gras spirit, and his penchant for melodrama melds seamlessly with the city’s innate passion for music, food, and life. For Elton John, playing in New Orleans guarantees an enthusiastic audience who appreciates both his musical artistry and his knack for spectacle.
Beyond his artistic connection, Elton John has shown his care for the city through advocacy and philanthropy. After Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans in 2005, he donated $1 million towards relief efforts and helped organize NBC’s “Shelter from the Storm” benefit concert for additional fundraising. Elton John’s generosity and support throughout this difficult period cultivated a special bond between the singer and the city as it rebuilt itself.
Overview of Elton John Concerts in New Orleans
Elton John’s long-spanning career has included eight concert tours that stopped in New Orleans from the 1970s through the 2010s. Spanning iconic venues like the Saenger Theatre and Smoothie King Center, his concert history in the city shows his enduring popularity and legendary performance abilities.
His early shows established his popularity in New Orleans in the 1970s, coinciding with his rise to global superstardom with hit albums like Honky Chateau and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. In the 1980s and 1990s, his tours brought fresh showmanship and flamboyance during his peaks as a bestselling pop artist.
In his later career, Elton John returned to New Orleans periodically as a veteran performer, drawing devoted crowds thrilled to see him decades after his first local concerts. Let’s explore his New Orleans concert history decade-by-decade!
1970s: Early Shows Gain Popularity
Elton John’s first-ever concert in New Orleans took place on June 25, 1974 at the Saenger Theatre. This nearly 100-year-old theatre, known for its elegant design, played host to the rising star fresh off his 1973 album Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player. Tickets cost just $6-$7, a bargain to witness the greatness he would achieve!
Just three years later, Elton John returned to perform at the Louisiana Superdome on two consecutive nights. July 30 and 31, 1977 marked his first stadium concerts in New Orleans as he toured behind his double album Blue Moves. His spectacular costumes and signature showmanship impressed the big crowds.
1980s: Height of His Pop Spectacle
In the 1980s, as Elton John’s flamboyant costumes and bombastic performances reached their peak, he brought his spectacular pop extravaganzas to New Orleans for several major shows.
His biggest New Orleans concert of the decade took place on December 3, 1987 at the Louisiana Superdome. This performance was part of his “Tour De Force” world tour supporting his albums Ice on Fire and Leather Jackets. The enormity of the Superdome accommodated his grandest production yet.
Earlier in the 1980s, Elton played two back-to-back shows at Lakefront Arena on May 8-9, 1982 during his “Jump Up Tour.” This tour showcased songs from his comeback album Jump Up!, which rebounded from a brief slump.
1990s into 2000s: Sporadic Stops in the Big Easy
The 1990s brought more sporadic New Orleans concert stops for Elton John, as he focused on new projects like movie soundtracks and his stage musical Aida. But his performances remained crowd-pleasers nonetheless.
On October 25, 1994 he performed at Lakefront Arena during his tour supporting the Lion King soundtrack. Disney’s hit film spotlighted his song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” which won Elton John an Academy Award.
Nearly a decade passed until his next New Orleans show on October 8, 2003 back at the Saenger Theatre. This intimate venue hosted his performance on the “Just for the Record” tour featuring greatest hits with his band.
2010s: Nostalgic Performances in Final Years Touring
After the 2000s brought a long break from New Orleans concerts, Elton John undertook several massive global farewell tours in the 2010s that led him back to the Big Easy. Though approaching the twilight of his touring career, he remained a consummate showman pouring his heart into unforgettable shows.
His “Greatest Hits Live” tour stopped at the New Orleans Arena on March 15, 2010, letting fans revel in nostalgia. The “Million Dollar Piano” residency tour followed with a June 10, 2012 show at the same venue, spotlighting a lavish piano designed by Yamaha.
Most recently, his multi-year “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour gave New Orleans crowds three more chances to bid Elton John adieu. He performed his big hits at Smoothie King Center on January 19, 2019; October 2, 2021; and April 23, 2022.
Notable New Orleans Venues Hosting Elton John
Throughout his illustrious touring history, Elton John has graced some of New Orleans’ most prestigious and iconic performance venues over the decades. These venues have ranged from intimate historic theaters to massive stadiums and arenas housing his epic productions.
| Venue | Concerts Performed |
|---|---|
| Saenger Theatre | 1974, 2003 |
| Louisiana Superdome | 1977, 1987 |
| Lakefront Arena | 1982, 1994 |
| New Orleans Arena | 2010, 2012 |
| Smoothie King Center | 2019, 2021, 2022 |
The Saenger Theatre hosted Elton John’s first and one of his most recent New Orleans concerts, demonstrating his longevity. The Louisiana Superdome housed two of his grandest shows for vast crowds in the 1970s and 80s. Mid-size venues like Lakefront Arena and New Orleans Arena accommodated his varied tours in between. Most recently, Smoothie King Center hosted his farewell tour stops.
Setlists Spanning the Decades in New Orleans
With a career spanning over five decades, Elton John’s setlists during his New Orleans concerts exemplify the breadth of his discography. His early shows focused on early 1970s hits, while later sets mixed classics with newer material. Let’s examine some sample setlists over the years!
1970s: Rocket Man Takes Flight
During Elton John’s 1977 Superdome shows, he was touring behind A Single Man and Blue Moves. Thus he played plenty of hits from those albums, like “Song for Guy,” “Come Down in Time,” and “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” Staples like “Rocket Man” satisfied crowds.
1980s: Peak Bombast and Costumes
The over-the-top “Tour De Force” concerts in 1987 accompanied Elton John’s bigger-than-life pop spectacle phase. Alongside his latest songs, he broke out epic hits like “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “I’m Still Standing,” and “Candle in the Wind.”
1990s: The Lion King Takes Center Stage
During the 1994 Lakefront Arena show, Elton John focused heavily on The Lion King soundtrack. The set featured Disney songs like “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” alongside classics like “Bennie and the Jets.”
2000s: Greatest Hits Tours
True to their names, Elton John’s “Just for the Record” and “Greatest Hits Live” tours kept setlists packed with classics. The 2003 and 2010 New Orleans concerts included hits like “Tiny Dancer,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Crocodile Rock,” and more.
2010s: Grand Finale
Elton John pulled out all the stops on his marathon three-night “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” run at Smoothie King Center. Alongside timeless smashes like “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” he broke out deep cuts like “All the Girls Love Alice” to reward longtime fans.
Conclusion
Over nearly 50 years of touring, Elton John has amassed an impressive history of visiting and wowing audiences in New Orleans. His eight concert tours stopping in the city have spanned monumental venues and evolving setlists showcasing his vast catalog.
Though his 2022 shows mark the end of his life on the road, Elton John’s indelible connection with New Orleans is set to endure. The flamboyance, spectacle, and musical passion forever linked to his name are right at home in the Big Easy. His concerts there have allowed fans to experience his incredible showmanship up close. Though the Rocket Man may be retiring from the stage, his music and legend will rock on in New Orleans forever.
Elton John played at The Warehouse on May 26, 1971. My mom was there and there are show fliers online.
That’s 3 years before the first “concert” you mention. Just thought you might like to know. My mom said he was just a guy at a piano. Before the costumes and all that. She said he was pretty amazing.