Elton John / Quarterflash

Ollie Neuman Sep 06, 2023

Can’t seem to send you a message on this site, Jeffrey so if you would email me at [email protected] that would be amazing! Would love to chat about the Elton shows you’ve seen and check out any more pics!

Thanks so much :)

Ollie Neuman Sep 06, 2023

Awesome review, Jeffrey! Do you have any more photos from this or any other EJ show you attended? the one you posted is fantastic!

Cheers :)

Jeffrey Lee Mar 13, 2023

Elton John Concert Review: Jump Up! Tour, July 22, 1982
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland

June 29, 2013 by David Sigler (tworoomsejbt)

This was the second time I saw Elton John live in concert. The first was a concert where Elton did mostly a solo show accompanied by percussionist Ray Cooper in 1979. This tour was called “Jump Up! In America!” named after his album at the time, Jump Up! The show was held at Merriweather Post Pavilion, in Columbia, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC.

Elton also notably performed with the original band line up from the mid-1970’s for this tour: Nigel Olsson on drums, Davey Johnstone on guitars and Dee Murray on bass. The stage design was rather sparse (though there was a great light show) with large panels hanging in the background that replicated the artwork from the Jump Up! album.

Appearing in what could have only been described as a sequined Admirals uniform, complete with a ribbon draped around his body and black military style boots, Elton entered stage left and never looked back.

Starting with the always crowd pleasing Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Elton and the band rocked out for nearly 2 hours of big hits and some lesser known album tracks. There were some incredible moments that took the listener on a wonderful journey throughout his then, only two decades long, career.

The energy performed in songs such as the classics Pinball Wizard, The Bitch Is Back and Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting was high and full of power. In retrospect, everything performed seemed faster and with a harder edge.

Elton performed some rare songs too, including two from the 1981 album, The Fox. The heartfelt Chloe and another song simply titled Elton’s Song. In a unique twist, Elton left his grand white piano on stage left and proceeded to stage right where he performed those songs on the electric piano. He also dusted off Where To Now St. Peter?, from the album Tumbleweed Connection – a wonderful rock version that strayed from the country version on the original recording from 1970, but still no less enjoyable.

Ticking, an album track from 1974’s album, Caribou, was played with just Elton on piano and the band taking center stage harmonizing. With the exception of Nigel’s tambourine, adding some dramatic touches, this song about a young man going on a gun rampage in a bar, still sadly resonated with the times then and now. Elton did it justice in concert though it’s rarely played now.

But it was his tribute to John Lennon, the song called Empty Garden that brought the audience to its feet with lighters lit and held up high. Elton and the band brought out every drop of anguish in Bernie Taupin’s lyric about the slain Beatle.

The closing encore was a medley of Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On, I Saw Her Standing There and finally, Twist and Shout. This was my first true rock concert with Elton and the boys giving it all they got.

I was a big fan after my first Elton concert in 1979. This concert nearly topped that one.

And that was no easy feat.