Billy Joel performs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, on February 9, 2018. (Photo: Neal Nachman)

Billy Joel performed his only Florida appearance for 2018 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL last night.  The sold out crowd of over 20,000 roared as Billy Joel went through his huge collection of songs.  Joel, 68, not only showcased his great music, but fans were able to experience his great sense of humor as he joked throughout the night with the audience.

He was in playful mode throughout, making jokes about such things as the throat spray he constantly ingested, and laughing about the last night he had a song on the charts. Joel said, ‘”Won’t be here in another year if I don’t stay on the charts,'” he snarked after The Entertainer. “I haven’t been on the charts in 25 freakin’ years. … So what do I know? Don’t listen to me, because I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

However, Joel showed why he has had such a long and successful career.  His two and a half hour performance went through all the classics as well as some of the lesser known songs, in which Joel asked the audience to decide on which of these songs they wanted him to perform.  Joel will give the audience 3 or 4 selections to choose from, and based on their reaction, would perform the song with the loudest reaction.

Joel kept the fans dancing all night performing mixing in all his hits and digging deep in his catalog including Pressure, Movin’ Out, New York State of Mind, Vienna, Allentown, All Abouut Soul and Piano Man.  Leaving the best for last, or in this case, the encore.

We Didn’t Start the Fire, Uptown Girl and It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, all with Joel out from behind his piano; Big Shot, Only the Good Die Young (with a few bars of Led Zeppelin‘s Fool in the Rain) and You May Be Right, all with the singer back on the piano.

With all the legends of the music industry starting to hang up their touring careers, Joel continues to shine with sold out crowds throughout his tours.  Only question is, will this be the last we get to see the piano man perform in Tampa.  I sure hope not!