Live Review: Elton John and Leon Russell at the Hollywood Palladium

The Hollywood Palladium is bigger than the Troubadour, but it’s a living room compared to the Staples Center. Elton John settled into the relatively small venue on Sunset Boulevard on Wednesday and made it the grounds for a long-anticipated party — a fete for an old ally as well as a kind of reunion with himself.

The evening served as both a slightly overdue commemoration of the 63-year-old John’s career-shaping August 1970 Troubadour shows and a release party for “The Union,” his album with the 68-year-old Leon Russell, whom he introduced as “my friend and idol.”

Russell is one of those musical characters whose influence permeates many corners of the music world, and his boogie-woogie-infused 1970s albums were a major influence on the young John. Forty years later, the lovable Lion King is in a period of personal reassessment. Repaying his debt to Russell, John is getting in touch with the rawer roots of his own almost universally appealing sound. Their album “The Union,” produced by the golden-fingered T Bone Burnett, is a critical and commercial success that’s gotten John saying that from now on, he’ll be making “real music” instead of the Top 40 fodder that made him a household name.

Of course, that fodder is pretty great stuff, and at the Palladium he interlaced some of it into his rollicking performance. Russell too has written beloved hits, including the poignant “A Song for You,” which he performed during his brief opening set in a voice as gravelly and picturesque as an old Oklahoma road.

The material from “The Union,” which the pair performed in full during the middle of the show, has hooks too, along with spacious arrangements that allowed for much interplay among the members of the large band backing up the soloists. Outsanding numbers like Russell’s “If It Wasn’t for Bad” and “Hey Ahab,” a shaggy rocker by John and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, satisfied fans looking for musicianly jamming — but they also boasted memorable choruses, not unlike the ones that brought John worldwide fame.

Russell might have reached that level of stardom, if not for his self-confessed prickliness and resistance to packaging. As a session musician and arranger for artists like George Harrison, the Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker, Russell was a key player in classic rock’s marriage of roots styles and modern sensibilities.

Like many outstanding artists who first peaked in the 1970s, however, Russell couldn’t rest within a marketable category. His reemergence now, despite the health problems that cause him to walk with a cane and wobble a bit when he sings, is just desserts and well timed, now that the insatiable Internet has led to renewed interest in eclectic artists like himself.

At the Palladium, Russell let John play the goodwill ambassador role to which he’s so suited; the elder artist didn’t speak a word and entered and exited without fanfare. John was more effusive, spending time reminiscing and thanking his many friends in the VIP section — including former Times critic Robert Hilburn. John credited Hilburn with kick-starting his stateside career with a review of his debut Troubadour show and dedicated “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun” from his 1970 album “Tumbleweed Connection” to the scribe.

Though he jumped up often to show off his sparkly jacket, wave to his fans and have a sip of water, John kept his theatrics to a minimum, preferring to seek out a groove with his fellow players, who included a full horn section and four backing vocalists. The great Memphis keyboard player Booker T. Jones joined in on a few songs, turning the evening into a fairly unmatchable keyboard summit; John noted that, remarkably, he’d never met the “Green Onions” maestro before he guested on “The Union.”

Early material like “Take Me to the Pilot” and “Levon” allowed John to amply demonstrate his ability to roll and rag like a vintage bawdy house pianist. Without needing to play to the back row of an arena, he could focus on the keyboard during his own closing set. The freer mood energized John, who made sure to bow to the horns (“We have a tuba onstage!” he noted, clearly tickled) and call out his longtime mates, the drummer Nigel Olsson and the flashy, fun guitarist Davey Johnstone, who anchored the band.

As heartwarming as it was to see John finding his way back to what made him love music in the first place, his pop sense couldn’t wholly be suppressed. Ballads like “Tiny Dancer” and “Your Song,” which had the crowd swooning, ran on characteristically warm, huggable melodies; his and Taupin’s 1983 smash “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” sounded more like a modern-day standard than ever. And when Johnstone ripped into the riff for John’s naughty 1974 glam rocker “The Bitch Is Back,” nobody in the crowd was worrying about integrity. They were too busy shimmying and shouting, and letting the song’s gaudy, delicious chorus roll over them.

-- Ann Powers

Photos: Elton John and Leon Russell. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[JoAnn Lachance]

Ann, great review of last nights show. Nice to have this review to remind me of a wonderful evening. I was right in front of his piano all night. I first saw him in 1973 in Hawaii as a teenager, 37 years later his rocking out on the piano took me right back to his flamboyant ostrich feather boa's, top hats, platform shoes and rhinestone glasses doing hand stands on the piano.

[hippysaurus]

Its about time that someone brought the genius Leon Russell to the forefront, this is an incredible talent that has been hidden away for many years. Leon Russell most certainly deserves to be in the Rock and Roll hall of fame, some of the people in the Hall have Leon Russell to thank for being there. Elton John is an incredible talent but is right when he says Mr. Russell is an idol, I only hope to see this show if at all possible.

[Tehachapian]

Oh, what a night...

[Diana Desrosiers]

Great show! Never been to the Palladium and, after seeing Elton John 3 times in the 1980s, (young, poor & out on the lawn) I never expected an opportunity to be within a few feet of the performer(s), although a few years too young to remember Leon Russell well I did enjoy his set as well as their duet of 'the union', as for Elton I had never appreciated how much he engages the audience and expresses so much re those people who shaped his career; clear enthusiam at touring with his idol, very nice personal thank you to Robert Hilburn (I was raised on the L.A. times & remembered Hilburn well) along with loyalty & appreciation of his long time fan base. Truly a professional, quite gracious & loyal friend toward those who shaped his career. Certainly, for me, a life long concert highlight which I was fortunate enough to attend; personally & professionally this is a gentleman who doesn't fail to please; my enthusiam was unparalelled. Thank you to Robert Hilburn for the 1970 review which helped launched the path for a performer who is without paralell in his skills, talent, altruism and abilities in the music profession.

[Shelly]

It was such a wonderful "happening"! I've seen Elton many, many times and he just keeps getting better! His warmth and humbleness was inspiring. He seemed genuinely thankful to be there with us. I waited years to see Leon and I was not disappointed. What a wonderful evening of fantastic music. I'm so thrilled to have been a part of it!

[Howard Ruben]

I first saw Leon Russell perform at a small, nondescript venue in Buffalo, New York back in the early '70s, standing about 30 feet away and thinking "this guy has just married gospel, blues, pop and rock like no one I have ever heard." And then to be about 30 feet away from the Hollywood Palladium stage Wednesday night; I closed my eyes and heard that same unmistakable, soulfully raw and emotional voice - it had aged incredibly well. The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame should be a slam dunk for him - Leon's versatility in terms of songwriting and arranging puts him in an entirely different class. If the U.S. honored its icons like they do in England, we would have been cheering on Sir Elton and Sir Leon. Congratulations to both of them - the new CD is brilliant, especially live. It was a night to remember and I feel blessed to have been a part of it. Elton and Leon - long may you live and long may you rock!

[Clint Bradford]

I saw them together 39 years ago (Ann - didn't I see YOU there???) at the Long Beach Auditorium. And I'll be there tonight (Friday) for the show in Ontario. It is going to be great.

[Audiocred]

Problem of a live show for this combo is that T-Bone Burnett can't be there. My personal feeling is that he was the biggest reason their new album was so good. Best producer in the biz now.

[Kevin]

What a beautiful night of amazing music by two truly amazing artists. It was more than just music though, it was an intimate reunion of two old friends and musicians who seemed to truly have a great time being there. It was a night I will never forget.

[maxine maxine]

Best concert that I have ever been to !! It was a magical and amazing night. I first fell in love with both Elton and Leon as a teenage in the late 60's and 70's and now all over again. I was honored to be at the Palladium !