The Last Play at Shea...actually it was the second to last

As you may know, I am a HUGE Billy Joel fan. He's my absolute favorite. So when it was announced back in February that he would play the last concert at Shea Stadium, I was psyched to get tickets. I scored six tickets (the maximum allowed), only to find out two days later that another show was added, so the concert I would be going to really wasn't the "Last Play at Shea." At any rate I went to the concert on July 16. I have probably seen Billy Joel seven times previously, but was more excited about this concert than any other. Rumors swirled about special guests. I was hoping for a Paul McCartney cameo, but didn't get one. The special guests were Tony Bennett, John Mayer, Don Henley, and John Mellencamp. Only Bennett's appearance made any sense to me. Shea Stadium itself is a dump.

The set-up of the stage and speakers was horrendous. My seats were okay, but many people couldn't see the screens and some people complained in the upper sections they couldn't hear clearly. Billy's singing was mumbled to them. Luckily, while I couldn't see the stage well, I could hear perfectly and see a screen. The set list was basically every song with a New York reference, which was apropos, but I would have preferred different songs. Of the three songs I really wanted him to play, Miami 2017, Vienna, and Sleeping with the Television on, only Miami 2017 was performed. Here is the set list and some photos:

The Star-Spangled Banner
Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
Prelude/Angry Young Man
My Life
Everybody Loves You Now
The Entertainer
Zanzibar
Allentown
The Ballad of Billy The Kid
New York State of Mind (With Tony Bennett)













Big Man On Mulberry Street
Root Beer Rag
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
Goodnight Saigon
Dont Ask Me Why
This Is The Time (With John Mayer)

















Keeping The Faith
The Downeaster Alexa
Stand By Me
An Innocent Man
The Boys of Summer (With Don Henley)










She's Always A Woman
Captain Jack
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
The River of Dreams
A Hard Days Night
Pink Houses (With John Mellencamp)













We Didn't Start The Fire
It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
You May Be Right
Please Please Me
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
Only The Good Die Young
She Loves You
Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Piano Man
Souvenir