Billy Joel hits a homerun at Petco

The Piano Man, Billy Joel, played his only 2016 California show at Petco Park Saturday night, May 14. Joel started the show with “Miami 2017” and the sold out crowd of 42,000 sang and danced along as the hits kept coming one after another until about two and a half hours later when Joel ended his first appearance in San Diego in over a decade with “Only the Good Die Young.”

In between, Joel played all of his hits, including “Pressure,” “Allentown,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” and, of course, “Piano Man.”

Additionally, Joel threw a few covers into his set. There was a brief reference to his co-headlining tour with Sir Elton John — the last time he was in San Diego back in 1995 — when he played a snippet of “Your Song.” He also covered the Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” pop classic “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and he actually had one of his road crew come out and sing AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell.”

Joel dedicated his hit “The Entertainer” to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying that the candidate had been at the least very entertaining the past few months.

After a brief intermission, Joel came out for an encore starting with “Uptown Girl,” followed by “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me,” “Big Shot,” “You May Be Right” (performed with a Padres-jersey-clad Jason Mraz), and closing the show with “Only The Good Die Young.”

This was my first concert at Petco Park, and I have to say it was quite enjoyable. Sitting outside, in view of San Diego’s beautiful skyline, drinking one of our finest craft beers, and listening to one of my favorite performers. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait another 20 years for him to return to San Diego. Mr. Joel, don’t be a stranger.

• Concert: Billy Joel
• Date: May 14
• Venue: Petco Park
• Seats: PCE Row 2, Seat 4