Billy Joel played the regular performance of his monthly residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday night (March 26, 2023). And on this occasion, what has been a semi-regular treat for the audience was a surprise guest appearance. (At his Jan. 13 concert, the Piano Man was joined by his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, for two songs. On Aug. 24, 2022, pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo came on stage to sing “Uptown Girl.” On Jan. 11, 2018, Joel was joined by Foreigner’s Mick Jones and Lou Gramm. In December 2017, Steve Miller sang “The Joker” with him. It used to happen more frequently and Best Classic Bands even wrote a feature story about the varied surprise guests who have joined the superstar at the Garden.)
Thirteen songs into the Sunday night concert, Joel welcomed Billy F Gibbons to the stage, and the ZZ Top legend didn’t disappoint the sold-out crowd, performing not one but two of the band’s favorites, “La Grange” and “Tush.” During the former, when Joel solo’d with a boogie-woogie piano, Gibbons, born Dec. 16, 1949, offered the equivalent of a “we’re not worthy” salute. Watch them play both songs below.
Joel, born May 9, 1949, has played one show per month at The Garden since January 2014, not counting the 2020 and 2021 postponements, an unprecedented run. His March 2023 concert marked his 88th consecutive sold-out monthly show at the World’s Most Famous Arena and his 135th overall performance there. Though he no longer tours, Joel has continued to perform concerts around the world roughly twice per month. Tickets are available here and here. ZZ Top has their own busy tour schedule with tickets available here.
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