Dave’s Music Blog 5: Billy Joel, The Comeback.

Billy Joel is having what you would call a mini-comeback, not for new music or sudden relevancy, but more for appearing in public eye, flying the flag of his considerable musical legacy. First he announced his year long once a month residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden, currently sold out all the way to December. For a guy who hasn't released a hit album since 1993's River Of Dreams, suddenly being the hottest ticket in town is an achievement in itself, baby.

Here he is on the night of his first residency, back in January.

Then, last week, Billy pops up on The Tonight Show, and this amazing thing happened:

Which leads to the fact that few outside of the Billy Joel faithful know, the man is more musically versatile than a spin through his albums would suggest. This is a man who, back in the day, was in a metal band called Atilla. No, REALLY.

Mr. "Just The Way You Are" Joel has covered hard rock before, in concert, even tackling Led Zeppelin when the mood struck him. So it should come as no surprise that this happened yesterday:

So don't be so quick to soft pedal Billy Joel as a lite FM relic of yesterday. He's a pugnacious rock and roller at heart, and that will always be cool. Will any of today's chart topping acts be able to sell out Madison Square Garden in twenty years? Didn't think so.