Enthusiastic crowd rocks to Elton John

Friday night’s event at the Cumberland County Civic Center was a trip back in time more than anything else.

The older audience members harkened back to where they were when they first heard “Daniel” or “Honky Cat.” Slightly younger people in the crowd reflected back while listening to “Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” or “The One.” Even the youngest had their songs from “The Lion King” or “The Road to El Dorado.”

And that’s the secret of Elton John, who played for a sellout crowd of 8,495 in Portland. He’s been a comfortable, memorable part of the soundtrack of most people’s lives.

And even though he’s been a recognizable name for more than 30 years, and rock royalty for a good portion of that time, he still gave the Portland crowd their money’s worth Friday. Resplendent in a purple suit with faux-jeweled accents, he sat at his black grand piano and played for nearly three hours, taking listeners through a career retrospective ranging from his first album to his most recent, all the while being an entertaining host.

The former Reg Dwight has always been a larger-than-life figure, and that certainly was the case Friday, as two large video screens gave the whole house a good view of the performer. Also, the screens were part of the show, providing supplemental images such as planets, stars and other celestial sights during “Rocket Man” and photos of John Lennon during his tribute to the late Beatle, “Empty Garden.”

Although he’s been critically ignored, at best, for the past two decades, there’s no denying that John is a masterful songwriter, and that more than a few of his tunes will stand the test of time.

But those in attendance in Portland weren’t performing critical analysis of Sir Elton’s work. Rather, they were basking in the warm glow of memory, fondly recalling their favorites from John’s massive catalog. They displayed their appreciation often, exploding into standing ovations after most of the better-known numbers.

An Elton John concert is a family affair, even if the younger generations don’t always get it. One young girl looked puzzled as her thirtysomething mother sat enthralled, smiling, singing and applauding, wrapped in a comforting cocoon of nostalgia. An embarrassed teen girl slumped in her chair and covered her face as her fortysomething mother and two friends were hopping and bobbing to “Crocodile Rock.”

Elton John has been many things to many people, and there were many facets of him to appreciate on display Friday. First and foremost was his incredible artistry on the piano, as several numbers featured extended solos showcasing his talents. Second, he went out of his way to include lesser-known album cuts, instead of just taking the easy route and playing the hits.

Above all, he was gracious, shaking hands while accepting tribute, signing autographs, frequently saluting the audience for their heartfelt applause, even standing on the piano bench to bow to them.

It would be easy for Elton John to go through the motions, to become a cynical nostalgia tripper trotting out 75 minutes of his best-known hits, then collecting a paycheck and leaving the fans wanting more. Even though it was physically impossible for him to play everyone’s favorites, John made sure the vast majority went home happy. His performance goes far toward explain why he remains a legend.