The opening strains of Miami 2017 took on a new meaning on July 25, 2024. It was the final show of Billy Joel’s 10-year monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, and the classic opener kicked off the night. 

Suddenly, the song’s theme about thousands of people hunkering down to hear these songs for maybe the last time felt almost too real. While this certainly wasn’t Billy’s last show ever, it was the end of an era. 

And, we were fortunate enough to be there for it. Michael flew in from the west coast for an extended visit that included a journey to Long Island and our first face-to-face meetings with many friends of the podcast. 

The show itself was deceptively low-key. Aside from a few guests, there were no big surprises in the setlist. And there was little ruminating from the man himself about the unprecedented run. Instead, Billy and the band did what they do best: Put on a show that’s more intimate than in any other venue. One that’s become a pilgrimage for some and a ritual for others. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss this performance and our recollection from being in the room when it happened. We’ll also discuss our Billy-related travels and meetups that, for us, became a part of the concert experience. 

Join us as we dig deep into Billy Joel’s final Madison Square Garden Residency show.

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Produced by Michael Grosvenor & Jack Firneno for Glass Houses Media, LLC

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