He may be a bit more subdued than in past years, but Elton John can still rouse an audience with his booming vocals and repertoire of hits.
The bespectacled performer packed the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night with about 16,000 faithful for the first of two sold-out concerts.
Early into Tuesday's performance, John dedicated a song to those left homeless by hurricane Katrina.
"Since Mississippi was one of hardest hit, we're gonna do this one," he said launching into Porch Swing in Tupelo, a song "about Elvis" from his most recent album, Peachtree Road.
John called it "a different sort of show," because instead of playing a steady stream of hits as many fans have come to expect in recent years, he devoted the first half of the concert to the first eight tracks of his new release.
"Although it hasn't been a commercial success, it has been a critical one," said John, wearing blue shades and a dark suit embellished with white and gold flora on his right arm. "We love playing it."
He may no longer be a current chart-topper, but John continues to draw a loyal -- and giddy -- crowd.
"He stands up there with today's artists," raved Elaine Burke, a 42-year-old pharmacist who drove two-hours from Trenton, Ont., with friends for the show.
"I'm not here for his flamboyancy, just good music."
The mostly middle-aged crowd politely clapped along to the Peachtree Road segment, which John filled with stories including one about his fiancé, Toronto-born film producer David Furnish.
John told the audience he "wasted a lot of my life doing a lot of drugs" and subsequently couldn't stay in a relationship.
"When I got sober ... someone walked into my life," he recalled.
John and Furnish have been together 12 years, the singer said.
"He's been the best thing that's ever happened to me. ... That's another reason to love Canada, right?" he said after singing My Elusive Drug, written about his beloved.
The couple plan to wed on Dec. 21, several weeks after gay civil marriage becomes legal in Britain.
As expected, the audience sprang to life when John reached into the past and busted out his pop hits, beginning with Pinball Wizard.
Bennie and the Jets was met with whoops and yelps, as was Take Me To The Pilot and the ever-popular Rocket Man -- a grandiose, over-the-top version which stretched about 10 minutes.
He also dished out chart-toppers I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Tiny Dancer, Sad Songs, Levon and Love Lies Bleeding among others.
Having ditched his legendary sparkly costumes and other theatrics in the late '80s, John's stage was sparsely decorated, save a pixel board in the background. This left plenty of space for his eight-member gospel choir and his five-piece band.
All smiles, John frequently left his perch at the piano to acknowledge the crowd and accept gifts of flowers.