Some concerts feel like events. Others feel like history. Billy Joel’s performance at the Bryce Jordan Center on December 5, 2014, was both. For Penn State students, alumni, and longtime fans who made the trip to University Park, the evening wasn’t just another arena show — it was a chance to watch one of America’s greatest songwriters work his magic in real time, blending humor, musicianship, nostalgia, and pure rock and roll power. Joel doesn’t tour with the frantic pace of younger acts, and every performance he gives has the weight of a special occasion. This one felt especially so.
At 65 years old, Joel commanded the stage with an effortless mix of confidence and humility. He’s not a showman in the sense of pyrotechnics or choreographed spectacle — his strength has always been in his voice, his piano, and his ability to connect songs that are etched in personal histories. The Bryce Jordan Center’s nearly 16,000 seats were full, yet Joel had a knack for making it feel intimate, like he was playing for you in the corner of a crowded New York bar.
And what a setlist it was — a two-and-a-half-hour journey through hits, deep cuts, audience-chosen gems, and a few playful surprises.
The Setlist – Billy Joel at Bryce Jordan Center, 12/5/2014
-
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
-
Pressure
-
The Entertainer
-
Vienna (audience vote over Summer, Highland Falls)
-
Zanzibar
-
New York State of Mind (preceded by snippet of Your Song)
-
Allentown
-
All for Leyna (audience vote over Blonde Over Blue)
-
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) (Layla piano exit outro)
-
She’s Always a Woman
-
Don’t Ask Me Why
-
My Life (Colonel Bogey March intro)
-
Sometimes a Fantasy
-
Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover, Chainsaw on vocals, Joel on guitar)
-
The River of Dreams (Beer Barrel Polka interpolation)
-
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
-
Piano Man
Encore:
18. We Didn’t Start the Fire
19. Uptown Girl
20. It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
21. Big Shot
22. You May Be Right
23. Only the Good Die Young
Opening with Nostalgia and Power
Joel has always known how to set a tone, and opening with “Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)” was a brilliant choice. The apocalyptic ballad-turned-rocker carries a weight that feels both dramatic and intimate. For longtime fans, it’s a reminder of Joel’s storytelling power; for younger ones, it’s a perfect introduction to the cinematic way he frames his songs. His voice, still strong and full of grit, soared through the verses, the band locking into the song’s shifting dynamics with precision.
The energy jumped immediately with “Pressure,” Joel hammering the keys with ferocity as the arena filled with pulsing synths and sharp rhythms. He has always had a way of making his piano as aggressive as a guitar riff, and the crowd responded by rising to their feet. By the time “The Entertainer” rolled out, Joel was fully warmed up — delivering sly smiles between lines as if to remind the audience that, yes, he’s been poking fun at the music business for decades, and somehow he’s still here outlasting most of his peers.
Audience Choice, Audience Voice
One of the unique aspects of Joel’s modern shows is his occasional song vote gimmick, where fans choose between two tracks. At Bryce Jordan, the first vote was between “Vienna” and “Summer, Highland Falls.” The ballad “Vienna” won easily, and it turned into one of the night’s most emotional moments. Joel’s voice softened, the arena went quiet, and for a few minutes the massive Bryce Jordan Center felt like a candlelit club. Fans sang along gently, and the chorus — “Vienna waits for you” — seemed to resonate deeply with a college-town crowd full of young adults contemplating their own futures.
Later, another vote brought “All for Leyna” into the set instead of “Blonde Over Blue.” The choice injected a burst of New Wave-inspired energy, with the band driving the sharp rhythms that made the song such a hidden gem from Glass Houses. Joel grinned at the results, joking that the audience clearly had good taste.
Deep Cuts and Fan Favorites
What separates Joel from many legacy acts is his willingness to dig deep into his catalog rather than leaning solely on greatest hits. “Zanzibar,” from 52nd Street, was a jazzy highlight, with trumpet solos weaving around Joel’s piano in a display of musicianship that reminded everyone why his band has stayed so tight for decades.
“New York State of Mind” — preceded by Joel teasing a snippet of Elton John’s “Your Song” — brought the house down. Even in Pennsylvania, far from the city that shaped him, the performance was a love letter to New York, and the crowd embraced it. As Joel leaned into the sax solo and sang with aching sincerity, it became clear that no matter how many times he’s performed it, the song still comes from the deepest part of his being.
When “Allentown” arrived, Penn State roared with recognition. Though the lyrics detail the struggles of Pennsylvania’s working class in the 1980s, the song has aged into an anthem of perseverance. Singing it in-state gave it extra resonance, and Joel knew it. He smiled and emphasized the local connection, making the performance a rallying cry for pride and resilience.
The Emotional Core
Midway through the show, Joel slowed things down with “She’s Always a Woman” and “Don’t Ask Me Why.” These songs gave the concert its heart, offering a break from the bigger anthems and allowing the crowd to savor his lyrical tenderness. Couples swayed, arms wrapped around shoulders, and Joel delivered the vocals with understated beauty.
“My Life,” with its playful Colonel Bogey March intro, brought things back to uptempo pop-rock joy. By this point, Joel was mixing humor and sincerity seamlessly. He doesn’t just play songs; he performs personalities — the cynic, the romantic, the philosopher, and the rocker — and the audience gets to see all sides.
Rock and Roll Mischief
Then came one of the most surprising highlights: Joel picking up a guitar for AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” with his roadie Chainsaw on vocals. The moment was pure chaos in the best way — Joel strumming chords, Chainsaw howling into the mic, the band leaning hard into classic rock riffs. It broke the formality of the evening, reminding everyone that Joel isn’t above having fun and turning his show into a party.
“The River of Dreams” added to the playfulness, especially with Joel weaving in the “Beer Barrel Polka” mid-song. These interpolations are part of what makes his live shows unpredictable; you never quite know when he’ll throw in a wink or a curveball.
The Masterpieces
As the main set wound down, Joel unveiled the heavy hitters. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” felt like a Broadway show within the concert — a sweeping epic in multiple acts, performed flawlessly. The audience sang every word of “A bottle of red, a bottle of white…” before exploding into cheers during the Brenda and Eddie section.
And then came “Piano Man.” The song that defines him, the one that every fan in the arena had been waiting for. Joel let the crowd handle much of the singing, leaning back as the chorus of thousands filled the Bryce Jordan Center. It wasn’t just a performance — it was communion. Strangers put arms around each other, the verses echoed, and the harmonica solo pierced the rafters.
The Encore Explosion
Few encores pack as much power as Joel’s. He barreled back with “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” rapid-firing history lessons over a driving beat. Then came “Uptown Girl,” sending the crowd dancing in the aisles. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Big Shot,” and “You May Be Right” kept the energy at peak levels, one after the other, like knockout punches.
Finally, Joel closed with “Only the Good Die Young,” a cheeky, joyous sendoff that left the crowd singing the chorus long after the lights came up. It was a perfect ending — playful, upbeat, and quintessentially Billy Joel.
Final Thoughts
On December 5, 2014, Billy Joel didn’t just perform a concert in University Park — he gave Penn State a masterclass in how to turn a catalog of songs into living, breathing experiences. His voice carried power and nuance, his band was razor-sharp, and his personality filled the Bryce Jordan Center with warmth, humor, and sincerity.
The setlist balanced hits with deep cuts, tenderness with mischief, and nostalgia with spontaneity. From “Miami 2017” to “Piano Man” to the rocking encore, every song felt essential, every moment authentic. The inclusion of Pennsylvania staples like “Allentown” made the night feel tailored to the audience, while the AC/DC cover showed Joel’s willingness to keep things loose and fun.
Nearly five decades into his career at that point, Billy Joel proved he still had everything that made him one of the most beloved performers in rock history. For those lucky enough to be at the Bryce Jordan Center on December 5, 2014, the memory isn’t just of a concert — it’s of being part of something timeless.