Piano Man

The ideal opener because the room does half the work. The verses are a run of barroom portraits, the bartender, the real estate novelist, the sailor, the waitress, delivered at a gentle waltz pace, and every chorus hands the melody to the crowd. The singer's job is to be the narrator watching them all, which suits a conversational voice. The only real stretch is the higher line in the chorus, and by then most of the room is singing it with you. Keep the long harmonica breaks in mind: have something to do with your hands.