Web: rodstewart.com
Players: Rod Stewart, vocals; Emerson Swinford, guitar; Don Kirkpatrick, guitar; Curt Schneider, bass; David Palmer, drums; J’Anna Jacoby, guitar; Chandra Meibalene, violin, mandolin; Julia Thornton, harp, percussion; Joanne Harper, Becca Kotte, Holly Brewer, backing vocals
This latest Rod Stewart tour has the name One Last Time, which one would think suggest that, at the age of 81, Rod the Mod has decided to take it a bit easier as he gets ever-deeper into his vintage years. Musicians will constantly tell us that it’s not the two-ish hours on stage that are the grind when it comes to touring, it’s everything in-between. You’d think that, at this stage in his super-successful career, Stewart isn’t slumming it in decrepit hotel room and on uncomfortable buses. But still, the travel takes it out of you.
So, we must take Stewart at his word. This is his last tour. Whether there will be the occasional one-off show here and there remains to be seen. Elton John played his last gig and has been kinda chilling with his slippers on ever since. Stewart may have seen that and seen the appeal.
If this was to be Stewart’s final appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, a venue he first played with his old muckers The Faces many moons ago, then he went out with an almighty bang. The setlist was close to perfect. Naturally, when a career stretches as long as Stewart’s does, then he can never please everybody. There was, for example, no “Sailing” but, to be honest, the set didn’t miss that sweet-but-sappy little ditty.
If there’s a slight criticism, it’s that Stewart played a huge number of covers. Right after his own “Infatuation” from 1984’s Camouflage album, we were hit with Sam Cooke’s “Having a Party,” The Isley Brothers’ “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)” and Bonnie Tyler’s “It’s a Heartache” (RIP). There are a further 11 covers, not including the couple of Faces songs, which felt slightly excessive but, to be fair, this is Rod’s party and we’re just invited. To be even fairer, covers have always featured heavily on Stewart’s recorded works. Cat Stevens’ “First Cut Is the Deepest,” for example, was on Stewarts’ 1976 album A Night on the Town, and it was performed with gusto at the Bowl.
Those two Faces songs were the highlight of the evening, as far as this writer is concerned. “Ooh La La,” from the 1973 album of the same name, is an oddity because Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood sang on the original version. Stewart rerecorded it for his When We Were the New Boys album in 1998.
Meanwhile, “Stay With Me” is one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs ever recorded. It’s an almighty, swingin’ beast of a song, and it sounded tremendous at the Bowl. It could almost be read as a plea from the iconic artist. “I might not be playing here again, but don’t forget about me.”
Stewart did mention from the stage that a new Faces album is in the works, which is both exciting and fascinating. It provided further evidence that the great man isn’t going to cease working completely. But hey—will there be any Faces shows? Time will tell.
Every trademark Stewart move and motif was present and correct. The emblem of his beloved Celtic Football Club decorated the bass drum, there was bagpipes at the start of the show, and Stewart wiggled his arse at every given opportunity.
The set just kept heating up. We got “Maggie May” of course, as well as Stewart’s cover of Marc Jordan’s “Rhythm of My Heart” from 1991’s Vagabond Heart. He took a break to allow his backing singers to shine on a version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” before returning for a rousing finale.
Covers of Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” are followed by the bone-two punch of “Hot Legs” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.” The O’Jays’ “Love Train” closes the show in fine style.
With his love of R&B music, rock ‘n’ roll, and Celtic folk, Rod Stewart has always done a great job of blending genres and forging new paths. As he approaches the final chapters of his career, it feels like there’s still plenty to be written but inevitable that he’ll eventually go out on a high.
