All the years seeing Rod since my first time in 2005 and then in 2006 training to be up front and getting a ball then that happened in 2007 and 4 years later trying to find a way to meet him and to get a picture taken with him It all comes down to THIS! You all better be sitting down for this It was like being in a dream.
Mom and I arrived at Caesars Palace around 6:45 and the doors to the Coliseum were opened. Before we entered to go inside I was trying to find my friend Deirdre from Texas but I didn’t see her so I figured she must be inside. So mom and I went inside to take our seats. Our seat numbers were seats 509 & 510 8th row aisle! I didn’t know we were going be on the aisle! When we got the tickets in May the lady on the phone said we were goanna be in the middle! Thank god she was wrong! Before 7:30pm Deirdre comes over to us! Actually mom spotted her before I did and we talked and she gave me a hug! She mentioned that Manny & Jean were there too! They were front row in section 6 by us! It was so wonderful seeing them! I remember Manny or Jean saying they were coming to Vegas but wasn’t sure if they were going to come the same time as us.
Finally at 7:45pm the music starts! The first song was the song you take the high road (they play it at Celtic games over seas but I can’t remember the name of it. I know someone told me the name but can’t remember. Sorry!) Then the Stripper began followed by a train whistle! The band took the stage and then finally here he comes ROD STEWART!! He looked wonderful and sounded great! He wore a hot pink jacket with a matching tie. A few people got up on their feet including mom and I. Love Train was the first song. 2nd song was Having A Party. There was this couple in back of mom and I that were being rude to us. (This is the bad thing about casino shows some people only go to the show cause the tickets are comped! They don’t care about the performer.) Next song was Tonight’s The Night. As soon as the intro music started Rod had to stop the band. He said that someone missed the note or cord. Paul Warren said it wasn’t him or something or Conrad did. I couldn’t tell! It was kinda funny! I go “Paul what did you do?” I was just kidding. The next song I think was Forever Young First Cut is the Deepest. (Sorry if I don’t have the song list in the right order.) Next was Some Guys Have All the Luck followed by Twisting The Night Away. Next song he sang was Downtown Train.
Now originally I was starting to get tired of hearing this song live but after tonight what happened to me I’m going to make an exception. As soon as the music started Rod sat on the steps to the stage and a girl from our row got up from my row to take a picture of him. Then mom tells me to get up and take his picture just then before I knew it he starts motioning for me to get closer and before I knew it he takes my hand and I’m sitting beside him on the stage and he is singing to me! A lot of people are up by the steps and Deirdre too! I had the camera in my hand and a nice girl took it from me and started taking the pictures. Mom came over to me and started taking the pictures herself. He was touching my nose and kissing the side of my head! It was unbelievable! (I still haven’t washed my head or my nose since Saturday before the show!) My right hand was quivering! (I felt like Ronnie Wood in the Rolling Stone video She’s So Cold!) He said something to me when I was on stage next to him me but I can’t remember what! As soon as I left the stage I had a hard time standing! My legs felt like jello! Anyway when we got back to our seat David Palmer’s drum solo started.
When Rod came back on stage Rod was wearing the purple suit. Next Rod did Sweet Little Rock N Roller and Rod goes into the crowd for this. There was some security that was kind of blocking the aisles (I was hoping that there wouldn’t be security like last November but this time there was) He also sang a little bit of Rock My Plimsoll which I loved! Next the Roadies came out with white chairs for Rod & the band and they did a segment like the Unplugged & Seated tour. This I loved because I didn’t get to see Night To Remember tour in 93 & 94. First song was Broken Arrow then Rod did Killing of Georgie! I was thrilled to see Rod sing this Live because Rod never sang it all the previous times I got to see him live. Next was Reason to Believe. Before the song started Rod said to the crowd that this was the flip side to Maggie May and he mentioned that someone thought Maggie wouldn’t be a hit or sell records till a DJ in Cleveland flipped the record over and played Maggie May. Next after Reason to Believe Rod mentions that Vegas is a place where people get married and the he and the band sing the song by the Dixie Cups Going to the Chapel. On the jumbo screen they showed pictures of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. I loved hearing this! I think it’s a nice different segment added to the show. After Going To the Chapel the roadies start rushing to take the white chairs away. Rod was kidding round and imitating them by rushing & helping them out a little bit. It was funny! I
Think Rod sang Young Turks next. the girls then sing Proud Mary. Just then when mom and I sat down our seats were a little wet and the couple in back of us left and they probably spilled beer on them on purpose cause they were mad at us for standing. I got upset about this because I want to have fun at a Rod show and not sit on my butt all night! I tried sitting for some of the songs and I wasn’t having fun! I wish people would just let others enjoy themselves and just mind their own business! Sorry for my ranting. After proud Mary Rod comes out in a plaid shirt. He looked so cute!
Next song was You’re In My Heart. I quickly got out my Celtic flag for this but unfortunately an annoying security guard saw me holding it and goes “You’re going to have to keep it in your bag!” Manny & Jean held theirs up too and the same guard that told me to put it away told them the same thing and Rod wanted them to hold it up! When the guard left my area I held it up I didn’t care what he said! Rod acknowledges it then I put it away. While Rod was singing You’re In My Heart the camera man had his camera and came over to me and I was on the jumbo tron singing along to You’re In My Heart! It was awesome!!! This was the first time I was on the jumbo screen a lot for Rod’s shows!
Next song Rod sang was Rhythm of My Heart and he mentioned about the night he was born and when the German’s bombed the U.K. and he dedicated it to all the veterans and those that are overseas right now. I wanted to hold up my Scotland towel but I was worried that the guards would tell me to put it away! Why can’t they just leave us alone!? Next Rod shows us the video of the sleep walking dog then the pictures of him dressed as a nurse and in drag which means Hot Legs is next! He starts kicking out the soccer balls and sadly I didn’t get another ball this time but that’s ok! I achieved my goal of meeting him and getting a pic with him which is what I wanted more! Next was Maggie May and everyone came up to the stage and people were talking to me and everything. It was awesome! Before the Encore started guards were telling us to go back to our seats which annoyed me because Rod was going to come back out and sing one more song. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy was next. This is always my least fav part because I’m always sad when the show is over plus this is the last time I’m going to see Rod in concert till next year. I can only go to Las Vegas only once a year. For now I’m enjoying the moment and am still on cloud 9! I never thought that my day would come and it did. It was all worth the wait! I wish I got to go to Rod’s show again on the 28th but couldn’t.
When the show was over and mom and I were leaving the venue everyone started coming up to me! I also saw Dieter & his family from Germany there! I didn’t know they were coming! They were so sweet! I took pictures with them and everything! A little while later mom and I walked around a little bit and outside of the Palms were a group of people eating and they recognized me! I was hoping to bump into some of the band members too but I didn’t see them. I went back to Caesars the next day and I saw J’anna and Di Reed! I got my picture talked with Di and with J’anna. I also saw Dieter again with his family. I was telling everyone that we were flying back to NY tomorrow and was sad that it’s over till next year. I also said to J’anna enjoy South America. Wish I could go too but don’t have the money.
In closing I just want to say thanks to everyone who made the trip to Vegas so much fun and memorable and for you guys for believing in me and encouraging me not to give up! Never Give Up on your dreams and if you go for it and your kind amazing things will happen to you! Thanks to Rod Stewart for making my dream come true!
I hope I get to see Rod again next year in Vegas until then I’m enjoying the moment and don’t want to think about the future! Hope to do it all again next year in 2012!
Some fans have all the luck!! =)
Read Donna Lee Manus’ Las Vegas Update part 2
Including what SMILER members Cara and Breda got up to in the SMILER members news section
