This adventure began on June 6, 2013 after Steve said “Since I don’t get to go to Vegas in August, let’s go to see Rod in Atlanta, especially since the rescheduled date is a Saturday night.” To quote Rod “Ya can beat drum, ya can beat an egg, but ya can’t beat a Saturday night.” So off I went in search of tickets. Of course there were no good tickets left thru normal face-value channels, so I went to a resale site. We were able to get front row left section facing the stage; however, they were not towards the center. No matter, it was Rod and it was FRONT ROW AT THE BARRIER!!!
Since Rod allowed me to toss the knitted Celtic HAT to him and then invited me on stage in Vegas in August, I had to knit another one to take to Atlanta, but I also wanted to do something different. So I decided to try a tartan plaid one. Trying to knit a tartan plaid HAT about gave me an ulcer. While I had the proper colors, the vertical striping was a challenge that finally beat me. All in all it turned out OK.
After crazy days at work, trying to learn a new job, and the potential of being furloughed (due to the US Government shutdown), it was finally TIME to drive to Atlanta. We left on Friday, got there safe and sound, (thank heavens) and settled in.
On Saturday, I went to box office to see if we could upgrade the tickets ……….they asked me what seats we had and I said “front row floor”. They laughed and said where do you WANT to be? I simply replied “Rod’s lap”. We all had a good laugh with that response. I was actually trying to see if there was center section available. None were available. We then took a tour of the CNN News Center and during the tour, the guide belts out……..”Young hearts be free tonight……..” Ha! I had a Rod Stewart T-shirt on. I volunteered to do a mock newscast, reading from the teleprompter (autocue) and let me tell you the studio/stage lights are BRIGHT. Never ever feel like Rod is ignoring you if you are a few rows back, I am still blinded!
Back to the room, to finish up my signs and it was finally TIME to get ready!!!! Worried that there would be a problem with entry with the tix (never used this resale site), we went to the venue right as the doors opened. No problem and I was greatly relieved. Because we go there so early I was able to meet some more of my internet Rod friends in person and actually ran into someone I had not seen in over 10 years! What a treat!!!
When Rod came out, he immediately took control of the arena and never let go until the end of the show. He was in great spirits, high energy (ha imagine THAT), and I cannot remember after which song, but he did apologize for this show being rescheduled from April. His voice was absolutely, totally fabulous all the way thru the entire show! The band and as Rod calls them “the girls” were in top form too.
Steve and were all decked out in Celtic and tartan and we both were wearing new knitted Celtic HATS. Steve held up a sign that said FINALLY, VICKY MADE ME A HAT……….it took until Some Guys Have All the Luck for Rod to see it, but when he did, he smiled and gave Steve the thumbs up….. Rod then asked me a question, and I could not fully reply as he had to continue “working”, but right before he went back to center stage he pointed quickly to his and Steve’s head and smiled again. Now let me tell you that I have been accused of being able to have an in-depth conversation with a file cabinet and learn all the inner secrets it holds. So it was even funnier to me to have Rod see me and initiate a conversation from the stage while he was “working”………. I found this montage on YouTube, it is well done and you can see the above around 4:20
So excited that Ruby was there!! Saw her in Vegas in August, and while she was AMAZING then, her stage presence grows stronger with each appearance. She brilliantly performed her self-penned song “Just One More Day” and we were thrilled with her duet with her dad during “Forever Young”. Hard to tell who is more delighted to be sharing the stage with the other; you can just feel the pride flowing out of both of them.
I had to pitch the Tartan HAT onto the stage during Can’t Stop Me Now; Rod never saw it, and on the stage it laid. Katja, Jimmy, and Anne, had to step over it when they came out for the next song, Sweet Little Rock and Roller. I was so worried that someone was going to slip and fall on it!!! Rod saw it pretty quick, picked it up, pointed right at me, and grinned……he then came right in front of us with it and smiled that really big beautiful smile. Rod was really hamming it up with that HAT using it for a dance partner and when he finished the song, he put it in the bottom of Julia’s harp. I have been told that Julia is the new owner of the TARTAN HAT. Made all the agony of making this HAT worthwhile.
Next song was I’d Rather Go Blind, heard it for the first time (ever) live in Vegas in August, absolutely thrilled to hear it again. (But I must admit I was so wishing he would do Georgie). Brighton Beach is a fabulous song off TIME and I was over the moon to hear it live, Rod dedicated it to his daughter, Sarah, and quickly told their story……
I intended to get one of the Celtic HATS to Rod during You’re in My Heart, but he never really came to the corner of the stage where our seats were. He was rather smitten with the audience in the seats to the side of the stage, and interacting a number of times during the night. While the security guard was nice, I was not sure how he would react to me launching another HAT on stage, so I was rather cautious and wary……. Right at the end of the song, Steve said throw it!!!! and I did. Rod never saw it until Di picked it up and handed it to him after the song……..He turned to me and smiled and bowed.
Here is an excerpt from a review in the Access Atlanta.com by Melissa Ruggieri. “He likes to share pieces of his life, whether it’s done by showing photos of his dad during “You Can’t Stop Me Now,” a fun pop-rocker from his notable new album, “Time,” or broadcasting his devotion to the Celtic Football Club (a few fans in the crowd sported Celtic gear and some threw their hats and scarves on stage). I couldn’t figure out why the camera guy kept pointing and waving at me, but there I was on the big screen wearing the Celtic HAT. Too funny.
The second sign of the night was an attempt to score a soccer ball (Thanks to each of you for the help with the sign, you know who you are). Rod started on the other side of the stage and came to our side, sent a number of balls to the side seats, kicked some about, and then looked down, saw the sign and me and threw me one. Wow what a feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My last sign of the night was “THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING YEAR” and in response Rod tipped his hat to me and bowed. Then I began pointing to the band members because they have been a huge part of this adventure too. At this point (in this adventure) I also want to thank my supportive husband who went all out for me at this show, and to the very nice crowd control guy who didn’t bother me a bit, I thanked him at the end for not giving me any “problem” and he smiled real big and said there was no reason to……
While walking out of the arena, we had an offer for the ball; we both said NO very quickly and loudly. We went back to the hotel room to put the ball in safe keeping and went back out to get something eat. We ran into Di Reed on the way to eat and chatted a few minutes and I was able to thank her for picking up the HAT. She said that seeing us (fans) in the audience is so energizing and that we should never quit doing what we do when we are at the shows. They all love it. She even gave me an idea of something else to try to knit and I will give it a try!
This was my last show for 2013, what an incredible, amazing, thrilling year it has been and I look forward to what 2014 holds in store…………the adventures of the HAT must continue on.
Review by Vicky Marrow
Photos by Vicky Marrow