It was a really good show overall…Stevie seemed much more energetic than last time I saw her (April/2011), moving around more, and interacting with her band. She did her duet on ‘Leather and Lace’ with her voice coach, a good match with her. I didn’t care for her and Rod’s duets last time, so Iwas glad this changed. She really held her own, and she’s still quite a sweet lil’ chatterbox when it comes explaining her song origins and inspirations. Waddy (her guitarist) was fantastic as expected. The crowd mostly remained seated during ballads on her set, and stood and danced when she did some good ol’ rock and roll, unlike Rod’s set where the crowd was up on their feet just about the whole time.
Rod remarked how warm his welcoming reception from the crowd was, and I was thinking the same…the Tulsa fans loved him for being there. The newspaper review doesn’t mention that he sang “Rainy Night in Georgia’, but as soon as Rod started, I was on the lookout for the short stature mysterious umbrella person to go sneaking across the stage, but sadly, that didn’t happen. Also, no guest appearances of his kids on stage either, but along with the usual family photos, he showed a really darling recent photo of Delilah.
I came prepared with a hat for Rod with our lovely Smiler badge carefully affixed. When Rod spied it on the stage waiting for him, he did his funny sweet ‘Oh look !! A prezzy for me ??’ little happy dance gesture before he scooped it up. He took a look at the badge, and immediately put it on his head and pranced around a good while. It fit his head well, and I must say, he looked so fine. BTW…I purposely waited a few songs in before tossing it on the stage to give his hair a chance to hold it’s own before the efforts of his craft began to take it’s toll, lol ! Speaking of carefully affixed, badges, I noticed during Stevie’s set that one of my own…a very special badge, the silver Smiler silhouette one that originally belonged to Rita, was no longer on my purse. I was frantically looking all around (the people beside and in back also looking for it), and I knew it couldn’t have gone far. A few minutes later, I realized it was stuck up on the bottom of my shoe, and I was so relieved, lol ! I should probably keep it home safe and sound, but honestly, I feel good at shows bringing something of hers with me. She must have had a good chuckle over this, may she RIP.
So, next mission was the Celtic Scarf saved for ‘You’re In My Heart’ cause we all know he loves the Celtics, plus that’s Yve’s name too. I was thrilled to see him do his happy dance jesture AGAIN when he spied the scarf on the stage. He even gave it a kiss before he put it up.
‘Hot Legs’ starts and the crowd goes into ‘killer soccer ball mode’ and I had my sign ready …this time I even had it laminated it at work, lol, and Rod tosses a few close by and then one to my husband, YAY !! Feeling sorry for the couple next to him, he passed her my sign, she held it up and scored one too !
Rod’s energy seemed good, but I noticed he left the really hard (loud from the gut) singing to the girls. He did not even attempt to do the usual ‘belting out’ ending to ‘Rythym of my Heart’ this time. I missed Bridget not being there, and this was my first time seeing a show with Lucy. She really looked like she loved being up there. She’s got a hell of a set of pipes, the girls all had a chance to shine, some more than others. I watched Paul alot while they were seated in their ‘unplugged segment’, he was a man so deeply engrossed in what he was playing, it was endearing to see. Janna had a little help with the strings from a local group in Tulsa. I left a very happy lady, many Thanks to Rod and Stevie for a lovely evening. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the Heart and Soul tour once last year, and once this year, and now I look forward to a new direction for Rod.
Photo’s by Donna Lee Manus
