Hi folk’s, had an email from Mike Walton on Tuesday 18th June asking if would like to do a revue on Rod’s concert in Birmingham the next day, but from a slightly different angle. With trepidation I agreed to do it, as I knew that it would be like doing homework at school which I bloody hated ! but here we go :
As many fellow SMILER’s know, I do a Rod Stewart tribute act, which is a great way to earn a living and preach the word of ‘Rod’, but first and foremost I’m just a Rod Stewart fan !
I hadn’t got a ticket for the show because of bloody ticketmaster and wasn’t going to pay stupid prices from rip-off tout’s, but managed to get my hands on two tickets for me and my wife Karen (also known in tribute world as Sharon Osbourne !) so many thanks to our friend Su who had two to spare ! Also managed to blag another two for my son Danny (some of you may have seen him playing bass guitar in The Facez ) and his girlfriend Alison from good mate Steve Dimmock ( Dimmo to you Smiler’s ) Cheers Steve !
Get out of bed on Wednesday and it’s a ‘Beautiful Morning’ ! ( see what I did there ! ) I went to see Our Hero for the first time in 1974 at Birmingham Odeon when I was 15 years old, and now a good few year’s older I was just as excited as I was back then !
The morning goes by as normal as ever and then a thought pop’s into my head : what do I wear ? I ask the missus and as usual is very helpfull and say’s ‘ I dunno’ ! Thanks Kaz !
Any way my thought’s go to what is Rod wearing on this tour, so out comes the black shirt, black trouser’s and white jacket and then on to do me barnet. None too shoddy think’s I !
Son Danny has offered to give us a lift with them, so great news, we can have a shandy or three ! They turn up at 5.00 pm, so off we go without a hitch ( so far ! )
We get to the N.E.C car park, and as it’s such great weather we decide to walk to the LG Arena instead of catching the bus.
Having got there after walking what seemed like a half marathon our Danny blurt’s out : ‘Dad…………..’what says I’………….’I’ve left the tickets in the car’ ! I bite my lip for the fear of the wrath of mein fuhrer Karen, and of he goes with bowed head back to the car, after telling him we’ll meet him in Wetherspoons to meet up with Dimmo, his wife Shaz, and our very own lovely Yve Paige.
We go through security only to be told that Wetherspoons isn’t here, it’s in the main hall ! Very kindly one of the security staff let us back out, and off we trek to the main hall.
After what seemed like another half marathon we get there and join the queue for much awaited drinkies !Quite a few people in there, so soon approached by every Tom, Dick and Harry wanting a photo with me. It was madness ! but I don’t mind it at all if it makes them happy, but I’m missing very important drinking ‘TIME’ ( see what I did there again ! ) Couldn’t see Dimmo or Yve , so after a couple of drinks we head off back to the LG Arena.
Bombarded again with people asking for pics ! We get back in there and get more drinks ( do I have a problem ? nah, it’s a Rod concert ! )
Still being asked for what seemed like thousands of pics, and Karen ask’s what ‘TIME’ ( hee hee, did it again ! ) Rod will be on as it’s now 8.05. I say don’t worry, I’ve heard he won’t be on untill about 8.20.
As I say that, I can hear ‘This Old Heart Of Mine’ playing in the arena. Oh sh.t !, he’s on !
As we rush down to find our seats we see Dimmo and Shaz on the barrier. Awright mate say’s Steve, get in here with us at the front. Very tempted, but as there’s security crawling all over the place, we decide to get to our seats instead.
Having found them somewhere in the middle on the floor area, Karen turns to me and say’s those immortal words : ‘ I can’t see a bloody thing’ !
I think for a minute, and suggest she goes down to the front to Dimmo and Shaz, and if everythings o.k I’ll follow in about 5 minutes, which we do and stay there without any bother for rest of the show ! At last a plan that worked ! and what a fantastic show it was ! Couldn’t believe how close we were to Rod and the band, Our Hero was in superb voice and the band are brilliant as they belt out hit after hit (See below for both Birmingham set lists) but a welcome addition was ‘Sexual Religion’, which I think should have been the first single release, but hey ho that’s just my opinion !
Rod ends the night with an encore of ‘Sailing’ with everyone in the arena singing their heart’s out ! What a fantastic night it was, with people leaving with beaming smiles !
As we turn around to leave, I get a tap on my shoulder, and who should it be but our very own Yve Paige ! she’d only been a few feet away from us ! ( hope you got some good pics Yve ! )
Anyway, off we go home, and I must say a great night was had by all, and once more, thanks Rod !!! can’t wait for the next one !
Hope you have enjoyed the ramblings of a very humble ‘Rod’ tribute and fan, and hope to see some of you at my show’s in the future !
Cheers, Garry Pease ( The Rod Stewart Experience ) xxx
Photograph by Yve Paige
Set list 19/6/13
This Old Heart Of Mine
You Wear It Well
Twistin’ the Night Away
Tonight’s the Night
Rhythm Of My Heart
Can’t Stop Me Now
The Killing of Georgie
Forever Young
The First Cut Is the Deepest
Have I Told You Lately
Brighton Beach
I Don’t Want to Talk About It
Sexual Religion.
Sweet Little Rock & Roller
You’re in My Heart
Soul Girl [Backing singers]
Hot Legs
Maggie May
Baby Jane
Encore:
Sailing
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Set list 20/6/13
This Old Heart Of Mine
You Wear It Well
Havin’ a Party
Tonight’s The Night
Rhythm Of My Heart
Can’t Stop Me Now
The Killing of Georgie
Forever Young
The First Cut Is the Deepest
Have I Told You Lately
Brighton Beach
I Don’t Want to Talk About It
She Makes Me Happy
Maggie May
Sweet Little Rock & Roller
You’re In My Heart
Soul Girl (Backing singers)
Gasoline Alley
Hot Legs
Baby Jane
Sailing
Encore:
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?