“One more song and we’ll pick up the tempo and any loose change on the stage”

We arrived at the Hershey Park Stadium on Saturday evening August 20th about 15 minutes after Sir Rod started. Dave is having health issues and now very walks slowly with a cane. We intentionally wanted to arrive after Cheap Trick but certainly didn’t plan to miss a moment of Rod.

We unfortunately missed the opening tribute to Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” which I was really looking forward to seeing live. When I’ve watched the videos from other shows, I’ve been reminded of 1997 at Wembley’s “Songs and Visions” when Rod sang “Some Guys” with Palmer.

Rod said in an interview promoting this tour “I want to move on and just do the classics and the swing stuff, but I don’t want to be singing Hot Legs’ when I’m 80,” referring to his “Great American Songbook” collection and a forthcoming album he’s recorded which he describes as rock and roll-styled swing tunes. “I’m not retiring, but this will be the last time we do these songs in America. I just want to make a clean sweep.”

If I ever needed an excuse to see Rod—and the operative word here is “IF” —this would be it! We normally travel to as many shows as possible during any given Rod tour. With Dave and I both retired now, we thought this would be the time to break all previous records of number of shows attended. Forget that we’ve been to 250 or so shows thus far. However, sadly this may have been Dave’s last Rod show or at least the last one he will remember. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to know this was your last Rod show.

Now that the 24 dates for 2022 US tour will run into the summer of 2023–with our hometown show in Pittsburgh rescheduled for August of 2023–who knows—maybe I could get to a few more shows.

By the way, weathered die-hard Rod fans will remember a time when Rod also said he didn’t want to be singing “DYTIS” when he was 40! Well, both “Hot Legs” and “DYTIS” were on this 77- year old rock star’s set list in Hershey! And may I say–he smashed it!

Rod thanked the crowd for spending their money in coming to the show—as he should—the prices of platinum tickets are high. I’m glad I wasn’t front row! Yes, I said it! I’m glad I wasn’t front row! The fourth row provided a much better view of the immense staging, the videos, and all the mischief going on by the singer and the band, and the interesting “ahem” videos that appeared on the screens. Quite impressive production.

Toward the end of “Rhythm of my Heart” the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine was up on the screen followed by a photo of President Zelenskyy to whom Rod saluted. As he proceeded to walk off stage—and I waited for it—he didn’t disappoint with the expected “F#@K Putin” retort. Well said Rod!

When the tour was originally scheduled to start in 2020 it was billed to be on the tails of his London Philharmonic album “You’re in my Heart”. Certainly, a lot of things have changed since 2020 but I think the only song he sang in that format was “Maggie May” which was beautifully done but disappointing that there weren’t more. I absolutely love those arrangements.

It wouldn’t be a Rod Stewart concert without a few cocked-up lyrics—I think they were mainly during “Baby Jane”. And boy was I elated he sang that! Toward the end of the sit down, he said “One more song and we’ll pick up the Tempo and any loose change on the stage”. And during “People get Ready” he apologized that he had something caught in his throat, but it was hardly noticeable. Make no mistake-Rod’s vocal cords are in great shape!

Toward the end of the show when he finished “Hot Legs” and kicking the soccer balls, he and the band exited the stage, there was the usual pause and the crowd yelled and clapped for more. But then the recorded music came on as though the show was over—of course my heart sunk—then suddenly that music stopped; and Rod and the band came out to do the outstanding “Stay with Me”. Whew!

Through an expression of unbelievable kindness, we were invited backstage after the show to see Rod. When Rod came over to us, he made a beeline straight to “Big Dave” as he calls him, hugged him a couple of times and even kissed him on the cheek. (I was chopped liver but didn’t care!) I tried to hide Dave’s cane for the photo but Rod in his usual humorous fashion grabbed it from behind my back and posed with it. It was an especially wonderful encounter with Rod. He even scribbled another message on my sign. Rod and his team’s heartfelt kindness brought a tear to my eye. Thank you, Sir Rod! You will always be my STAR!