I made one of those silly bets with myself a few days before the show that if it was PERFECT weather on show night, it would be a sign from above that it would be a PERFECT show. FYI~my idea of perfect weather means clear skies, low 70’s, and low humidity so my hair won’t frizz. So Tuesday’s weather forecast came on and the word PERFECT was actually used to describe the evening weather conditions. I thought it was very cruel for the weather forecast folks to torture me and get my hopes up. I used a “ticket broker” (appropriate name since you are broke after you pay their prices) and I was praying the 2 legitimate looking tickets were actually genuine. After the tickets were scanned and no sirens went off and no cage fell down from the ceiling to trap us, I knew all was well and we were escorted to front row. I came to the show with a couple of “Rod goodies”… a Celtic scarf, a black cowboy hat, and a sign asking for a ball (I have no pride, lol). Rod came on, the audience loudly welcomed him and he introduced Stevie and hightailed it off stage. I think maybe his initial presence helped spur on a warm welcome for Stevie and her band. Stevie looked quite beautiful and her voice really sounded good and strong throughout her entire set. I was concerned she would hold notes for too long (warble) and she avoided that. I happen to think Waddy is an excellent guitarist and wished he would have come to our side of the stage more often than he did. The set list for her was:
Stand Back; Outside the Rain; Dreams; Secret Love; Sorcerer; Gold Dust Woman; You Wreck Me (Tom Petty cover); piano interlude; Rhiannon; Landslide; Edge of Seventeen. Encore: Love Is She dressed in black flowing gypsy mystical~looking clothing and I noticed she had “real heels” on her boots instead of the “old lady wedges” that some mean spirited critic had to point out in his review of this tour. I listened to her talk between songs and in what she says, she portrays a childlike innocence. Also, the videos of white horses remind you of the stuff young girl dreams are made of. It could have been real or just how she chooses to portray herself to the audience. I enjoyed her set.Down came the Choo Choo curtain and I knew what I had went there for was about to happen. The lights went down, the music and videos began, the band members appeared and finally…Rod took the stage and the crowd welcomed him loudly and clearly. He was in good spirits, his energy was full throttle, and I knew we were in for a fabulous show. When he strolled by the first few times, he gave a few grins and nods in my direction, but it wasn’t until I pulled out the Celtic scarf and waved it during You’re in my Heart that I was positive I had his full attention and that I must get the scarf to him. Our seats were to the right of the center and there was about 6 feet of space between the barricade and the stage…so I worked my way thru the front rowers until I reached the small protruding semi circle middle stage where he came to me, grinned and nodded, up went the scarf, he grabbed it and wrapped it around his neck. I was beyond thrilled from his reaction. After Rod stepped back the pit asshole guy whispered to me I needed to go back and I was giggling like an idiot the whole way back to my seat. BTW…this was the set list: Rod Stewart: Love Train; Tonight’s the Night; Havin’ a Party; Passion (with Stevie Nicks); Leather and Lace (with Stevie Nicks); Forever Young; The First Cut is the Deepest; This Old Heart of Mine; Twistin’ the Night Away; Some Guys Have All the Luck; Downtown Train; Reason to Believe; You’re In My Heart; Sweet Little Rock and Roller; It’s a Heartache; Rhythm of My Heart; Knock on Wood (backup singers); Have I Told You Lately; Hot Legs; Maggie May. Encore: Do Ya Think I’m Sexy
So, mission accomplished for the scarf. Cloud Nine 100% Rod’s voice was strong and his pitch was great too. He hit all the “hard” notes too. He ran around that stage like a man half his age. He stayed pretty still when he did the duets with Stevie. I thought that looked better than him running circles around her like I had seen in some youtube videos. Being front row gives you the luxury of seeing all the little goings on in the darkened shadows of the stage which really makes the connection to the show even stronger. Hot Legs came on the balls started flying. Rod approached me, gave a nod and tossed the ball, and a freakin maniac to the side of us grabbed it and I was like oh shit ! I was devastated and remember yelling “that ball was meant for me” !! I grabbed my sign holding it up to let Rod know I was ball~less and when he started coming back towards us I put the sign down…. he was holding a ball, he pointed to me, pointed to the ball, pointed at me again, I was so excited, the side maniacs knew not to dare interfere, I reached out as far as I could over the barricade, and he ever so gently tossed me my ball. Cloud TEN (yep, didn’t even know there was even a cloud ten til then) 100%. I was blissfully happy and my husband was guarding my ball but there was still one thing left…I was holding the cowboy hat and began contemplating it’s delivery and another pit asshole guy was giving me the stink~eye to let me know not to throw it on stage (stage was about 6 feet from the barricade). By Maggie May I knew time was running out for the hat. A pit non~asshole guy came up and asked me if I wanted him to lay it on the edge of the stage and I was grateful. Curtain came down, the hat was still on the edge of the stage, the place went dark, the encore began, the lights went up and there is Rod on stage wearing a cowboy hat (not mine, apparently someone else had the brilliant idea too, lol) BUT, one of his backup singers was proudly wearing “my” hat and I was just tickled pink ! I felt like I had come full circle. What a night, what a show, what a man. It really was PERFECT !
