Main photo by Robert Martino
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Etess Arena Atlantic City, New Jersey
On Saturday the tour came to New Jersey Robert Martino, Roland Macher and Kenneth John Napalo were at the show and got some great photos and here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt
The cream of the crop: Rod Stewart thrills Atlantic City
How does Bruce Springsteen’s song ‘Atlantic City’ put it so aptly? ‘Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City’.
There were plenty of reasons to dress up and spend an evening in Atlantic City yesterday. One of them was Sir Rod Stewart’s performance at ‘Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena’ – the British singer’s fifth concert on his US tour this year.
Outside, the weather was rather unpleasant in the gambling city on the east coast of the US state of New Jersey, some 200 kilometres from New York City. Inside, in the Etess Arena, located directly on the boardwalk, which was filled to capacity, around 7,000 fans eagerly awaited the performance of music superstar Rod Stewart. He took to the stage punctually at 8 p.m., waved briefly to the crowd and then opened the evening with Robert Palmer’s classic ‘Addicted To Love’. It was the starting signal for another magnificent journey through music history.
As usual, the singer relied on his own hits, but also on a few cover songs, some of which only became the big hits that music fans around the world know today thanks to Stewart’s interpretation.
By the time he performed the Sam Cooke cover ‘Havin’ A Party’, the audience was warmed up and dancing their hearts out. Those in the arena who weren’t keen on dancing tried their hand at singing along to the songs, sometimes with less than perfect results. But there was no shortage of fun on and off stage at any point during the evening. This was also due to the fact that Sir Rod was always in the mood for a little banter, winking at the front row here or high-fiving a few audience members there. And the 81-year-old not only had rock hits like ‘Young Turks’ and ‘Hot Legs’ in his repertoire, but also sentimental songs like ‘You’re In My Heart,’ ‘The Killing Of Georgie’ and ‘Have I Told You Lately.’
The audience proved to be particularly familiar with the lyrics, which clearly delighted the star on stage.
Compared to Thursday’s show in St. Augustine, ‘Tonight’s The Night’ returned to the set list, while ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ slipped to the end of the evening and became the last big highlight of the show, with oversized balloons raining down from the ceiling.
When Stewart and his once again magnificent musicians (needless to say, word should have gotten around by now) left the stage with a final wave to the audience, two hours had passed far too quickly for many visitors.
‘Rod is simply a legend,’ said fan Jason. And Maria, who had a seat right at the front of the stage, hastened to add: ‘He was incredible, what a great concert tonight.’ Judy agreed: ‘It was fantastic, Jersey loves you, Rod.’
And Ted wished Rod would spend a little more time in town. “He could have visited our model railway club here. That would have been great, but okay, the concert was still top notch.”
Set list:
Addicted To Love
You Wear It Well
Having A Party
Have You Ever Seen The Rain
Ooh La La
Hot Legs
Tonight’s The Night
You’re In My Heart
Forever Young
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Young Turks
Downtown Train
Lady Marmalade (band only)
The Killing Of Georgie
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (band only)
It Takes Two
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Love Train
The First Cut Is The Deepest
TD Coliseum Hamilton, ON
Tuesday saw the tour hit Hamilton John Stenabaugh, Pat Sturch and Chris Anthony got plenty of shots of the stageand here is a round up from Martin Heidt
Rod Stewart in Hamilton: Return after nine years
Older fans could still remember Sir Rod Stewart’s last performance in Hamilton, Canada. That was in 2007, when the TD Coliseum was still called Copps Coliseum and Sir Rod was touring the United States with his “Rockin” In The Round’ tour.
Yesterday, the British singer returned to the western end of Lake Ontario after around nine years. And his fans in the Canadian city – located around 70 km west of Toronto – flocked in droves; they had not forgotten their idol. Everyone wanted to enjoy the man with the big nose and the same hairstyle live once again.
With around 18,000 fans, the venue was sold out to the last seat when Sir Rod opened the evening at 7.30 pm sharp. And Stewart had his hits with him as always. ‘You Wear It Well’, ‘Hot Legs’ and ‘It Takes Two’ – there was hardly anything he couldn’t offer the audience at his fifth appearance in Hamilton in around 40 years. ‘I haven’t been here for so long,’ Rod greeted the audience at the start. ‘How have you been since then?’
Certainly very well that evening, because everyone who came got their money’s worth. There was something for everyone in the 24-song set list. Some were amazed at how fit Sir Rod still is at his advanced age. “This man is just incredible, he jumps and dances like in his heyday and his voice is still strong. Not quite as powerful as it used to be, but still top notch.‘ Lorna from Hamilton couldn’t stop raving as she left the hall in her newly purchased Rod Stewart T-shirt under her jacket.
Which song did she like best? ’All of them, they were all great. Although I would have liked to hear “Baby Jane”.” As she passed by, Wendy called out to us: ‘Fantastic show tonight, just great.’ And her friend Karen added: ‘Sir Rod never disappoints. I was here nine years ago, I was here today, and I hope he comes back to Hamilton again.’
Like the tall blonde, many people were surely thinking the same thing that evening. But it shouldn’t take another nine years until then.
Set list:
Addicted To Love
You Wear It Well
Ooh La La
Havein A Party
Tonight I’m Yours
It’s A Heartache
Hot Legs
Tonight’s The Night
You’re In My Heart
Forever Young
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Young Turks
Downtown Train
I’m Every Woman (band only)
The Killing Of Georgie
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (band only)
It Takes Two
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Da ya Think I’m Sexy
Love Train
The First Cut Is The Deepest
At the show Dave Palmer was presented with a new Ebenor Walnut snare by Gilles from Ebenor Percussion from Quebec
This week’s Rod Art
This week we feature the work of Dutch artist Rutger Gret who has done some amazing portraits of his music heroes a personal collection of the pop/rock artists of the 60s and 70s that he grew up with at home
Rutger told SMILER this week “The illustration is hand penciled, then hand inked and finally digitally colored, Sir Rod is No. 7 in the series: he is drawn with the Merida A17-DCEH Dreadnaught acoustic/electric guitar”.
To see the rest in the series and other work by Rutger go to https://www.instagram.com/dutchluckyluke/ or www.facebook.com/dailyscribbles
Women of the World
On Wednesday Penny was at St James’s Palace for a royal celebration of women.
Her Majesty The Queen hosted a Women of the World reception to celebrate International Women’s Day, where she addressed a group of invited leading women, politicians, and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
Penny also joined Isle of Wight MP Joe Robertson in a national commission exploring the challenges facing older workers – also on board arer, Anglea Rippon and Liz Earle.
The Beyond Midlife Commission, launched by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) to address why so many people over the age of 50 are now out of work.
The commission brings together voices from business, politics and the public and third sectors.
Penny and her mum Sally also attended The Cheltenham Gold Cup on today [Friday] the big race was won by Gaelic Warrior.
And don’t forget if you are still stuck for a Mothers day gift for your Mum we highly recommend Penny’s new paperback version of Someone Like Me
What’s On
Penny will be signing copies of her new paperback book tomorrow at Waterstones Bishop’s Stortford [Saturday 14th March] at 1pm.
Free event and all welcome, however, we recommend arriving in advance of 1pm to avoid disappointment.
📍Waterstones,
12 South Street, CM23 3AT
And Finally…
Is anyone going to Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, PPL Center
Allentown, PA, or April’s Boling Arena @ Food City Center Knoxville, TN, Orion Ampitheater Huntsville, AL or Cynthia Woods Mitchel Pavilion
Houston, TX?…If you are we are sure you will have an amazing night so don’t forget to send in some photos
And anyone heading to the show on Saturday night call in Gems & Joe Coffee shop in Allentown show your ticket and get 10% off any special!..tell them SMILER sent you!
See you next week….
One reply on “This week’s news and gossip”
‘Georgie’, welcome back to U.S. setlist ! Hope you’re still there 31st July 😉