Worth waiting seven years for..

last Wednesday people in Tel Aviv were on their feet to make it to Hayarkon Park right on time. Rod Stewart was back in town – after seven long years.

Doors opened at 6 pm and about 20.000 people gathered in front of the stage and waited for the singer to come. Stewart, who arrived in Israel one day before the show, took the stage in a silver jacket and opened the night with “Havin’ a Party” and a short welcome speech: “Good evening my friends, thank you for coming out tonight. I’ll be here for an hour and 40 minutes. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourselves”.

Stewart’s voice was brilliant even if the sound sometimes wasn’t as good as the singer’s voice. The crowd was up on their feet from the very beginning. There was no surprise on the setlist, Rod presented one hit after another and the people were absolutely thankful for that. Tonight’s The Night, Maggie May and Forever Young, the Acoustic part including – amongst others – You’re in My Heart, I Don’t Want To Talk About It and Have I Told You Lately, and finally Da Ya Think I’m Sexy and Sailing [On which he did a duet with Israel’s well known singer Rita] closed the night.

Sandy Gold,A Rod fan located in Tel Aviv, was excited the whole day: “Oh my god, it’s 8 more hours until the beginning of the show and I am not breathing. Can’t wait for the man to come on stage”, she said Wednesday morning. “I waited seven years for Rod to come back.”

Sandy, who said she got her first SMILER magazine at the age of 12 had a fantastic night. “It was such a fantastic show, such a great night”.

Rod left the stage without an encore – as we already know over here. People left the venue and had some nice little after show meet ups in the cafes and pubs around Hayarkon Park.

All in all the concert in Tel Aviv was a night to remember for all those who attended. A local newspaper reported a day later: “The roughness of his voice, the ability to flirt with the audience – 72 year old singer Sir Rod Stewart is still at his best …”
And there is nothing more to add …..

Report by Martin Heidt
Photos by Sandy Gold