SIR ROD STEWART // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
Touring hit most cherished hits; Sir Rod Stewart put on a show dripping with a lavish indulgence, although slightly bordering into cliché, he propelled himself deeper into the hearts and souls of his fans.
SIR ROD PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 26.11.2019
PICTURE BY: | CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Sir Rod Stewart has been stirring the musical mod pot for nearly six decades and, at 74 years old, his latest tour demonstrates his love and appreciation all that has taken him to where he is today.
In his early days, Stewart worked with the groups The Dimensions and The Jeff Beck Group. He then fronted The Small Faces in 1969 – who became The Faces to signify the line-up change – and releasing his first solo album that same year. In 1971, Stewart put out the solo album “Every Picture Tells a Story”. This work started to establish Stewart as strong, independent figure in the industry. The Faces parted ways in 1975 after a quietly successful career that has left them highly regarded by rock and roll fans and stars, but Stewart was more than ready to focus on his own career.
With 30 solo studio albums recorded by the icon, no one can question his work ethic – even if a significant portion of his most acclaimed hits are covers. In 2007, Stewart was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music; and in 2016 he was given the dignity of Knight Bachelor for his work as a musician and his charitable efforts.
In September of this year, Stewart revealed at charity event that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017. The singer spoke of being given the all-clear and of the value of prostate exams for men. Stewart has faced cancer before as in 2000 he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer which he was able to have successfully treated without chemotherapy.
Taking to the stage with the sound of bagpipes, Sir Rod Stewart came out looking on fine form on the first night of his trio of performances in Glasgow for his 2019 tour. The night was sold out and a giddy crowd filled the large arena. To start, we saw a flourish of covers with the soulful hits ‘Some Guys Have All the Luck’ by The Persuaders, ‘Having a Party’ by Sam Cooke, and ‘It Takes Two’ by Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye.
Stewart told the audience to “pace yourselves” for the two hour show to come but this was most likely an instruction to himself as he had plenty in store for his audience. He whizzed though whopping near half a dozen outfit changes throughout the night. In the acoustic sections of the set, he buzzed and jittered in his chair like he wanted to leap up and dance. He introduced he multi-talented band as they played solos and he gave off a genuine appreciation for them all with a clear fondness for his fringe-clad instrumentalists.
The 1972 hit ‘You Wear It Well’ and the Hambone Willie Newbern cover ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’’ sounded particularly great with Stewart’s aging vocals. Although his voice has lost some of its depths, it still has that penetrating, gravelly rawness that Stewart in known for. He played ‘Maggie May’ with a slow building intro before exploding it into the classic party singalong that one might expect. Emotions built as he ran through the Cat Stevens cover ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’ and Crazy Horse’s ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’ before launching into the glorious ‘You’re In My Heart,’ completed with tribute to Celtic FC – a team which Stewart is huge supporter and a shareholder.
The emotion continued with the deeply powerful ‘Grace’ and having also played ‘The Killing of Georgie’ earlier, pride beamed from him as he spoke of his troubles with BBC after they banned these tracks. He played the tender Van Morrison track ‘Have I Told You Lately’ and couples in the crowd gripped each other.
As the set began to draw to a close, Stewart played ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ and there was something so triumphant to see a man of his age playing such a risqué number; completed with cheesy dancing, there is no way it could fail to make the viewers smile. The singalong continued with dance floor favourite ‘Baby Jane’ and the sentimental ‘Sailing’ before a brief interlude and outfit change. The night was finished with The Faces’ treasured track ‘Stay With Me.’ Attendees exulted in the joyous atmosphere and roared for their icon; he had done himself proud.
Sir Rod Stewart is still devoted to uplifting a crowd and he proved that his tracks still have the power to. His charm and warmth radiates and, although he has faced many hardships in his time, he is still the powerhouse he was 50 years ago.
SETLIST: | SIR ROD STEWART : THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW - 26.11.2019
Some Guys Have All the Luck - (The Persuaders cover)
Having a Party - (Sam Cooke cover)
It Takes Two - (Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston cover)
Rhythm of My Heart - (Marc Jordan cover)
You Wear It Well
Forever Young
The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)
I’d Rather Go Blind - (Etta James cover)
Rollin’ and Tumblin’ - (Hambone Willie Newbern cover)
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
Maggie May
Downtown Train - (Tom Waits cover)
Dirty Old Town - (The Pogues cover)
The First Cut Is The Deepest - (Cat Stevens cover)
I Don’t Want to Talk About It - (Crazy Horse cover)
You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
Grace - (Traditional cover)
Have I Told You Lately - (Van Morrison cover)
Go Your Own Way - (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Baby Jane
Sailing - (Sutherland Brothers cover)
Stay With Me - (Faces song)