Sir Rod likes Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena. He visited twice in 2016.
This might not be the 250 capacity Boat Club he started out at, but the arena’s the most intimate space you’re likely to see him in this century.
You know what to expect with Rod, who always plays his biggest songs, but there are often surprises. This is ‘his biggest ever UK tour’. How many acts do that at the age of 74?
The opener, minor hit Infatuation, is an odd choice, but gets the groove going. Young Turks takes things up a notch.
He hits his first killer punch with his second number one, You Wear It Well. He’s in his stride, in front of a superb stage set whose multiple backdrops include a gigantic video carousel above the stage.
Rod, red scarf poking out of tight bullfighter’s trousers, tells us to forget Brexit, Trump and the EU because "we’re here to enjoy ourselves".
Then it’s Tonight I’m Yours. Hit follows hit, including a rousing Maggie May and a moving Killing of Georgie.
Tonight’s highlights also include a cracking I’d Rather Go Blind, the only song from his Faces days, and a wonderful, poignant I Don’t Want To Talk About It.
He tore a ligament at his Cork show the other night, he explains, "doing a dance a man of my age shouldn’t do", then sits down for the acoustic set.
There’ll be no footballs kicked into the audience tonight, but we do get the big balloons. He feels his thigh, then throws himself into show closer Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.
Stewart is always generous to his musicians, who each get solo spots, full introductions and plenty of opportunity to dance, sing or anything (now there’s a song I’d like to hear him do).
This was the fourth time I’ve seen him at the arena, and he’s never sung better. The two hour show concludes with a single, snappy encore of Baby Jane.
"It was good, wasn’t it?" he says, before the curtains close a second time.
Yes, Rod, it was.
Setlist
Infatuation
Young Turks
You Wear It Well
Tonight’s the Night
Forever Young
Rhythm of my Heart
Some Guys Have All the Luck
The Killing of Georgie
Tonight I’m Yours
I’d Rather Go Blind
Going Home: Theme from Local Hero (guitarists)
Acoustic set:
Grace
I Don’t Want To Talk About It
The First Cut is the Deepest
You’re in my Heart
Have I Told You Lately
Footsteps (female singers)
Twistin’ the Night Away
Sailing
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy
Encore:
Baby Jane
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