Live Review: Rod Stewart
The Hits! Australian Tour 2023 with Cyndi Lauper at the RAC Arena Perth on 11 March 2023.
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
He appears as suave as a rhythm and blues superstar, and oozing the vitality of the front row revellers. The gentleman, donned in showbiz-grade suit and skinny pants, seems to own a wardrobe the size of Imelda Marcos’ 1987 shoe collection. But his hairdo is stuck in a time warp, unhindered since the days when My Three Sons was aired in black and white. Nevertheless, the debonaire wriggled on stage, slithering and sliding, triggering a vocal tremor across the arena from the fanfare of fifteen thousand. He moonwalks vicariously, leaning backwards and forwards, arms swinging and hips gyrating, then revealing the inner garment of his jacket without a reason – but the crowd are smitten by every physical personification of his infectious charm.
The singer may be the main act, but the stage is beatified by a bevy of ladies, like the assistants to a Copperfield show. But tonight they’re multitasking as guitarists, harpist, violinists, dancers and backup vocalists – some possessing the soaring vocals of Christina Aguilera.
As the singer jiggles on stage, he asked the same question for forty five years through his distinctive raspy vocals, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Close to becoming an octogenarian, Rod Stewart is among the most successful music artists of all time, selling over a quarter of a billion records, including ten number one albums in the UK. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. According to the James Brown, Stewart is “the best white soul singer”, and from tonight’s performance, The I Got You (I Feel Good) singer is on the money.
The Englishman sparked the setlist with Addicted to Love, a Robert Palmer cover. It may be surprising to some casual listeners that Rod opened a setlist with a cover, but those who have been in existence since Rod’s inception to fame would know that many of his hits are covers, elevating the originals to soaring heights.
The stage presence and antics were engrained from song one; Stewart was surrounded by a bevy of ladies with guitars and keytar, like in the scene of the video of Robert Palmer. He trotted the stage and engaged with the crowd early in the night, occasionally pointing at the fans and chatting with the swaying, glowy musicians. It was a fitting spark to the night – as arguably the title resonated with the colourful chapters of Stewart’s life.
Moreover, it has been well document that the Order of the British Empire recipient has lived a fruitful life, sipping into the luxuries that money and fame can and can’t buy such as fast cars and mansions on a private island, and of course – beautiful women. So one might wonder if Some Guys Have All the Luck was a self-extolment – as if Rod was singing about himself. If the deliberate stance and winks were giveaways, it appeared the tease was genuine.
The night was fused with classics, the sing alongs and the anthems of our lives, with Stewart leading a karaoke mass of fifteen thousand, notably during It Takes Two, a track he recorded with Tina Turner.
“I did this song a while back with the wonderful Tina Turner. We did a Pepsi Cola commercial together, and we shared a suite together – but nothing happened! We did have a joining room – but nothing happened…and she’d eat me alive anyway.”
Maggie May literally became the karaoke song with lyrics displayed on the big screen. Released in 1971, it’s a track written about a boy who fell for an older woman – and yes it was based on Stewart’s first time. The track may be fifty years old, but the vibe of infatuation and vulnerability were still lingering in his performance.
The night had many facets of entertainment – Forever Young became an Irish dance party as the backup vocalists and musicians became the dancers, who then strutted their talent in a scene reminiscent to Michael Flatley’s Riverdance. Rhythm of the Heart was an anti war stance, a dedication to Ukraine and the heroism of the people and their fearless leader Zelensky, while the singer wore the colours of the Ukrainian flag for this set. Images of the American civil rights movement were shown on the screen as Stewart sang People Get Ready.
“It feels very much home here. I tell you why, the streets are nice and clean, but you can’t buy f*cking starbucks, otherwise we love it here. Anyhow, you’ll love this one…”
Harpist Julia Thornton then gracefully weaved the strings at the intro, evoking a transcendental experience through the mellifluous movement of her arms, manifesting the enchanting sounds, as the hypnotised crowd were mesmerised, lending their appreciation with a rapturous applause, before the guitarist cut into one of the most recognisable riffs in First Cut Is The Deepest. Hysteria sparked, while reopening old wounds for some.
The acoustic set…
The acoustic set was the favourite for many. Sitting in a row with his musicians, I don’t Want to Talk About It was the first track performed among a series of poignant nostalgia, ballads of the broken souls and love struck adolescence. The sax was breathtaking. It may have been decades since Rod’s heart was broken, but he sang like a devastated man who doesn’t want to talk about his pain, asking his lover to listen to his heart instead.
Written by Stewart, Tonight’s The Night was the next track on the acoustic set. It was highly controversial at the time of release. Nevertheless, the 46 year old single is the most successful song for Rod Stewart, becoming the 19th most popular song in the history of the Billboard. The chorus was sung by almost every individual of the fifteen thousand, with conviction – and a mission in mind. Unlike the official video, eye-to-eye contact with a teenage girl was replaced by public serenading with the mainly matured crowd. Times have changed. Yet, the Englishman performed the song with the eagerness of a love struck and amorous young man.
“One more song and we’ll pick up the tempo and any lose change on the stage.” Have I Told You Lately (that I love You) was the last set of the acoustic chapter of end-to-end bangers. The serenading was requited by a sea of mobile lights dotting the arena.
The night ended with Da Ya Think I’m Sexy which became the party anthem of the night, followed by the soothing Sailing.
By the end of this shift, fans had come to realise about the cathartic vibe of Rod’s performance; the soothing and comforting essence he manifests through the raspy delivery. He may reopen old wounds – but he patches the heartbreak by the virtue of his lyrical propagation. At seventy eight years of age, Rod Stewart could still hit those high registers while maintaining the honesty and conviction of the storyline.
Cyndi Lauper
Without a doubt, Cyndi Lauper is a super sub if she’s not the featured act. Afterall, she’s able to command an arena crowd of her own, thus becoming one of the most anticipated supporting acts in recent times. The American was as animated as she was in the 80s, opening the setlist with Hole in My Heart. With an hour allocated, she was given a generous slot, much to the joy of the fans. Naturally, the likes of Time After Time, True Colour and Girls Just Want to Have Fun were part of the bangers list. Sally’s Pigeons was a mesmerising take with the big screen showing images of the pigeon with the lyrics, ensuring the crowd was fully engaging. Many had come to watch Cyndi – who was the epitome of girl power of the 80’s and influenced the subsequent generation through multiple journeys. Fast forward to 2023, the essence of her powerful projection and the trademark high registers remained in tact.
Rod Stewart is touring with Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens across Australia. Visit Live Nation Australia for tickets and info.
Sheldon Ang Media expresses his gratitude to Live Nation Australia, Revolutions Per Minute, Rod Stewart and Cindy Lauper for the Press Accreditation and Reviewer seats.
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review the hottest acts in Perth including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Sting, Harry Styles, Backstreet Boy, KISS and Florence + The Machine with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Fabulous Caprittos and Synthony on social media. He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Ian Moss (Cold Chisel) and forty other legends.
