What's this, then? A Rod Stewart revival? Having spent two decades trotting out covers albums, the 68-year-old relocated his songwriting powers on his latest record, Time, scoring his first number one album in 34 years in the process.
Consequently, there was an excitement around his show at the O2 last night that went beyond pure nostalgia. Dressed in a white jacket, he strutted on stage backed by an eight-piece band, which included in its ranks the most overworked saxophonist in history and a guitarist with an even more ridiculous hairdo than Rod’s.
Things began brightly with new song Can’t Stop Me Now, a guitar-driven rocker reminiscent of Stewart’s early work with The Faces.
But his once legendary pipes soon began to fail him. “I’m suffering from a virus tonight and it’s affecting my voice,” croaked Stewart, whose voice has actually been in decline for the best part of a decade.
Not that it mattered: he could have spent the entirety of the two hours making farting noises and still have been applauded, such is the level of devotion he still inspires from his fans. Instead, Stewart divided the set into two types of songs: sitting-down songs and standing-up songs. From the former camp, the stripped-down Brighton Beach may be the best ballad he’s written since Maggie May. From the latter, Finest Woman — a strutting, Rolling Stones-esque stomper — was given the full hairdryer treatment.
Rhythm of My Heart was dedicated to “our British troops, wherever they are in the world”, while two of Rod’s many children joined him late on — clad in full Celtic regalia, naturally. An encore of Sailing united the O2 in song. He’d survived — but this was one rocky voyage.
The O2 Arena, Jun 6, rodstewart.com
