Orlando Florida spends a sold-out evening with the living legend Sir Rod Stewart.
The Amway Center of Orlando, Florida is one of central Florida’s largest and Premier concert venues. Packing nearly 20,000 electrified concert-goers into this music establishment is no problem when Rod Stewart comes to town, even on a Thursday evening.
Rows and rows of fans, with ages ranging from young children to 70 plus, could be seen politely filing into the massive venue. T-shirts and concert swag representing a 50 plus year career are adorned by the diverse group of smiling fans. Inside you will find a well-organized operation, with the Amway Center seating giving all a great view of the enormous stage brought by Stewart’s entourage.
Just after 9 p.m., we see the stage begin to animate as the shadows of preparations start to take life. 9:10 p.m., the gigantic monitors suspended above center stage illuminate in synchrony with the stage lights, revealing the 12 plus members of Team Stewart taking up their prospective positions for the night’s performance. Looking more like an orchestral symphony equipped with “doo-wop” singers, than a pop-rock production that includes a brass section, string section, dual drummers, and 6 backup singers bedazzled for the night’s event.
Rod took the stage almost immediately, greeting his standing ovation with a legendary boyish smile, and most famous hair-do a.k.a “perfectly messy.” Stewart with outstretched hands, humbly took in the energy as the crowd roared to life. Sporting a pair of fancy gold and green fashionable skateboard sneakers and wielding his checkered mic stand like a Jedi light-sabre, Rod jumped to life with the athleticism of a 40-year-old man. The band chimes in and the night is underway with the first instalment of a 1 hour and 45-minute set: opening the show with “Soul Finger.”
Rod’s vocals are spot-on and he performs with the vim and vigour of yester year. Fans are treated to a set that reads like a greatest hits album, Rod covering all of his staples of fame: “Infatuation,” the great Sam Cooke cover, “Twisting The Night Away,” and “Some Guys Have All The Luck.” A special audience participation version of “Maggie May,” with Rod getting special backups of the famous line “I wish I’d never seen your face,” straight from a crowd of nearly 20,000.
Crowd-pleaser and sax specialist, Jimmy “The Sax-man” Roberts was on hand to churn out some soul-stirring saxophone solos, while guitarist Emerson Swinford electrified all with his playing. The lovely ladies of the Rod Stewart production brought with them a host of talents including: violins, harps, horns and a litany of dance moves, and creamy vocal grooves.
Stewart prepared to release his 30th studio album, September 28th, of 2018, entitled Blood Red Roses and gave the audience a treat to a sneak peek of his newest single, “Hole In My Heart.” After great reception to his latest piece, Rod got right back to the golden era with a smoking rendition of Tom Waits cover, “Downtown Train.”
Stewart pressed on, with the starting of a well-conditioned athlete and right into “Have I Told You Lately” (Van Morrison cover,) and then “Nutbush City Limits,” (Ike and Tina Turner cover.) Of course, the crowd favorite “Do You Think I’m Sexy” came next.
As the finishing notes decayed, and fans gushing sweat and tears, Sir Rod Stewart is seen humbly smiling with hands of gratitude outstretched for the crowd. The last serving comes as an intimate encore of Rod’s classic “Sailing.” Nearly two hours and twenty-one songs later, this epic musical journey has come to a close. Rod Stewart, at 73 years of age is a true showman, an entertainer, a legendary singer and a gentleman to his audience. Get out there now and catch his tour… you just might have a hard time keeping up with his dance moves. Tour dates and details of Rod’s upcoming release Blood Red Roses can be found at the Rod Stewart official website.
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Rod Stewart
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Event Date: 26-JUL-2018