A very breakable and aged-looking woman riding home on the light rail train from Rod Stewart's all famous show Tuesday at Target Center said she has been going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's concerts since she was a young woman. And she added that she and Stewart are the same age, both 64.
"He's aged," she said sadly. "He doesn't move like he used to."
But then she smiled with a hint of wicked nostalgia. "But he moves a lot much better than I do," she said.
During his 90 minute show, Stewart sweated through three costume changes, strutted and twitched, wriggled a still lean fanny that could breath in shrieks and proved his late 40 something audience (the average age, possibly) that they were going to get a good show.
And they did. The crowd turning out for Stewart's concerts know all the songs and sing along to most of the lyrics. Stewart's music has been part of their lives and has underline memories. The fans come primed for a love fest.
And it's artfully managed, with nostalgic psychedelic visuals projected on a biggest screen, a trio of Motown like backup singers, a voluptuous blond female sax player and a backup band of top tier rocker talent.
Stewart's instantly recognized singing voice has diminished power, and it was obvious during Tuesday's agreement that he rations it. The backup performers pushed the songs, sometimes obliterating Stewart's trademark rasp, then backing off for a well known construction. You got the feeling the person operating the sound mixing equipment was following a script.
No matter. This wasn't an interpretive performance by the man once considered rock's best interpretive singer. This was a celebratory review of an era.
The songs, starting with "Some Guys Have All the Luck," included "It's a Heartache," "Forever Young," "Downtown Train," "The First Cut Is the Deepest," "Rhythm of My Heart," "Tonight's the Night," "Having a Party," "Have I Told You Lately," "You're in my Heart" and many others including an encore of "Maggie May," with whole sections sung a cappella by the conference.
Perhaps inevitably, not all the memories arouse by the songs were wonderful. To this listener, for agency, Stewart's upbeat appearance of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" brought back memories of the Vietnam War. Give me the Creedence Clearwater Revival account.
Of course, Stewart didn't sing all the hits; officially, there are more than 60 of them. I heard a few conference members yearning for "You Wear It Well" or "Infatuation." You can't have them all.
But Stewart did kick soccer balls,not problem at all lofting them high in the air more than halfway across the Target Center floor. What legs.
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