It was truly a fantastic show.  Rod stepped onto the stage in a snazzy shiny blue jacket – impeccably dressed as usual.  The crowd went crazy.  Everybody stood up and yelled and clapped.  Stewart seemed genuinely touched; even though I’m sure it’s the same reception he gets all over the world every time he performs.  He looked over the welcoming crowd, and, grinning broadly gave us all a big flat-handed Mickey Mouse wave, which the crowd returned enthusiastically.  Men in their sixties were waving like children seeing their favorite Disney character….it was a trip, and it was fun.

It’s as though after all these years he still finds the whole concert thing a bit curious, seeming constantly bemused.  Everybody around us was smiling.  Beaming, Stewart turned away from the crowd for a moment and then looked back at us as though we were one giant collective adorable puppy that was following him around. At 64 the man is absolutely dazzling and exudes a charisma that can’t be denied.  It was impossible to take your eyes off of him. He set a wonderfully cordial tone for the entire evening, and seems, indeed, to still be wearing it well.

Stewart began the show with “Some Guys Have All the Luck”, a song that has always seemed ironic to me – coming from a man who does seem to have all the luck.  His band consisted of mostly younger musicians, except for the guy on keyboards.  There were a couple of guitar players, a drummer, a woman playing a saxophone, a woman playing a mandolin…….and three backup singers Stewart introduced as “The Light Bulbs”.  The Light Bulbs wore blue dresses with rounded hems and billowy pleated skirts that shimmied as they danced.  Not to be denied their break…..when Stewart left the stage for a shirt change, The Light Bulbs prissed off stage right behind him.  It was funny.

His band was top notch, but I have heard better sax (no pun intended).  I decided later that it had to be her shoes.  She was wearing these insanely high heels while blowing a saxophone.  Sax players have to sway and bob and weave…..you can’t do that wearing shoes like that.  But her outfit was really stunning.  Her short dress had wide horizontal black and grey stripes that glittered incessantly.  Crummy sax, but her outfit was killer.

The rest of the songs that Stewart performed included “It’s a Heartache”, “Forever Young”, “The First Cut is the Deepest”, “Having a Party”, “You Wear it Well”, “Rhythm of My Heart”, “Tonight’s the Night”, “You’re in my Heart”, Twistin’ the Night Away”, “Maggie May”, “This Old Heart of Mine”, “Have I told You Lately”, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”, “Love Train”, “Hot Legs”, and Young Turks”.

I had lots of favorites I was hoping to hear but didn’t, like “Gasoline Alley”, “Only a Hobo”, “Dirty Old Town”, “I’m Losing You”, and so many more.  But there was nothing somber about this show.  Stewart made this night all about feeling good.

I’ve seen Rod Stewart perform three times over a span of 36 years.  I first saw him at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park in Dallas when I was about 15.  Rod Stewart was with The Faces, and they were the second opening band for Three Dog Night.  When Three Dog Night took the stage……..we left and went up the midway to ride. 30 years later my friend Ruth bemoaned not staying to hear Three Dog Night, but I never regretted it one bit.  I was there to see Rod Stewart, owner of that raspy, gravelly voice that entranced me whenever I heard it.  It was 1973 and The Faces included, along with Rod Stewart – Ron Wood and the late Ronnie Lane.

That lineup of talent didn’t stay together long, and I’m thrilled to this day that I got to see them live.  Back then Rod Stewart was still thin and gawky.  His hair was brown and he hadn’t yet matured into that classic nose of his.  Then there was all that audacious hair.  It was like a shag haircut, but the hair on top of his head stood straight up.  And it wasn’t just Rod Stewart’s voice that got my attention.  The songs were great and I had never been exposed to a mandolin before….used in a rock and roll song anyway.  And I remember a soccer ball being kicked around on the stage.  Who knew that was to become a hallmark of Rod Stewart concerts for the next 36 years and beyond.

The second time I saw him was about eight years ago at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  It was a terrible venue for Stewart.  I mean, really, a rodeo and livestock show?  There was no way he could create that intimacy between himself and his audience.  That’s one of the things he does so well.

But last Friday’s show was stellar.  The elegant stage was bathed in a backdrop of very tall and long white sheers that moved gently throughout the show.  Everyone on stage was dressed to the nines.  I like that about Rod Stewart.  He knows thousands of people have paid a lot of money to come and see him.  It’s a special event – and he dresses accordingly.  And, well, there is also the possibility that he just likes wearing fine, tailor made clothing.  Other artists of his stature seem to play down their sprawling and successful careers by appearing in holey jeans and tee shirts……when we all know damned well that they can afford to step up their wardrobe.  Maybe they shave, maybe they don’t. Stewart never tries to downplay his enormously successful career and the fact that he’s extremely wealthy by dressing like a bum. Why should he?  He isn’t an apologist.  He’s a hard working performer who believes in giving every show his all.

Another thing that separates Stewart from his contemporaries is his effort to connect with his fans.  I like it when a performer takes a moment to let the audience know that HE knows what city he’s in.  He even called us Houstonians (Wow, everybody got so excited!). Rod scans the crowd a great deal – so much so that there will happen a moment when it feels like he’s looking straight at you.  What a feeling.  And true to form, Stewart generously tossed and kicked about 40 soccer balls out into the audience.  When he had finished, he admonished the crowd by stating “Now, I’ve personally signed all of these balls, so take care of them”.  Probably best one didn’t come my way.  I would have sought it aggressively.

Stewart’s voice hasn’t changed in all these years.  It may even be better than ever.  His live performances still sound like his recordings.

I once saw a biography of Rod Stewart and was quite surprised to learn that he was a shy little boy.  Born into a happy middle class family in London, group singing was part of every family celebration.  Apparently little Roderick was far too shy to sing in front of family and friends………so he hid behind the piano when he sang!  That’s a long way from the hambone that he is today, and I say that with great affection.

It’s been said that musical artists who have been around such a long time have provided the ‘sound track to our lives’.  It sounds altogether cliché…….but it’s still the truth.  And speaking of truths, anybody who hasn’t heard Rod Stewart’s amazingly powerful vocals on the 1968 Jeff Beck TRUTH album – go to ITUNES and download those songs and prepare to be awed.  When I hear Rod Stewart’s music, the older stuff, it spins me back to some great times in my life, made great in part by his music.

Like I said earlier, Rod Stewart is 64 years young.  Of all the cities in all the world, he came back to Houston.  If he does it again, don’t miss the opportunity to see him perform live.  You won’t regret it.