Entertainment For Lively Minds
Rod Stewart - Vegas #3
Posted by Philip Bryer on 10 September 2011 - 3:53pm.
When:
07/09/2011
Where:
The Coliseum, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
Comments:
RS announced at the start that there was an hour-and-42 to go 'cos, “They want you spending money in the casinos.” 102 minutes later it was indeed all over. He added, “Come up the front, take photos, get on stage if you like.” A sentiment not shared by security. He introduced The Killing of Georgie as “A long one, so feel free to get a drink or go to the toilet.” One tale began, “As rare as me buying a round.” Generous - when the backing singers had their moment he was content to stand stage rear and clap along unobtrusively. As unobtrusive as you can be in a purple suit and 2-tone brothel creepers. So we were all surprised when he came out for the finale dressed as Marty Crane, in chinos and check shirt. Not all of the set-list hit the spot, but thankfully, for every duffer -You’re In My Heart, Do You Think I’m Scottish? there was at least one to make up for it - Sweet Little Rock ’n’ Roller, Reason To Believe, and a storming Shake Your Moneymaker
The Audience:
Top-end raucous or got up very reluctantly at the end or to attempt to catch one of the footballs which Rodders either punted into the balcony or, rather sweetly, tossed ever so gently into the first few rows. Heavy fan club presence at front.
Food & Drink:
There’s a Spago’s at Caesar’s Palace. So we had a sensational dinner beforehand in the company of a waiter who’d ask, “How you guys doin’?” in thickest Brooklynese while punching you on the shoulder. $150 inc tip. Lovely feller.
It Made Me Think...:
I should cease my carping that he stopped making decent records around 1975, or over his sleepwalk through The Great American Songbook and think of him simply as the surprisingly self-deprecating Beloved Entertainer.
