Review: Rod Stewart, Live the Life Tour LG Arena, Birmingham
What's that old cliche? The one about fine wine getting better with age?
Well, cliche it may be, but – dress sense and hairstyle aside – there's no better way to describe Rod Stewart.
That undeniable raspy voice, that sounds like it's been nurtured with a 60-a-day habit, those garish suits, that highlighted mullet, that sun tan. And boy can that man still belt 'em out with the best of them.
Rod Stewart's life has been as colourful off the stage as it has been on it. As well as producing some of pop's most recognisable hits, he's interspersed the decades with dating supermodels and actresses, dumping them, making babies and then making even more babies.
But for the fans at Birmingham's LG Arena last night, it was all about the crooning. And the veteran could do no wrong. The superstar Scot still shakes it on stage like a man who's just starting out in the music game, and is clearly still getting a kick out of every moment.
Now, after almost 50 years in the spotlight and more than 100 million record sales under his belt, it's fair to say he's got the hang of this performing lark.
He even arrived on stage at the exact time he'd announced he would. (How very last season, eh Rihanna?)
While he did perform a few songs from new album Time, he knows what keeps his fans wanting more and filled the majority of the show with an array of classics – This Old Heart Of Mine, You Wear it Well and Hot Legs to name but a few.
An acoustic set gave the crowd some respite from their dancing and showed off the beauty of that famous husky voice with The First Cut Is The Deepest, I Don't Want To Talk About It and Have I Told You Lately. Here we were, crowds made up of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70-somethings, lapping up every one of Rod's gravelly notes.
At times it was camp. At times it was even a bit cheesy. But that didn't matter a jot. It is clear why this star has stood the test of time. For his final song, the 68-year-old asked his adoring fans Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
You're not my type Mr Stewart. But you know how to put on one hell of a show. And for that, I salute you.
Victoria Nash
