Rod Stewart, Cheap Trick Sizzle As ‘One Last Time' Tour Hits Indy

Forbes

18 hours ago

'It's Saturday night!' shouted Rod Stewart on stage just outside Indianapolis, early in the set as his 'One Last Time' tour arrived at Ruoff Music Center. 'We had a wonderful crowd last night - but tonight you're gonna beat them!'
Stewart, 80, proved to be an engaging host and energetic frontman on stage in Noblesville, Indiana, remaining in fine voice Saturday night for just shy of two hours alongside fellow classic rock stalwarts Cheap Trick.
While known for his work as part of both the Jeff Beck Group and Faces, it's the solo material that sold best, with Stewart moving more than 120 million records globally as one of the best selling artists of all time.
Releasing It Had to be You: The Great American Songbook in 2002, the first in what would become an uber-successful five album series of pop standards, Stewart would settle on a successful formula, continuing a pivot toward covers which has largely guided his career over the last 25 years.
Covers made up the majority of Saturday's set on stage in the Circle City, with Stewart and company wasting no time getting to them. 'Here's a song from Bonnie Tyler!' asserted the singer early, with two violinists soon driving 'It's A Heartache.'
Opening with 'Infatuation,' Steward headed to his right, carrying the mic stand overhead as he strutted and pranced.
A 12 piece backing group featured a trio of backing singers and three more multi-instrumentalists in addition to live guitar, keys, bass, saxophone and dueling percussion.
'Last week, we were in Mississippi - the birthplace of one of my heroes growing up,' Rod began to explain, noting a tour that runs into mid-September ahead of a six night Las Vegas residency (Caesars Palace starting September 24) and international dates taking him into mid-December. 'So, I'd like to pay tribute to Muddy Waters.'
Stewart headed left to explore the stage's furthest reaches as cowbell and violin rang out early, offering up a bit of air guitar late as the ensemble worked up the Hambone Willie Newbern-penned cut 'Rollin' and Tumblin,'' which Waters himself covered 75 years ago.
A slight miscommunication found Stewart readying 'Forever Young' as the band began Kim Weston's 'It Takes Two.' Stopping on a dime to start again proved this show was taking place live and in the moment, a welcome deviation in an era of live performance often defined by the use of pre-recorded backing tracks at the expense of actual, authentic on stage moments.
Stewart sent 'Forever Young' out to recently deceased rocker Ozzy Osbourne, soon shouting out Tina Turner, with whom he collaborated on a cover of 'It Takes Two' in 1990.
Violin and live mandolin drove a lovely take on 'Maggie May' that more closely resembled Stewart's sort of stripped down MTV Unplugged take on his original 1971 recording.
'Next stop, 1976!' yelled Stewart excitedly, with live harp resplendent on a warm night in Indy. Synths rang out moments later as Stewart more talked than sang his way through 'Young Turks.'
'A little sweaty,' said Stewart, understating the evening's high temps. 'Sweating my ears off!' he continued. 'Carry on, Rod,' mused the singer with a smile. 'Here's a song I love doing. Did this with my dear old buddy Ronnie Wood,' Stewart continued, looking back upon the 1972 sessions for his fourth solo album Never a Dull Moment, one which found Wood backing him as he put his spin upon Etta James' 'I'd Rather go Blind,' ultimately dedicating the track to Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie.
A long sax solo cooked with the band stretching out late on the James cover. 'How about these guys?' said Stewart midway through, glancing left at his terrific band while guitar and saxophone rang out.
Following 'Downtown Train,' the band got a chance to work up an even greater head of steam as Stewart left the stage for the night's first costume change, diving into Chaka Khan's 'I'm Every Woman,' a trend which would continue during Stewart breaks with the stellar band later tackling Creedence Clearwater Revival via 'Proud Mary.'
'Did you see there really is a full moon?' asked Stewart, gesturing out toward the venue's general admission lawn setting and up as the crowd in front turned to gaze.
Delicately plucked acoustic guitar and harp drove the early moments of 'You're in my Heart (The Final Acclaim)' while upright bass, piano and slow but deliberate violin enhanced the live presentation of Van Morrison's 'Have I Told you Lately.'
Distributing signed soccer balls throughout the seated pavilion, a pulsing bass and disco beat brought the capacity crowd to its feet as Stewart and company danced their way through 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy,' with the crowd supplying the closing chorus.
'I used to be in a band called the Faces,' said Stewart, recalling a more rollicking period which featured a future Rolling Stone on guitar as he again referenced Ronnie Wood. 'So, a tribute now to my friends in the Faces!' he said, finally revisiting his former band via 'Stay With Me' as Saturday's show entered its final moments via scorching slide guitar.
'I want to thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart,' said Stewart, wrapping up with 'Some Guys Have All the Luck' and his take on The O'Jays' 'Love Train.'
For just about one hour on stage Saturday in Indianapolis, mighty midwestern rockers Cheap Trick set the stage for Stewart, pulling most heavily from classic albums like Dream Police and In Color.
'Just in case you were unsure, we are the one and only Cheap Trick! Accept no substitute,' declared guitarist Rick Nielsen on stage Saturday at Ruoff. 'We are thrilled to be here in Indiana with Rod,' said the guitarist, introducing 'He's A Whore.'
Bookending their 60 minutes appropriately enough via 'Hello There' and 'Goodnight,' Cheap Trick got to the hits early, working through Fats Domino's 'Ain't That a Shame' en route to one of their biggest.
Sirens wailed as red and blue lights flashed, setting the stage for a raucous early take on 'Dream Police' which featured drummer Daxx Nielsen joining frontman Robin Zander with a backing vocal as his father flicked picks by the dozen to lucky fans in front.
Nielsen noodled his way through a fun, meandering solo that ultimately gave way to 'California Man,' with Zander initiating a classic late call and response vocal approach with the audience midway through.
'What a fine looking bunch we have here this evening…' deadpanned Rick Nielsen, sense of humor in check as he set up his punchline. 'The girls look gorgeous - and the guys are here,' joked the guitarist, introducing a Dream Police deep cut via 'The House is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems).'
Prefacing it with a few quick lines from 'It All Comes Back to You,' Zander kicked off 'The Flame' solo acoustic shortly after a thumping but melodic Tom Petersson bass solo. 'Oh yeah?' responded Zander as the crowd reacted to the hit ballad. 'Well, I want you to want me!'
Closing with a murderer's row of hits, Zander smiled wide as he leaned into his mic stand, with Rick Nielsen shredding away on a saxophone-shaped guitar nearby as 'I Want You to Want Me' gave way to 'Surrender' late in Saturday's opening set.
'Thank you, Rod Stewart for having us!' shouted Rick Nielsen as Cheap Trick closed up in Indianapolis. 'Good night!'