THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605190043
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music Review
SOURCE: BY CRAIG SHAPIRO, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Amid the pre-concert buzz Friday night, one big question hung in the air: Which Rod Stewart was going to show up?
The bluesy-boozy frontman for Faces and the Jeff Beck Group; the raw rocker who cut ``Every Picture Tells a Story''; the platinum-tressed glamour puss who asked ``Do Ya Think I'm Sexy,'' or the middle-aged husband and father who has rediscovered his rock/R&B roots?
Much to the delight of the 11,000 fans at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater, the answer was - all of them.
Stewart has a new album out, but his first Hampton Roads concert since the late '80s wasn't so much in support of ``A Spanner in the Works'' - he sang Sam Cooke's ``Soothe Me,'' from ``Spanner,'' near the end of the 2 1/2-hour show - as it was a greatest-hits retrospective.
It got off to a fast start with a rousing cover of the Beatles' ``Get Back,'' then ``Some Guys Have All the Luck.'' But it was the next four songs that put the crowd in Stewart's pocket: ``I'm Losin' You,'' ``Maggie May,'' a blistering ``Stay With Me'' and the still-effective ``Reason to Believe.''
Stewart was in vintage form, too, tossing the mike stand like a baton, darting across the expansive, white-draped stage and booting soccer balls into the enthusiastic crowd. In return, they showered him with roses, teddy bears, a Scottish flag - even bras and panties.
Again, the amphitheater's big-screen monitors were put to good use. Eight smaller monitors flanked the drum riser.
The drone of bagpipes heralded a montage of clips showing Rod just being Rod - playing soccer, changing diapers, buying groceries, having a pint. Snippets of music videos and shots of album covers were mixed in with live footage of Stewart, his seven-piece band and three backup vocalists.
On the flip side, the sound mix was sometimes muddy and Stewart lost steam as he cruised through ``Tonight's the Night,'' ``The First Cut Is the Deepest'' and a plodding, passionless ``Passion.''
His fans, though, are a forgiving lot. They screamed when he sat on the edge of the stage or wandered into the front row. They danced in the aisles and sang along, word-for-word, on all 25 songs.
Saxman Jimmy Roberts of Suffolk, as he did all night, lit a fire under Curtis Mayfield's ``People Get Ready.'' Drummer David Palmer, guitarist Jimmy Prescott and keyboardist Ian McLagen, who dates back to the Small Faces, made significant contributions, too.
And the pace did pick back up by evening's end. ``Forever Young'' and ``Downtown Train'' swayed effortlessly; ``Soothe Me'' was followed by the J. Geils Band's ``Looking for a Love.''
Stewart has been criticized for trading on his past, when he should be credited for knowing his audience and clearly having a good time giving them what they expect.
It's a safe bet everyone went home happy Friday night. And after all, that's the point. MEMO: Rod Stewart, Friday night at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. ILLUSTRATION: VICKI CRONIS photos, The Virginian-Pilot
Rod Stewart had the Amphitheater crowd in his pocket Friday, singing
such favorites as ``I'm Losin' You,'' ``Maggie May,'' ``Stay With
Me'' and ``Reason to Believe.'' The 2 1/2-hour show also included
songs from his new album ``A Spanner in the Works.''
by CNB