Rod Stewart began a run of eight shows at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on Saturday and surprised both the crowds and the critics.
While Vegas might be one of the last bastions of pop standards and Rod is one of the most successful singers of those songs in the last ten years, he only performed one tune from his Great American Songbook series among the set's 18 songs.
Stewart even wasn't sure about doing I Get a Kick Out of You, from the just released Volume 5. He told the crowd "If you like it, give it a cheer at the end. If not, you can boo, and we'll know not to do it again." The response after the song was good, but not great like what greeted the hits.
Rod didn't do any big Vegas production numbers, but he did have a troop of thirteen on stage with him, six band members, four singers-dancers and three brass players.
The set list:
Main Set
Love Train
Having a Party
Tonight's the Night
Forever Young
It's a Heartache
Young Turks
Downtown Train
Reason to Believe
The First Cut Is the Deepest
You're in My Heart
I Get a Kick Out of You
Sweet Little Rock and Roller
Proud Mary
Have I Told You Lately
Hot Legs
Rhythm of My Heart
Maggie May
Encore:
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy
