It was not for me to get a football this trip, but some of my new friends did, and I was very glad for them. Rod made it a point to kick some into the balcony, and I was thinking oh dear he’s goona get Caesars all in a tizzy. He did this both nights. Then the next thing I know Genny Moss is on stage, actually she owns the stage during Maggie May………. See the video below Me trying to describe this would only take away from the fabulous performance…… you can see Rod trying to catch the cameraman’s attention so he could put Genny’s tattoo on the big screen. But he never noticed Rod, and then the attack of the balloons starts. I believe Conrad told Genny to come back when she got his picture on her other thigh……….. You really must watch this a few times to catch everything that happens. Genny rocked the Coliseum. A fabulous night was had by all.
I return on Sunday night as most of us did. Some new faces and some who couldn’t stay for Sunday’s show. Jacki Richards (she was on Katie Couric last October and did an outstanding job of singing with Rod even though she kept saying she was “freaking out”) and a friend were sitting right behind me. Again the electricity and the energy is there, but I think it starts 5 seconds into the show, even Rod commented that we were a fantastic audience, Sunday shows are often like a funeral.
Best I can remember it was the same set list as Saturday, (I AM NOT COMPLAINING). But leave it to the audience to help mix it up a bit.
At some point early on, people were coming up to the stage bringing books and items for Rod to sign. He commented after a song that it was hard to sign them when he was up there trying to sing. But if the items were put on the stage he would take them next time he left the stage, sign them and return them. The man is true to his word, because that is exactly what he did. I have to laugh because out of 4 Vegas shows guess which one I didn’t bring my book too??
So then I was deeply enthralled watching and dancing to “Can’t Stop Me Now” and who pops up on stage but Terri Ortega Harbour with a fabulous quilted tartan banner with a picture of Rod and his dad in the middle. Terri was up there just dancing around; Rod did not see her right away, but security sure did. Security kept telling her to get off the stage and she didn’t. By the time Rod saw her, security had a hold of her. Rod shook he head and said no. She then got to show Rod the banner, he smiled that GREAT HUGE smile and she gave him the banner, got a big hug in return, and went back to her seat. After Rod finished the song he said to Terri something like “You about got yourself throw out over that one, until I came to your rescue.”
Then while I am watching Di Reed and the girls belt out “Soul Girl” who walks down my aisle but Ruby. She and a fellow just stood there mesmerized. Right as the song finished I went up to her to tell her how great I think she is and up walks security and says everyone go back to your seat. She turns looks at him and says so very sweetly “but I don’t have a seat”, to which he replies “Oh Miss Ruby, I know that.” Ruby then replies “Oh well, I guess I’ll go back backstage (when I was reading all this to Steve, he said you should have followed her, remember you do look like you are related). It was classic, she was sweet and I got a new autograph.
Next during You’re in my Heart, someone tosses Rod a green feather boa. You have to find the video of this; he has so much fun with it. There were a lot of people standing at this point, Rod saw me and another Celtic HAT and smiled and waved, but he was very smart not to motion anyone up, it would have been utter chaos and not safe for anyone. Then there was a woman who I am calling “rogue woman #2” (there was one on Saturday night too, not me, silly) who appeared to wonder where she was and how she got there, and then realized she was on stage with ROD. She went up and wrapped herself around him (as you can see in a photo on Facebook) and Rod had to peel her off of him. In addition to the hilarious facial expression of mock horror, what he said after he untangled himself was priceless…………..”Here are the steps darling, but perhaps in your condition you should take the elevator…………..”
After the Sunday night show Di Reed came out, I didn’t see her right away but I walked up as she was saying something to the effect that the 2 show were so great, they fed off the energy we had going in the audience, and heck we were feeding off all of them. It was obvious that Rod and the band had a great time that weekend too. We all love Rod, but I have to say that the band members are great musicians as well as fabulous people too. Take my word on this.
In the lobby there was elderly woman in a wheelchair, I assume being pushed by her daughter. The lady in the wheelchair had a soccer ball. I went up to her and asked her if she jumped up and caught it. She smiled really big and said “No, Rod’s daughter brought it to me. I hugged her as tears formed in my eyes.
So many details and so many things happened all the way down to my cabbie saying “Oh I have been to Knoxville, Tennessee once”, I went to see the 1982 World’s Fair, to which I replied, and I live 25 minutes from where that was. Then I saw my cousin and her husband who live in Virginia arrive at the Las Vegas airport 10 minutes before I board my plan to go home. Oh yeah, while I don’t gamble much, I won some money to restock the RODSTEWARTTICKETFUND on a slot machine Sunday afternoon (thanks mom I know you had a part in this from heaven); any other TIME, that would have been my big news story. What is most amazing to me is that the box of grandma’s yarn that sat in my basement for almost 25 years was turned into hats for the needy and has now woven my way to the stage with Rod Stewart’s arm draped over my shoulder holding the Celtic HAT that I knitted.
Sure, it’s a funny old world that I am so glad to share with each one of you.
Photograph by Vicky Marrow