Coming off of a wonderful vacation in Glasgow where I attended all 4 shows at the Hydro, I thought it would be really cool to see Rod again back in the US a week later. Originally I hadn’t planned to attend this show as it is a 3.5 hour drive to the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State and on a work night, but the lure of seeing Rod again was great and I thought it would be neat to deliver the message to Rod that “Glasgow Was Great!” Arriving at the arena and waiting before the show in my 2nd row side stage seat, I listened to the same music being played over the speakers while waiting for the opening act Boz Scaggs as I did in Glasgow while waiting for Moya.
I started thinking about the new friends I’d made from the UK, Scotland, Germany and other parts of the world and really missed them and wished they were there with me. My seat was in a similar spot to one I had at one of the shows in Glasgow and I again spotted Rod’s white microphone and stand and the other wireless microphone on the white box near the computerize equipment and had to chuckle. Oh the memories!
Boz Scaggs was a bit longer on stage than Moya had been in Glasgow. I only knew his last two songs but they were a good lead-in for the excitement to come.
Finally after a brief intermission, the wonderful opening music (that I know so well!) begins and the sparkling silver curtain is lifted and there again is the band that feels like family after seeing so many shows! The crowd rose to their feet (yes!) as Rod opened the show with “This Old Heart Of Mine” as had been at the other shows. I anxiously awaited his arrival at my side of the stage,which didn’t happen during that song, or the next (“Tonight’s The Night”), but finally by the third song “Having A Party” he made his way over and appropriate to the song title, I held up my sign over the rail to my right saying, “Glasgow Was Great!” (speaking for all of us who were there!!) He smiled, pointed to it and saluted. Mission accomplished! I, of course, was all smiles at having been there, and now here.
As the show progressed and we reached the point of the acoustic set, which included “First Cut Is The Deepest”, “Have I Told You Lately” and when Rod introduced the next song off his new album, “Brighton Beach”, I found it heartbreaking to hear him have to say, “It’s a really good album, you should go out and buy it” whereas where I had just been the week before, it was, “thank you for making the new album a success!” The next song was “Can’t Stop Me Now” which I love to hear live, such an upbeat song so I jumped out of my seat to sing every word hoping Rod would notice but he stayed either at center stage or the other side. The backup singers did see my enthusiasm, though!
The wonderful surprise this night was hearing the opening strains of “Downtown Train”. How I have missed that song, so glad to hear it back again! Someone had a security guard place a rose at the front edge of the stage and Rod walked on his knees forward from his position on the stage at the beginning of the song to get it and kept a hold on it for most of the song. The song was played straight through, keeping the drum solo on “Forever Young”. When Rod started “Forever Young”, it felt a little empty without Ruby who had been there at all four shows to share the stage with dad during this number in Glasgow. I wondered if Rod missed her there, too? The band was wonderful as usual during the drum solo section and afterward Rod asked David Palmer to come down and take a bow. I couldn’t believe it when at the beginning of “You’re In My Heart”, Rod asked, “do you know this song?” (Of course we do, Rod!) When he wandered over to my side of the stage, I waved my Celtic scarf to show support. He smiled and pointed to it. (Fun!) There were other Celtic supporters as well in the audience waving scarves/banners during the song and reflected up on the big screen. Here is a small clip of the end of the song:
When “Hot Legs” started, he came to the side of the stage that I was on as he always starts on that side with the balls. I didn’t want to appear too greedy to get his attention for a ball so didn’t do anything, but he threw me the first ball! I am imagining possibly due to the earlier sign about Glasgow. Quite a few people I was surrounded by were thrown balls directly into their hands at close range. Rod also interacted his usual fine, charming showman self with audience individuals throughout the show on all sides of the stage. All too soon the show was coming to the end with “Maggie May” and then the balloons cascaded down on the audience during “Do You Think I’m Sexy”. As Rod said at the intro to the show, it was a “lean but intelligent” crowd, but I know everyone there thoroughly enjoyed themselves and Rod and the band gave the top notch performance they always do.
I managed to get through the next day on 2-3 hours of sleep after arriving home at 3:00 a.m. but it was well worth it to see a great show, deliver the message to Rod about Glasgow and still feel “Forever Young” as Rod makes us feel when we travel distances to his fabulous concerts!
Review by Karen Chande
Photo’s by Karen Chande