The first concert of Rod’s European Tour began in 2016 in Amsterdam at the Ziggo Dome.
The stage was entirely new and was in black and white the clothes and even the microphone were all coordinated.
We heard the music from The Champions League and Raw Hide and then the concert started with a brief song from the backing singers,then the band started playing and Rod joins them on stage, the first song is ‘Having A Party’ Both Rod and the band had were in great form.
The concert began at 20.30pm and after playing an hour there was a short pause. After the break Rod still played over an another hour.The concert ended at 22:50pm.
There have been in the band a few small personnel changes since last time Rod played in Europe, Katja Rieckermann, Anne King and Kimmy Johnson have all left and been replaced by Bridget Cady, Annie Staninec on violin and mandolin, and Matt O’Connor who only only had a short performance time at this concert.
Rod was in a very good shape and his voice was in very good form for the opening night,The atmosphere was great, and with great enthusiasm there was plenty of singing and dancing from the crowd.
9 screens were displayed on the stage showing some old clips and they showed all Rod’s album covers in order as ‘Forever Young’ was sang featuring a violin duo by J’anna Jacoby and Annie Staninec, the two musicians complimented each other brilliantly.
There was a short unplugged three number set ‘First Cut is The Deepest’, ‘I Don’t Want To Talk About it’,and ‘You’re in my heart’.
Rod didn’t sit on a chair like he usually does while doing the unplugged section but sat on the stairs with the backing singers.Rod interacted with the audience in the front row during this part of the show.
Many of the fans were wearing Glasgow Celtic shirts and went wild when Rod shoots as usual dozens of signed footballs into the hall.
The girls looked great in their short plaid skirts and did their own version of ‘Young Hearts Run Free’during a costume change break for Rod, Annie Staninec is a great combination with J’Anna Jacoby, It seems that both musicians have been playing together for years. Annie Staninec is a great addition to the band and is a very accomplished musician playing both violin and mandolin.
Rod finished tonight set energetically with the last songs. Baby Jane and Hot Legs and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy for a crowd pleasing encore.
Rod said in the latest issue of SMILER that he hoped to see his fans at the Ziggo Dome, many were in attendance tonight and long time member Martin Vergaij was even spotted by Ziggy Dome photographer Paul Bergen who took a photo of Matins’s Rod tattoo.
Review By Eric Piel