ROD STEWART + JOHNNY MAC AND THE FAITHFUL – THE 1st CENTRAL COUNTY GROUND, HOVE 12.07.19
Let’s face it Sir Roderick David Stewart CBE (that’s Rod Stewart to all us lot) is a legend! I mean the bloke has sold more than 100 million records worldwide! So it would surely be rude not to check out his capacity crowd glitzy performance at the Sussex County Cricket Ground in Hove.
I have seen many hundreds of musical artists play live, but this was my very first encounter with Rod. Yes I know shame on me and all that, but to be totally honest, there have been times in my life when I certainly wouldn’t have bothered going to see him, but after attending concerts for over 40 years, I thought a live encounter with Rod was certainly overdue!
He has a true loyal following and listening to the fans talking today, it’s clear that several of them travel the globe in order to be a part of the Rod experience. Having now seen him live, I can understand why they do this. Tonight’s show was a spectacular event and the giant screens behind Rod and his band were really crisp and grabbed your attention. I had to keep remembering to look down at the ‘physical Rod’ as opposed to the ones on the screens.
The Sussex weather was perfect and the happy crowd gathered inside the ground as well as every balcony outside the ground too. In fact both Rod and support artist Johnny Mac were jovially ribbing those on the various balconies and the film cameras present were at times picking out these lucky souls. ‘Pay Me My Money Down’ Johnny bellowed at those on the balconies. Having said that, some people must have purchased the various flats in the first place – a tad more expensive than a concert ticket.
The thing that I noticed first was that ‘Mr Gravelvoice’ certainly hadn’t changed much in appearance over the past decades. He used to look rugged back in the day, but now, I kept thinking to myself, how on earth is this bloke 74 years old. When I was tiny, someone being 74 was ancient and decrepit, and yet here’s this cheeky geezer swanning around the stage as though he is half his age. It’s amazing to think that ‘Rod The Mod’ was actually born during the Second World War.
Punters tonight were treated to two dozen selected tracks spanning his career from 1969 to 2018. It was not a routine Greatest Hits collection, but I would suggest carefully planned and choreographed numbers that would keep the true fans truly entertained. The sets on this current ‘Blood Red Roses’ tour have been slightly different each night and thus keeps the backing band on their toes, as well as Rod himself. His backing musicians as you would expect all know exactly what they are doing and where on the stage for each different number. This was pure showbiz and we even had a Vegas backdrop during one of the numbers.
In his time, Rod has transcended all genres of popular music, from rock, folk, soul, R&B, and even the American standards; making him one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums throughout every decade of his career and there lies his dazzling appeal.
He has earned countless of the industry’s highest awards, among them, two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy Living Legend, and in 2016 he officially became ‘Sir Rod Stewart’ after being knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.
I was wondering as they change their set each night whether Rod would take advantage of his geographical location and give his tune ‘Brighton Beach’ from his 2013 ‘Time’ album an outing, but sadly this wasn’t to be – an opportunity missed me thinks!
There were certain tunes that I finally hoped to hear live and in general I feel as though I was duly served, with ‘The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)’, ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’, ‘Sailing’, ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ and ‘Maggie May’. In fact, I can remember my neighbour playing her ‘Maggie May’ 7” single incessantly (and I truly mean incessantly) at the time in 1971. I can recall wondering if she was all there, the amount of times it got a spin – loudly! But I guess that’s the hold that Rod can have over some people.
Sadly we did not get the 1972 tune ‘Handbags And Gladrags’ by Rod, however we did actually hear it performed by the Glaswegian support artist Johnny Mac And The Faithful, who I have to say did a good job of it. Johnny was certainly a massive fan of Rod as he had got Johnny on the tour because of some work he had been doing with Rod’s beloved Celtic Football Club. The next thing Johnny had penned ‘Julia’ for Rod’s latest album, and the rest as they say is history.
Johnny Mac And The Faithful’s set was a blend of Celtic rock and Americana and Johnny had a passing resemblance to Bruce Springsteen meets Jonathan Richman and to use his lingo ‘You’s’ did good, especially when mentioning Joey Ramones in his final number. The night was kicked off in Scottish fashion too with a Pipe Band.
It was clear that Rod was having a ball in sunny Sussex and clearly didn’t want to finish his set at the ridiculously early 9pm curfew, but he did stop the music bang on nine and then they let off fireworks in defiance! A rocker through and through.
I enjoyed myself much more than I had anticipated tonight and I am very pleased that I went, especially as I was lucky enough to get a setlist.
Tonight’s setlist reads:
(Intro tape including ‘Big Country’ etc)
‘Having a Party’ (Sam Cooke cover) (found on 1993 ‘Unplugged …And Seated’ album)
‘Young Turks’ (found on 1981 ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ album)
‘Some Guys Have All the Luck’ (The Persuaders cover) (found on 1984 ‘Camouflage’ album)
‘Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)’ (found on 1976 ‘A Night On The Town’ album)
‘Forever Young’ (found on 1988 ‘Out Of Order’ album)
‘Twistin’ The Night Away’ (Sam Cooke cover) (found on 1972 ‘Never A Dull Moment’ album)
‘Rhythm of My Heart’ (Marc Jordan cover) (found on 1991 ‘Vagabond Heart’ album)
‘The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)’ (found on 1976 ‘A Night On The Town’ album)
‘It Takes Two’ (Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston cover) (found on 1991 ‘Vagabond Heart’ album)
‘Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)’ (includes triple drum solo in the middle) (found on 1981 ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ album)
‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ (Etta James cover) (found on 1972 ‘Never A Dull Moment’ album)
‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’’ (Hambone Willie Newbern cover) (found on 2018 ‘Blood Red Roses’ album)
‘Going Home: Theme from Local Hero’ (Mark Knopfler cover) (band only)
‘Grace’ ([traditional] cover) (acoustic) (found on 2018 ‘Blood Red Roses’ album)
‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’ (Crazy Horse cover) (acoustic) (found on 1975 ‘Atlantic Crossing’ album)
‘Dirty Old Town’ (Ewan MacColl cover) (acoustic) (found on 1969 ‘An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down’ album)
‘You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)’ (acoustic) (found on 1977 ‘Foot Loose & Fancy Free’ album)
‘Have I Told You Lately’ (Van Morrison cover) (acoustic) (found on 1991 ‘Vagabond Heart’ album)
‘Go Your Own Way’ (Fleetwood Mac cover) (without Rod Stewart)
‘Baby Jane’ (found on 1983 ‘Body Wishes’ album)
‘Sailing’ (Sutherland Brothers cover) (found on 1975 ‘Atlantic Crossing’ album)
‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ (found on 1978 ‘Blondes Have More Fun’ album)
‘Maggie May’ (found on 1971 ‘Every Picture Tells A Story’ album)
‘Stay With Me’ (Faces song) (found on 1971 ‘A Nod’s As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse’ album)
More information on Rod can be found HERE and further info on Johnny Mac And The Faithful can be found HERE.
VIEW OUR FANTASTIC PHOTO ALBUM OF THE CONCERT HERE.
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the whole day was a master disaster for us brighton city has a lot of road works 50% of the roads closed no real signs builders closed some roads, builders delivery trucks unloading. the Sat Nav did not work even 118 118 did not work. over night parking NCP a disaster
Britannia Study hotel could not gain access signage poor
ended up in bus lanes so more costs to come. we went home after
frustrating time due to also major raod issues from M25
WE WROTE OFF £560 trying to enjoy that did not happen Rod Stewart’s concert both of us pensioners never again will we ever go to brighton so sorry Rod missed you. all the people we met could not give us directions.
Hello Don, Oh no what a disaster, I’m very sorry to hear of your nightmare experience. Thankfully I got the train to and from the venue and was very lucky indeed. Brighton is a terrific place and please don’t let the temporary roadworks stop your potential of a return journey as we have so much to offer people of all ages. Thank you for your interest in our article.
I saw it from a neighbouring garden, and it was an enjoyable time all round. I should, though, have liked some from the American Songbook series (the Cher duet on “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” is hot stuff). As the article says, he had much banter with us cheaspskates, and he renamed one block of flats (with people on the roof) Ivory Mansions and Holland Road became Amersham Hill (oddly). At one point he suggested that he wouild take up “Mrs Smith” on the offer of her STAY WITH ME banner, and later he changed her name to “Mrs. Knobsworth”, which sounds worthy of Restoration comedy. Also there was a moving moment when he recalled visiting D-Day veterans the other week in Southampton. Their efforts so long ago won us the freedom beneath the sunny sky last night, as he said. Needless to say, his reference to “Brighton” brought a chorus of “Hove!” from this garden. I have tweeted a series of photographs @chrishawtree
Hi Christopher, Thank you for your interest in our article. A memorable concert indeed.
I went to the concert with my sister and niece. I’m disable in a wheelchair and was ushered in by a steward to the pen excuse the pun for us disabled. A section fenced off closely guard and what a nightmare. Usual chaos the pen was miles too small. Caters had to give up their seats ado as to give a space to a variety of wheelchairs scooters and buggies. I felt it spoilt wheat was otherwise a fantastic performance from Rod. Why do these organisers treat disable people as second class citizens and get away with it. Every time someone wanted to leave the area it had to be done with military precision.
Hello Jean, Thank you very much for your comment. There was quite a bit of military precision on the day and it was not confined to your section either. But I suppose these days with the many health and safely rules and masses of red tape, that sometimes they can forget that you are people just like everyone else. It’s a co-incidence as a few minutes before your comment came in, I noted that someone had posted some film on the IDLES fan group of a metal concert and this disabled chap was being hoisted into the air in his wheelchair and the crowd were watching him having an absolute ball instead of watching the band. It was heartwarming. This wouldn’t as you suspect have happened at our Rod concert. Thank you for your interest in our article.
concert at Bolton was tremendous Rod did 2 hours none stop ended 10.30 Johnny Mac was best support band ever.
Hi Sue, Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself 🙂
So, the people that watched this show from their balconies, or roof tops…..arer they the ones that complain about the noise and traffic when there’s an event…yet they get a free show?
It’s a shame that Rod didn’t pay as much attention to the paying audience on the other side of the stage.
Great show though…apart from the couple next to me who insisted on talking all the way through the first 20 minutes or so, until I told then that I’d paid £155 to hear Rod sing and not then chatting.
Rant over.
Thanks very much Steve for your very valid points and taking an interest in our article.