LIVE REVIEW: Rod Stewart rocks out and rolls back the years at Sheffield Arena

Being born in the 1970's, I grew up listening to newly-knighted Sir Rod's old hits.
Rod Stewart in action at Sheffield Arena. (Photo: Glenn Ashley).Rod Stewart in action at Sheffield Arena. (Photo: Glenn Ashley).
Rod Stewart in action at Sheffield Arena. (Photo: Glenn Ashley).

His "From Gasoline Alley to Another Country" tour rolled into Sheffield Arena last night - and needless to say, there were plenty of those hits on offer for an audience like me, that have obviously grown up with the star.

The audience was very much of a certain generation and now in his 70s, its hard to believe that more than 40 years on, Sir Rod still wows the crowds and puts on a great show.

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He can still kick a football to the back half of the floor - and he can still hold the audience in the palm of his hands.

The show featured all the songs you'd expect This Old Heart Of Mine and You Wear It Well among the highlights in the early stages, before he sits to give us a fine, slow version of Tom Waits's Downtown Train - before casually strolling into the crowd to shake a few hands.

The backdrop to Rhythm Of My Heart - that he dedicated to our armed forces and troops - was wonderful, with lots of wartime pictures and tributes being beamed onto the big screens behind.

Sailing provided an amazing "sing and sway along moment" with everyone rocking to and fro and lighting up the Arena with their phones to a backdrop of famed ships such as the Titanic.

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Handbags and Gladrags, I Don't Want To Talk About It, Baby Jane all draw big cheers while a finale of Maggie May and then Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? gets everyone up and dancing while as hundreds of coloured balloons drop from the roof.

The curtain goes down - then goes back up a little to reveal the whole band laying on the stage floor, listening to the balloons pop like gun-shots.

Two hours rushed by very quickly - and what a wonderful night it was.