Rod Stewart Plays St. Louis One Last Time

–by Carrie Ogle

On a white-hot summer night in St. Louis around 20,000 people gathered at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater to see Rod Stewart and Cheap Trick. There were young and old fans alike all awaiting a fun, music filled Friday night.

Stewart was set to come on at 9pm sharp but started the show about 12 minutes early which had some audience members leaving long drink lines and running back to their seats. I would assume the blazing heat had something to do with Stewart starting the show early.

“Infatuation” started off the set bringing fans of the 80s up out of their seats singing along. Followed by “Tonight I’m Yours” and “The First Cut is the Deepest” had the crowd singing and swaying.

It was “Maggie May” that brought the crowd to a roar as Rod told the story of how the song came to be. Stewart smirked as he told the story of his first time having sex with a woman at a jazz festival in 1961. The song is regarded as Stewart’s signature song and as one of the best songs ever written.

For me, it was Stewart’s tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with “Forever Young” that pulled on my heart strings. As he sang the famous song, he had images of Ozzy and other artists who the music world has lost including Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Prince and Whitney Houston. Later in the show the back-up singers did a cover of Prince’s “I Will Always Love You”.

Friday night in St. Louis on the last night of his North American “One Last Time” Tour (maybe his last tour ever) Stewart danced across the stage, was all grins and mic spins while backed by his brass section that played while they danced.

At eighty years old his voice remains intact, and he sang every lyric with raw emotion. For the fans young and old (especially the old) his music will always remain Forever Young.

Cheap Trick opened the show with a 13-song solid set and got the fans fired up with famous hits like “The Flame” and “I Want You to Want Me”. During the set vocalist Robin Zander announced to the crowd that this would be their final performance in the Gateway City.

Be sure to check out the rest of the photos in the gallery after the setlist below.

Rod Stewart Setlist:

Infatuation

Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)

It’s a Heartache (Bonnie Tyler cover)

Roll and Tumble Blues (Hambone Willie Newbern cover)

It Takes Two (Kim Weston cover)

The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover)

Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)

Forever Young/Riverdance/Forever Young (Dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne)

The Motown Song

Young Turks

Maggie May

I’d Rather Go Blind Etta James cover, Dedicated to Christine McVie)

Downtown Train (Tom Waits cover)

I’m Every Woman (Chaka Khan cover) (Sung by backup singers during Rod’s wardrobe change)

If You Don’t Know by Now (Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes cover)

You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)

Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison cover)

Proud Mary (Credence Clearwater Revival cover) (Sung by backup singers during Rod’s wardrobe change)

Do Ya Think I’m Sexy

Stay With Me (Faces song)

Some Guys Have all the Luck (The Persuaders cover)

Encore:

Love Train (The O’Jays cover)

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Cheap Trick performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

Rod Stewart performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Carrie Ogle.