Rod Stewart

Some guys have all the luck

By Jorge Labrador

Rod Stewart is back, bringing with him a catalog of songs from throughout his career that will have you singing and clapping along in the aisles - along with everyone else in the house at Caesars Palace.

With five decades worth of hits to choose from, Stewart picks his material wisely and the show is better off for it. Music video and radio staples such as "Hot Legs," "Forever Young," and "First Cut is the Deepest" join covers and album tracks like "Reason to Believe" and "The Killing of Georgie," creating a set list that is sure to please newer Stewart fans and die-hards alike.

The way Stewart and his band move around the stage and interact with the audience is electric. Stewart may be the main attraction, but the band also shines, with two energetic percussionists, three backing singers, saxophonists and more. They even go unplugged for a small acoustic set about midway through the show, providing some of the night's most memorable moments.

Stewart joins other internationally-acclaimed artists like Celine Dion and Elton John with a residency at Caesars' Colosseum, and the venue plays a huge part in making the show spectacular. The spacious stage, with a screen-in-screen setup behind the band, is as much a visual delight as it is a auditory one. Stewart's performance often feels like a bigger, bolder version of a concert tour stop - appropriate for the guy responsible for some of the most memorable music videos seen in MTV's early days.