Show: Some Guys Have all the Luck: The Rod Stewart Story
Venue: Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Production Company: Prestige Productions
Artist: Paul Metcalfe and Band
Introduction
Well it was a chilly, dark and rainy Sunday evening along the banks of the River Mersey. We ventured out to New Brighton’s bright and welcoming Floral Pavilion theatre to check out Some Guys Have All the Luck: The Rod Stewart Story.
We made the most of the opportunity to see a very accomplished Rod Stewart tribute act. Paul Metcalfe gives us near as damn it, the real thing. (Obviously at a much more reasonable price!)
Metcalfe sustains full on energy right throughout. From the opening number, ‘This Old Heart of Mine’ to the final rendition of ‘Maggie May’.
He has the hair, the moves, the suits and the gravelly voice – he has it all. More importantly, he has a chilled, sexy, confident, Rod Stewart-type laissez-fair that makes this tribute show really stand out from others I have seen.
The Real Story
However, the show is the true Sir Rod David Stewart CBE Story. It encompasses real and interesting facts about Rod’s life and his remarkable career, interspersed with plenty of humour. Paul Metcalfe continued to perform with Rod style mannerisms and husky voice whether singing or talking to the audience.
The stage set up was simple but effective, consisting of a central stairway and low platforms for the keyboard player and drummer at the back. Lead guitar and bass guitar players flanked Rod at stage level. The accompanying lighting worked well, enhanced by projected vintage press cuttings and photos on a screen behind the stage. This added to the atmosphere and brought Rod’s story to life.
We were taken on a journey from his discovery by Long John Baldry on a deserted Twickenham railway station whilst playing his harmonica. Through to his time with The Jeff Beck Band to the Faces and then solo career. The whole show is packed with Rod’s chart hits. It’s one big party from start to finish with the audience up on their feet from the very beginning.
Synopsis
There were a couple of bangers missing from the show including ‘The Killing of Georgie’. This is understandable when you think of the extensive catalogue of songs Sir Rod has produced. In the first half were lucky enough to experience ‘You Wear it Well’, ‘Handbags & Gladrags’, ‘Stay with Me’, ‘Gasoline Alley’, ‘Forever Young’ and other hits. There was also an acoustic, seated section which was lovely.
A change of costume (tartan suit) and the second half of the show ramped it up further. The mic stand was being swung around the stage with worrying abandon. Rod strutted and sing along numbers were belted out. A very enthusiastic Floral audience loved every single note and joined in whenever possible.
The spirited interaction and banter between Rod and his fellow performers was also infectious. This is a professional, tight backing band comprising standalone talented musicians who are obviously very experienced. I have been unable to find details of them on the website, otherwise I would have named them. I was very impressed.
A further quick change to a Leopard skin print jacket and tight black pants. We were treated to ‘Do Ya think I’m Sexy’, ‘Sailing’, ‘Baby Jane’, ‘Tonight’s the Night’. ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’, ‘Young Turks’ and ‘You’re in My Heart’ followed. We knew every word. The audience swayed, dance and sang until the very end and the second performance of Maggie May.
Just the best Rod Stewart tribute out there with a support band that you would pay to see anyway. Outstanding!
