Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck together illuminated the Hollywood Bowl on September 27, 2019, in an incredible concert. Backed by Stewart’s fabulous band, the two former British bandmates (the Jeff Beck Group, circa 1968) easily sold out the Bowl, drawing over 17,000 fans, who witnessed the most in-depth joint concert performed by the legendary artists in over 35 years.
A list of their achievements could go on for pages. The 75-year-old Beck’s distinguished career spans over 50 years. He has eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Yardbirds and again as a solo artist. When he formed the Jeff Beck Group along with Stewart and Ronnie Wood, they made their American debut in 1968 opening for the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East.
The 74-year-old Stewart came to prominence with that Jeff Beck Group in 1967 and he later formed Faces before launching his successful solo career. His Hall of Fame inductions came as a solo artist and as a member of Faces and has sold over 200 million records worldwide.
Stewart has been on tour across North America and Europe for much of 2019, including a recent Las Vegas residency. Beck has only had a few North American shows in 2019, but recently performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas. The reunion show at the Hollywood Bowl was a one-time special event. It brought together the old friends, who have not shared a stage in ten years and have not done an extensive set together in over thirty-five years. Stewart opened the show with his large band and teased about Beck’s upcoming appearance several times during his set.
Stewart’s recognizable rasp was still on display as he led his band through a career-spanning list of originals and classic covers. The show has a very theatrical, Vegas-like quality with costume changes, dancing ladies, choreographed lighting and video montages. Stewart’s fondness for attractive ladies is well documented, but the female members of his band earned their positions with fantastic musical talent. Each sang beautifully and all played instruments including violin, mandolin, harp, percussion and keyboards: there was even a brief tap-dancing sequence by three of the women.
They opened with “Infatuation” and immediately followed with one of those classic covers, Sam Cooke’s “Having a Party.” Stewart dropped his first hint of things to come (and the first of several f-bombs) before the song. He said, “Jeff and I have been rehearsing all afternoon. It’s gonna be fucking magic!” After the Sam Cooke song, he said that he recorded the next one with Tina Turner. It was the Marvin Gaye and Tina Weston song “It Takes Two.” One of the talented ladies, vocalist Becca Kotte, admirably handled the Tina Turner part of the song.
The first big audience sing-along of the night took place during “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” as two of the women played violins and one played harp. The two brilliant guitarists in the band played dueling solos and Stewart dedicated the Marc Jordan song “Rhythm of My Heart” to the men that died during D-Day 75 years ago as video footage of World War II flashed behind the band. The tap-dancing sequence took place near the end of the next song, “Forever Young” as Stewart departed for a costume change and hair touch up while the ladies tapped away.
Stewart came back out to finish the song and then said the next one was recorded recently with the London Philharmonic – the crowd assumed it was something new with an orchestral vibe, but it was misdirection as the band started a slowed-down rearrangement of the classic “Maggie May.” The song eventually reverted back to its normal tempo and another of the talented ladies, J’Anna Jacoby, played the distinctive mandolin solo.
The Faces song “Stay with Me” drew loud applause and featured fantastic slide guitar playing. “Young Turks” had more guitar pyrotechnics that led into a double-drum and percussion sequence before finishing. Tim Hardin’s “Reason to Believe,” Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest,” “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” and “Have I Told You Lately” slowed things down and showcased Stewart’s troubadour sensibilities.
Stewart left for another break and costume change while Becca Kotte led the rest of the band through a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.” Stewart returned for a rollicking “Do You Think I’m Sexy” to close the set. He said they needed about five minutes to get ready for Jeff Beck as the band cleared the stage and everything went black.
As the crowd stirred with anticipation, Rod Stewart and his band finally came back out. He introduced Jeff Beck, who joined the band to thunderous applause for Willie Dixon’s “I Ain’t Superstitious,” a song Beck and Stewart recorded on the 1968 Jeff Beck Group album Truth. That album was the main focus of the highly anticipated joint set that ran about 30 minutes. Beck brought his usual, understated stage persona – mirrored sunglasses, no histrionics and minimal connection with the audience. However, his electrifying, brilliant playing amazed everyone, including Stewart. He even broke character a few times and cracked a smile while interacting and making eye contact with Stewart.
The group followed “I Ain’t Superstitious” with Bonnie Dobson’s “Morning Dew,” another track recorded on Truth and most famously reimagined by the Grateful Dead. Next came “People Get Ready,” an Impressions cover that Beck recorded in 1985 for the album Flash, with Stewart as a guest vocalist. The show ended with two more tracks from Truth – both are reworkings of classic blues songs: “Rock My Plimsoul” was derived from “Rock Me Baby” by B. B. King and “Blues Deluxe” is similar to another B. B. King song.
The show ended abruptly as Stewart said, “That’s it!” and waved goodbye before exiting stage left. Beck waved as well, but exited stage right. After such huge anticipation, it was kind of a letdown and the audience did not truly believe it was over until the house lights came on moments later. It may not have been intentional, but without a big hug and joint bows, it sure seemed like the two titans were truly saying goodbye to the audience and each other, for the last time.
Live photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon ©2019.
