Not quite the ‘same old’ setlist: Rod Stewart surprises the audience in Herning

If, as a singer, you can surprise even those of your fans who have supported you for many years and have seen several hundred of your concerts, then you can actually give yourself a pat on the back. But more on that later.

Superstar Rod Stewart performed yesterday at Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark, in front of over 10,000 people and played a ‘rousing and colourful concert’, as Messecenter Herning described it in a concert review, to round off his eventful year on tour.

Stewart thrilled the Danish fans with a setlist of 23 songs that included many of his great hits, such as Maggie May and Young Turks. The Brit, who celebrates his 80th birthday in a few weeks, started the evening in top form and in the best of moods, opening the show with the 1984 classic Infatuation.

However, the beginning of this generally successful evening was a little bumpy: Rod missed his cue during the opening song and had to start again. But he took it with professional nonchalance. ‘Sorry ladies and gentlemen, I fucked it up’, he called out to the audience in good humour and restarted after another very short intro of bagpipe music. The second attempt was a success and anyone whose feet weren't wriggling by then was likely to have jumped out of their seat by Havin' a Party at the latest and turned the arena into a huge dance hall with thousands of others.

It was hit after hit, hit after hit: You Wear It Well, Ooh La La, Rollin‘ & Tumblin’, Stay With Me, Forever Young - Sir Rod really stepped on the gas just before Christmas.

But then came a rather rare moment that left even Stewart fans who have been with him for many years in awe. Rod performed a song from his album Soulbook (2009), which last made it onto the 79-year-old's concert set list 14 years ago: It's The Same Old Song.

Opening Herning

‘When you think you've heard everything, then all of a sudden this song is on the setlist,’ said Ruth Hannuschka herself. Ruth has been accompanying Rod for a number of years and can claim to have experienced everything during her numerous concert visits.

So if Ruth also stares at the stage in amazement at such a moment, then you can definitely pat yourself on the back, dear Rod (see above). Surprise 100% successful!

After this rare highlight, the show continued at a normal pace and with the usual songs: The First Cut Is The Deepest, I Don't Want To Talk About It, I'd Rather Go Blind, Downtown Train. Then the band took over the stage with I'm Every Woman and gave Sir Rod time for a little refreshment and a costume change backstage.

Same Old Song in Herning - Video: Ruth Hannuschka

Rod returned with Rhythm Of My Heart and a clear message against the war in Ukraine and also gave the fans a short break to catch their breath with Tonight's The Night and Have I Told You Lately. After another costume change, it was back to full throttle for the final section of the show. Some Guys Have All The Luck, Baby Jane and Da Ya Think I'm Sexy demanded full commitment from the celebrating audience once again.

The two-hour show ended with Sailing. The global hit once again became a highlight of the evening, with almost everyone in the arena singing along. Sir Rod then wished everyone present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and left the stage to rapturous applause from the fans.

The author of the MCH concert review was infected by the enthusiasm of the fans. ‘Rod Stewart will be 80 in less than a month, but he's still going strong as a 27-year-old’, he enthused, adding: “Rod Stewart himself was in top form, singing and dancing his way through the almost two-hour show, while his fantastic band provided a wonderful and extremely varied musical backdrop”.

‘With imaginative visual effects and numerous outfit changes, it was a dynamic and varied performance that also took the audience on a journey in terms of the instruments - harp, cowbell and saxophone were played alongside the usual instruments. The stage floor, the curved platform, the piano and the drums, all in chalk white, were a constant,’ he said, describing the evening.