LIVE: ROD STEWART wsg CHEAP TRICK – Charlotte, NC, USA – July 29, 2025

Venue: PNC Music Pavilion

City: Charlotte, NC

Dates: July 29, 2025

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Criss crossing the US this summer, Rod Stewart is out on the One Last Time tour and the Charlotte, NC stop found a packed amphitheater waiting for Stewart and openers Cheap Trick to deliver hits filled sets.  Kicking off the show with staple “Hello There,” Cheap Trick launched into a classic set that included all the hits and fan favorites they have to play.  A couple deeper cuts were played that pleased many of their longtime fans, including me.  Having first seen them in 1979 opening for KISS in Pontiac, MI, I have been hooked ever since and try to never miss a show.  Catching them on this tour was a bonus for me, as was hearing “The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) live pumped through the PNC Music Pavilion sound system.  The band – guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Daxx Nielsen – led the evenings charge ramping the packed venue with rockers “California Man” and “Southern Girls” as well as “If You Want My Love.”  The other hits were there as well, including the closing hat trick “The Flame,” “I Want You to Want Me,” and “Surrender” before closing out their allotted time on stage with “Goodnight.”

With Rod Stewart’s 2025 summer tour dubbed One Last Time, I had to toss my hat in the ring and cover this show when it rolled through a town near me.  After the rousing opening set, the stage was converted and set for Rod to entertain and please all the fans that grabbed tickets for the evening’s musical adventure.  Digging back through his vast catalog, including the legendary hits and covers from his various releases, Stewart and his more than capable band took us all through the years after kicking the show off with the amazing one-two punch of “Infatuation” and “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me),” both of which are among my favorites from Rod’s long list of hits.  A couple covers that Rod put his personal stamp on making them a perfect fit in his repertoire, including “It’s a Heartache,” were tossed in before getting to a couple more of my personal favorites.  “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” sounded as good tonight as it has on any release I have heard of Stewarts.  As a rock and metal guy, “Forever Young” struck a chord deep within me as Rod paid tribute to the recently deceased Ozzy Osbourne.  After a cool version of The Faces track “Ooh La La,” Rod and band ripped through my ultimate fav from his selection of hits – “Young Turks.”  This was the first Rod Stewart song I remember learning and I still sing it from the top of my lungs every time I hear it.  Hearing classics like “Maggie May” and “Hot Legs” woven into the latter parts of the set alongside songs like “Downtown Train” and “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” gave us all a glimpse into the diversity Rod had in not sonly his sound and genre of rock, but also his overall approach to performing songs with the end result being smiles and one hell of a good time.  While it seems odd a guy 80 years old would sing a song titled “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” it would have been a travesty for the song not to be performed.  Closing the evening with “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” it was apparent to anyone that came out to the show that luck has and had nothing to do with his career and longevity.  With a handful of dates left before a residency and non-US tour dates, I suggest checking out the available dates or potentially dragging yourself to Vegas to catch a show before Rod hangs up his dancing shows.

ROD STEWART SETLIST: Infatuation – Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me) – It’s a Heartache – Having a Party – It Takes Two – The First Cut Is the Deepest – Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) – Forever Young – Ooh La La – Young Turks – Maggie May – I’d Rather Go Blind – Downtown Train – Lady Marmalade – If You Don’t Know Me by Now – You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) – Have I Told You Lately – Proud Mary – Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Hot Legs – Some Guys Have All the Luck

CHEAP TRICK SETLIST: Hello There – Ain’t That A Shame – Dream Police – The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems) – California Man – Southern Girls – If You Want My Love – I Know What I Want – It All Comes Back to You – The Flame – I Want You to Want Me – Surrender – Goodnight

[Show as slideshow]

COMPLETE SET OF ROD STEWART PHOTOS

ROD STEWART LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TOUR DATES

[Show as slideshow]

COMPLETE SET OF CHEAP TRICK PHOTOS

CHEAP TRICK LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TOUR DATES

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries