I, was at the Great Woods last Wednesday, and I had excellent
seats -- 2nd row, center stage, and no 1st row in front of me. Anyway, it was an excellent show and Rod was really rocking!
He added four songs from the new album to the set list and they all
sounded terrific.

It was really strange to see the curtain go up and see
Rod standing right in front of me, 10 feet away. I've only been to one Rod
concert before, in 1996 (I'm only 18), and my seats to that one weren't
great, so this was a real treat. We made eye-contact a few times. Once
he kicked a soccer ball out into the audience (one of many) and apparantly
hit what he was aiming for and yelled "Score!". He walked right in front of
where I was several times, but the security guard wouldn't let me get up
next to the stage until the last couple of songs.

I really loved Infatuation, I
think that one is great live, much better than the recorded version. When
he started that one it sounded kind of scary, like Halloween music, and he
did kind of an evil laugh, while the stage got dark with red lights flashing.
Pretty cool. Lost In You is another favorite live, especially the guitar solo
which was awesome. I was singing along with all of the songs the whole
but my back started hurting a little for standing up for over two hours, but
it was well worth it. Twistin The Night Away was great live, as were Rocks
and Hotel Chambermaid from the new album. Rocks was longer, and much
harder sounding, and his voice was great. However, I don't think C & A is
all that great live (IMO).

He twirled his microphone several times, even
threw it in the air one time, and
jokingly started throwing it around John Shanks, as if he were trying to hit
him. During the various solos during the night, Rod ran up to the highlighted
bandmember and motioned to him and danced around. He ran across the
stage all night, and up and down the set. John Shanks was great on the
guitar, BTW.

Periodically Rod stopped by the fans (blowing air) on stage to
cool off (it was nearly 100 degreed that afternoon). He even commented
that it was "f*@%ing hot". He had something on over his mole by his lips for
the first half of the show, and told the crowd that he had cut himself
shaving.

I could see Rachel and one of the kids off to the side of the stage,
and Rod threw a stuffed animal at them once. Rod wore some scarf in the
middle of the show that he said a friend gave him that's supposed to make
you feel cooler. He also wore a hat, which made his hair get wet and stay
down (he later dried it off), and had it on during Rocks. During that song he
was looking at me, probably because I was singing along and he was surprised
I knew the words :).

Anyway, his voice was excellent, he didn't miss a note,
though he forgot a few words. He had the crowd sing the first verse of
Maggie May. The band was great, and I had a super time.

-Mike-