A performance like thunder: Rod Stewart literally takes Clarkston by storm

Many of the approximately 15,000 fans at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, a small community about 65 kilometres from Detroit, probably thought there had been better concert evenings. But that was not because of the artists performing that evening.
The weather gods seemed to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed that day, because just before the show started, thick clouds rolled in over the community of only 928 inhabitants, and shortly afterwards it began to rain cats and dogs, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
At short notice, the organisers decided to bring the start of the evening forward a little. So Cheap Trick's performance began 30 minutes earlier than planned, at 7 p.m. The US rock band performed professionally, but their set was shortened by around 45 minutes due to the storm. Looking up at the sky, which was getting darker by the minute and the rain was increasing, did not bode well.
The weather did not spoil the fans' mood, however, and despite – or perhaps because of – the adverse conditions, the audience celebrated a special party.
And so, even during Cheap Trick's short performance, the atmosphere was excellent, with the audience eagerly awaiting Sir Rod's performance. Some feared that the thunderstorm might lead to a last-minute cancellation.
But Sir Rod put a stop to that. ‘No way,’ he signalled clearly to the organisers backstage, also to nip any thoughts of a possible cancellation in the bud.
And so, accompanied by thunder and lightning, the 80-year-old took to the stage at the Pine Knob Music Theatre just 15 minutes after Cheap Trick. It was literally a thunderous performance: Stewart kicked things off appropriately with ‘Infatuation’ and ‘Tonight I'm Yours.’
Meanwhile, the fans who had made themselves comfortable on the lawn were already soaked to the skin, with lightning flashing across the sky.
On stage, Stewart professionally carried out his programme. He was probably thinking about how his boys from Celtic FC also have to perform on the football field in all weathers.
Rod rushed through his set list in unison with the storm, which remained unchanged from the last show in Noblesville. The audience braved the weather and celebrated exuberantly.
There was dancing and singing, people were having fun, and some may have been reminded of the classic ‘Singing In The Rain’ and felt like Gene Kelly dancing and singing in the rain.
Rod was also having fun, smiling often at the audience, dancing and prancing around, and showing himself to be in top form both vocally and physically. Stewart professionally performed his nearly two-hour show and sent his fans, who were soaked to the skin, home happy at the end.
The news portal mlive.com also summed up a great evening and concluded its analysis of the show with the words: ‘If this really is Stewart's last tour, the fans couldn't have asked for more.’
There's not much more to add to that.

Set list:
1. Infatuation
2. Tonight I'm Yours
3. It's A Heartache
4. Rollin' & Tumblin'
5. It Takes Two
6. The First Cut Is The Deepest
7. Tonight's The Night
8. Forever Young
9. The Motown Song
10. Young Turks
11. Maggie May
12. I’d Rather Go Blind
13. Downtown Train
14. I’m Every Woman (band only)
15. If You Don’t Know Me by Now
16. You're In My Heart
17. Have I Told You Lately
18. Proud Mary (Band only)
19. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy
20. Stay With Me
21. Some Guys Have All The Luck
22. Love Train