Rod Stewart & Cyndi Lauper, Auckland NZ, 2023

Rod Stewart & Cyndi Lauper

9th April 2023
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Fleming. Photography by Doug Peters.

If music lovers were looking for an example of a masterclass show last night, then they would have had to have looked no further than Spark Arena, where Rod Stewart played the last of his three date New Zealand tour.

After several ‘delays’, Stewart and co finally made it down to Aotearoa and by golly, they gave Tāmaki Makaurau a show they would not soon forget, and the sold-out crowd were ready and waiting for it.

Often arenas tend to be half empty for opening acts, but this was not the case last night, as most ticket holders were seated and ready to go when Jon Stevens and his five-piece band took to the stage to lay down an albeit short but rocking set. Well known as the lead singer of Noiseworks, Stevens also spent time with INXS, so it was great to hear renditions of both ‘New Sensation’ and ‘Tear Us Apart’. Of course, the evening would not be complete without a few Noiseworks tracks, ‘Montego Bay’ (although it was cut short by Stevens due to time restrictions), ‘Hot Chili Woman’ and the 1987 track ‘Take Me Back’ seeing fans get up and dance in their seats.

The night was off to an excellent start, but there was still so much more to come!

When Cyndi Lauper was announced as support act for Rod Stewart, many a happy fan was made. Last here almost six years ago with Blondie, the sixty-nine-year-old showed that she still has it and is not afraid to use it. As she stepped out in a bright yellow suit with a top hat adorned with bunny ears for Easter the audience immediately showed their appreciation, the stage exploding into colour as the big screen visuals kicked in for ‘Hole in my Heart (All the Way to China)’

With a blow-up prop and giant doorway, the set had a wonderful 80’s vibe to it, old footage of Lauper playing in the background as her six-piece band provided the stonking musical accompaniment; Lauper herself getting in on the act as she grabbed a bass recorder for ‘She Bop’.

“So how you doin?” Lauper asked with her distinctive Brooklyn accent, her wry smile declaring that she was very much up for a night of entertainment. And entertain she did, not only with her repertoire of tracks, but with her wit as she at one-point cajoled security for asking people down in the front seats to sit down, declaring that this was not a “jazz concert” and that as long as they were not dancing in the aisles, what was the harm?

Her rendition of ‘I Drive All Night’ drove everyone wild, Lauper laying down the theatrics as she draped herself across the speakers; that is not to say that she didn’t have the vocals to match it, the audience going wild as she held the long notes with ease.

Joined onstage by Jon Stevens, a cover of The Brains ‘Money Changes Everything’ morphed into a fantastic adlib version that saw the two singers let loose and have some fun with it, before ‘Sally’s Pigeons’ a poignant video and speech from Lauper let everyone know just how disappointed she is with the state of her own country and how they treat a women’s right to autonomy over their own bodies, Lauper passionately congratulating New Zealand on standing up for human rights during the recent protests. ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ and ‘True Colours’ rounding out the set that was nigh on flawless.

By now the audience were almost chomping at the bit for Rod, his entrance onto an absolutely stunning stage welcomed like a returning conquering hero.

Accompanied by a twelve-piece band, who were colour co-ordinated in crisp white jackets and black sequins, bagpipes reminded one and all of Stewart’s pride in his heritage before a cover of Robert Palmer’s ‘Addicted to Love’ got the fans on their feet.

Being the last night of the tour, there was an air of relaxed fun to the band, Stewart on fire as he shook and swayed his way across the stage, his iconic hair and gold shoes completing the look.

While Stewart may have been the star of the show – and what a star he is, his voice having lost nothing despite his over sixty-year career – it was his band that not only held down the show as Rod would take the occasional leave of absence only to return in yet another iconic ensemble, but who stunned with their prowess. Including every instrument from violins, to harps, to even a banjo at one point, stand out musicians such as Jimmy Roberts on saxophone completely lit up the arena each and every time they stepped into the spotlight.

A trio of backup singers (Becca Kotte, Holly Brewer and Joanne Harper) also demonstrated that they could easily have a side project of their own, their versions of The Pointer Sisters ‘I’m So Excited’ and ‘Lady Marmalade’ bringing the house down; Kotte earlier joining Stewart for a rendition of ‘It Takes Two’ where their smiles genuinely portrayed just how much fun they were truly having.

Tap dancing and Irish violins intermingled with funk laid bass solos and double drum kits as Stewart rocked his way threw a slew of tracks that kept the fans on their toes throughout the night; beloved favourites such as ‘Maggie May’, laid side by side with legendary classics such as ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ and ‘Downtown Train’ by Tom Waits, poignant moments such as Stewart paying homage to the people of Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy by dressing in the colours of their flag and delivering a beautiful rendition of ‘Rhythm of My Heart’ touching everyone’s hearts.

And of course, being a larger-than-life fan of the Glasgow Celtics, Stewart at one point donned a green suit as his band threw out inflatable footballs to attendees, wonderful family photos of Stewart and his kids moving across the screens.

Sadly, this is more than likely the last time New Zealand will have the pleasure of seeing Stewart on our shores, but if ever there was a show to go out on, last night was certainly the one.

Perfection.

Rod Stewart:

Cyndi Lauper:

Were you there at Spark Arena for this classic rock gig? Or have you seen Rod Stewart or Cyndi Lauper perform somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Rod Stewart Setlist:

1. Addicted to Love [Robert Palmer cover]
2. You Wear it Well
3. Ooh La La [The Faces cover]
4. Some Guys Have All the Luck [The Persuaders cover]
5. Twistin’ the Night Away [Sam Cooke cover]
6. It Takes Two [Mavin Gaye and Kim Weston cover]
7. Have You Ever Seen the Rain [Creedence Clearwater Rivival cover]
8. Forever Young
9. The First Cut is the Deepest [Cat Stevens cover]
10. Maggie May
11. I’d Rather Go Blind [Etta James cover]
12. Young Turks
13. Downtown Train [Tom Waits cover]
14. Rhythm of My Heart [Marc Jordan cover]
15. I’m So Excited [The Pointer Sisters cover]
16. I Don’t Want to Talk About It [Crazy Horse cover]
17. Tonight’s the Night (Gonna be Alright)
18. You’re in My Heart
19. Have I Told you Lately [Van Morrison cover]
20. Lady Marmalade [LaBelle cover]
21. Baby Jane
22. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
23. Sailing [The Sutherland Brothers Band cover]

Cyndi Lauper Setlist:

1. Hole in My Heart (All the Wat to China)
2. She Bop
3. The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough
4. Into the Nightlife
5. Time After Time
6. I Drove All Night
7. Money Changes Everything [The Brains cover]
8. Sally’s Pigeons
9. Girls Just Want to Have Fun
10. Not My Father’s Son
11. True Colours

_{Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.}

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