By Honey Rumbles / Jeff Arnhart
Rod Stewart Turns Back Time Under a Cool Texas Sky
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
becomes a celebration of enduring rock mastery
“Some voices don’t age - they just gather stories.”
On Sunday evening, April 19, just north of Houston, the open-air expanse of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion played host to a crowd spanning generations, all gathered to witness the unmistakable grit and swagger of Rod Stewart.
Before the main event, the evening found its emotional footing with
the polished synth-pop elegance of Howard Jones - a pioneer whose own
story is woven into the fabric of 1980s Synth-pop innovation.
Jones
emerged in the early ’80s as part of the UK’s synth revolution,
blending technology with deeply human songwriting. Unlike many of his
contemporaries, he often performed solo, surrounded by keyboards and
drum machines crafting hits that were both futuristic and heartfelt.
Songs like “New Song” and “What Is Love?”
helped define an era when synthesizers reshaped mainstream music, while
his collaborations with producers and advocates like Phil Collins and
Midge Ure placed him at the center of a creative movement.
Opening with the bright pulse of “New Song,” Jones immediately transported the pavilion back to that neon-lit decade. “Like to Get to Know You Well” followed with its rhythmic warmth, its layered textures floating effortlessly through the open air. A spirited take on “Everlasting Love” (a nod to the song popularized by Love Affair) added a touch of soul to the set, while “No One Is to Blame” brought a quieter, introspective moment - its delicate melody resonating deeply with the crowd.
“Howard Jones doesn’t chase nostalgia - he refines it into something timeless.”
The set continued with “You Know I Love You… Don’t You?” and the ever-relevant “What Is Love?” - a track that still feels as philosophically curious now as it did decades ago. Closing with “Things Can Only Get Better,” Jones delivered not just a hit, but a statement of enduring optimism setting a tone that lingered long after he left the stage.
“In a world chasing the next thing, Howard Jones proved the power of staying exactly who you are.”
As twilight gave way to night, the stage transformed into a kaleidoscope of movement and sound and Rod Stewart
emerged - equal parts rock star and raconteur. What makes Stewart’s
presence so compelling is not just the hits - it’s the history behind
them.
Long before the platinum albums and global tours, Stewart
cut his teeth in London’s blues circuit, busking across Europe and
fronting early R&B outfits alongside figures like Long John Baldry
and Brian Auger. His breakthrough came with the thunderous Jeff Beck
Group, where alongside Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood, he helped forge a
heavier, blues-driven rock sound that would ripple through bands like
Led Zeppelin.
That same chemistry carried into Faces, the gloriously ragged group Stewart
co-led with Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones. Faces
weren’t polished - they were alive, unpredictable and fueled by pure
rock ’n’ roll spirit. Even as Stewart launched a solo career that would soon eclipse the band that sense of looseness and swagger never left him.
“Rod Stewart doesn’t just perform songs - he carries entire eras of music inside them.”
His band opened with the punchy instrumental groove of “Soul Finger” (a nod to The Bar-Kays), then Stewart
took the stage and wasted no time launching into a career-spanning set
that felt less like a concert and more like a living jukebox of rock
and soul history.
From the swaggering stomp of “Infatuation” and “Hot Legs” to the sleek urgency of “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me),” Stewart
commanded the stage with a confidence that belied the decades behind
him. His voice - weathered but resolute - carried the emotional weight
of each lyric, whether revisiting heartbreak on “The First Cut Is the Deepest” or leaning into the playful bravado of “Some Guys Have All the Luck.”
The setlist unfolded like a carefully curated narrative. “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” and “Forever Young” drew singalongs that echoed into the cool night air.
Next Stewart informed the crowd that he would perform four songs from his first number 1 album titled Every Picture Tells a Story. Stewart then led off with what has become his signature song, “Every Picture Tells a Story” followed with "(I Know) I’m Losing You"
which showcased Stewart’s ability to bridge rock grit with soulful
depth, an echo of his earliest influences. Then the mood softened with “Mandolin Wind” which led into a heartfelt “Maggie May,” the latter still hitting with the same wistful punch that made it a classic during his early solo ascent.
The energy then surged again with “Young Turks” and a haunting rendition of “Downtown Train,” proving Stewart’s interpretive skills remain as sharp as ever.
“Decades on, the voice may be rougher - but the emotion cuts even deeper.”
His band and backup singers then performed “I’m Every Woman” (a tribute to Chaka Khan) while Stewart had stepped offstage to change his outfit. Stewart reemerged and pivoted into the poignant storytelling of “The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II).” The emotional peak continued with “People Get Ready” and a tender “Have I Told You Lately,” moments that transformed the massive pavilion into something almost intimate.
Stewart once again left the stage and by the time his band and backup singers had finished “Proud Mary,” Stewart had emerged from yet another outfit change and performed “Stay With Me” (a roaring callback to his days with Faces) which tore through the night air. The full arc of Stewart’s journey - from scrappy blues frontman to global icon - felt vividly present. The celebratory “It Takes Two” and the undeniable groove of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” turned the venue into a full-fledged dance floor.
Closing with the euphoric “Love Train,” Stewart sent the audience home on a wave of collective joy.
“In an era of fleeting fame, Sir Rod Stewart remains a masterclass in longevity, charisma and connection.”
At The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, beneath a cool Texas sky that seemed to stretch on forever, both Howard Jones and Rod Stewart didn’t just revisit their pasts - they brought them vividly, joyfully into the present.
Rod Stewart:
Soul Finger (The Bar‐Kays cover)
Infatuation
Hot Legs
Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)
Some Guys Have All the Luck (The Persuaders cover)
It's a Heartache (Bonnie Tyler cover)
The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover)
Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
Forever Young
Every Picture Tells a Story
(I Know) I'm Losing You (The Temptations cover)
Mandolin Wind
Maggie May
Young Turks
Downtown Train (Tom Waits cover)
I'm Every Woman (Chaka Khan cover)
The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)
People Get Ready (The Impressions cover)
Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison cover)
Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
Stay With Me (Faces song)
It Takes Two (Kim Weston cover)
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
Encore:
Love Train (The O’Jays cover)
Howard Jones:
New Song
Like to Get to Know You Well
Everlasting Love
No One Is to Blame
You Know I Love You, Don't You?
What Is Love?
Things Can Only Get Better
|
Rod Stewart
                      
Howard Jones
       
|
