Paso Robles is famous for its wine, but on Sunday night, the grape took a backseat to a different kind of vintage: Sir Rod Stewart, the raspy-voiced rocker who’s been strutting stages since the Swinging Sixties. The Vina Robles Amphitheatre, tucked into rolling hills of vineyards near California’s central coast, was the perfect spot for Stewart’s postponed (and very much worth the wait) stop on his One Last Time tour. It’s a run that’s been storming Europe, Asia, and now North America, reminding us all why he is a two-time Rock Hall of Famer, a knight, and still one of rock’s most electrifying showmen.
This wasn’t some polite victory lap. It was feisty, cheeky, and drenched in the swagger that’s carried Stewart from The Jeff Beck Group to Faces to his solo superstardom. At 80, he’s still spinning mic stands, changing outfits mid-set, and telling stories about teenage field-side romps like the lovable rogue he’s always been.
Stewart came out swinging with “Infatuation” and “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)”, his voice as instantly recognizable as ever—gravel and silk in equal measure. By the time he hit Bonnie Tyler’s “It’s a Heartache” and a Muddy Waters ode with “Roll and Tumble Blues”, it became clear that this wasn’t going to be just a run-through of his biggest hits. Rather, he and his band would pen a love letter to the music that shaped him.
True to form, Stewart paid homage to his heroes. He brought a backup singer in a tasselly gold dress out front for “It Takes Two”, tipping his mic stand to Tina Turner. Later came Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away” came complete with a scorching guitar solo and wailing sax. “May the good Lord forgive me,” Rod quipped after sipping some local red between numbers.
The heart of the show came courtesy of a moving mid-set stretch. Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest” cascaded with solos on fiddle, violin, and harp. “Tonight’s the Night” had Stewart and his singers sharing sips of wine while the rest of his superb backing band went off. “Forever Young” turned into a Celtic jig, complete with tap-dancing backup singers and Rod swapping his gold suit for all black while the harpist bashed a Celtic FC drum.
Ever the raconteur, Stewart paused after “Young Turks” to wish the crowd Merry Christmas and Happy New Year “because I won’t see you before,” then launched into a tale of losing his virginity in a field as a teenager. “Big, big, one happy girl,” he grinned, before tearing into “Maggie May”, which would’ve been a karaoke free-for-all whether or not the lyrics had been sprawled across the screen.
Tributes followed, from “I’d Rather Go Blind” for Christine McVie and “Downtown Train” for Tom Waits, to “The Killing of Georgie”, which Stewart reminded was banned by the BBC for daring to say “gay.” Each one showed his knack for turning covers and originals alike into anthems of both joy and sorrow.
Even amid those emotional moments, the show never lost its playful edge. Backup singers took over on “I’m Every Woman” and “Proud Mary”, while Rod re-emerged in a pink suit, just in time to punt soccer-ball balloons into the crowd during “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” A Faces-era “Stay With Me” and a rollicking “Some Guys Have All the Luck” capped the main set in pure Brit rock bliss.
For the encore, Stewart went soulful with The O’Jays’ “Love Train”, leading the Paso crowd in one last singalong. “The world needs one right now,” he said, the vineyard hills echoing with harmonies and laughter.
Rod Stewart’s One Last Time tour has been billed as a farewell, but if Sunday proved anything, it’s that farewell doesn’t mean finished. He’s still got the rasp, the moves, the mischief, and the catalog to keep amphitheaters buzzing for hours.
Next up, Stewart heads to Las Vegas for a six-show run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace (September 24th–October 4th), before taking the party across borders, starting in Mexico City on October 7th [get tickets].
For Paso Robles, though, the night was perfect: a vineyard under the stars, a rock ’n’ roll legend on stage, and just enough wine to fuel the best kind of misbehavior.
Rod Stewart – “Love Train” (The O’Jays) – 9/21/25
[Video: TammyVision]
