Cheap Trick & Rod Stewart Deliver a Moonlit Masterclass in Rock

Concert Review: Cheap Trick & Rod Stewart – Ruoff Home Mortgage Center, Noblesville, IN – August 9, 2025

The evening at Ruoff Home Mortgage Center was warm, bright, and brimming with the energy of late summer. A nearly full moon hung over the crowd, its glow almost competing with the stage lights. Both bands, however, rose to the challenge, delivering performances whose intensity matched the lunar spectacle.

Cheap Trick kicked off the night, proving once again why they remain one of rock’s most enduring and beloved acts. Led by the incomparable Robin Zander, the band wasted no time establishing their presence. Zander’s voice, still crystal-clear and powerful after decades on the road, is nothing short of miraculous. As radio host Eddie Trunk likes to say, he’s a “freak of nature”—and on this night, that label felt entirely accurate. Every note was sung with precision and artistry, as though he were still in his 20s.

Alongside him, guitarist Rick Nielsen worked his usual magic, delivering his dynamic, razor-sharp riffs with playful swagger. His guitar collection alone is a show within a show, but it’s his onstage antics that make him such a joy to watch. At one point, he even waved and flirted with my wife—a moment that had both of us laughing. The rest of the band, tight and in perfect sync, kept the momentum rolling seamlessly from song to song.

The setlist was a satisfying blend of deep cuts, fan favorites, and covers. “The Flame” was the clear emotional high point for the crowd, its sweeping chorus prompting a sea of swaying hands and voices. The band closed with the anthemic “Surrender” and “Goodnight,” sending the audience into intermission buzzing with adrenaline.

Cheap Trick’s setlist:

• Hello There

• Ain’t That a Shame (Fats Domino cover)

• Dream Police

• He’s a Whore

• California Man

• The House Is Rockin’ (With Domestic Problems)

• Southern Girls

• Bass Solo

• I Know What I Want

• It All Comes Back to You (snippet – Robin Zander acoustic)

• The Flame

• I Want You to Want Me

• Surrender

• Goodnight

After a brief break, Rod Stewart took the stage with the command and charisma of a true showman. From the first note, it was clear that his voice—raspy, soulful, and instantly recognizable—remains one of the most distinctive in rock history. He bantered easily with the crowd, told stories, and even made a few playful jabs at his own mistakes, blaming them on the band with a wink.

Stewart’s attention to detail in his shows is remarkable: from elaborate lighting to video projections, from the talented backing vocalists and dancers to the perfectly timed wardrobe changes. Each song felt like a mini-production, yet the heart of the show was always Stewart himself.

For me, “Young Turks” was the emotional centerpiece. Hearing it live transported me back to my teenage years, when the song’s urgent beat and uplifting message first caught my ear. As the song played, I couldn’t help but just stand there, locked in the moment.

One particularly magical point came when Stewart paused to admire the enormous moon rising over the venue. Cameras caught it and projected it onto the massive screens. “Come on now,” he laughed, “the moon is stealing the show!” The crowd roared its agreement.

His set was a masterclass in blending originals with well-chosen covers. Highlights included the tender “The First Cut Is the Deepest,” the rollicking “Maggie May,” and the irresistible “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”—during which crew members tossed soccer balls into the crowd. He closed with the joyous “Love Train,” sending everyone home dancing.

Rod Stewart’s setlist:

• Scotland the Brave (traditional)

• Infatuation

• Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)

• It’s a Heartache (Bonnie Tyler cover)

• Roll and Tumble Blues (Hambone Willie Newbern cover)

• It Takes Two (Kim Weston cover – dedicated to Tina Turner)

• Forever Young (dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne; with Riverdance-style interlude)

• The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover)

• Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)

• The Motown Song

• Young Turks

• Maggie May

• I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James cover – dedicated to Christine McVie)

• Downtown Train (Tom Waits cover)

• I’m Every Woman (Chaka Khan cover – sung by backup singers)

• If You Don’t Know Me by Now (Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes cover)

• You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)

• Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison cover)

• Proud Mary (CCR cover – sung by backup singers)

• Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (with soccer balls tossed to audience)

• Stay With Me (Faces song – dedicated to Faces)

• Some Guys Have All the Luck (The Persuaders cover)

Encore:

• Love Train

By the end of the night, it was clear we’d experienced something rare: two legendary acts, both still in top form, sharing a stage under a gorgeous summer moon. It was a concert that blended nostalgia with sheer performance brilliance—a glorious evening of musical enchantment that will be hard to top.