There was plenty of huffing and puffing as people took their seats for Rod Stewart's Stadium MK show last night, but thankfully it was coming from the stage – as four pipers played a half hour set for us. You don't get that at many gigs.
After the kilted clan disappear, Johnny Mac and the Faithful roll up to get things moving, with a crafted blend of Americana meets sometime rock 'n' roll. Johnny is a wee bundle of fizz, and his band are cheering things up: “We brought a bag of Scottish sunshine free of charge!” he says as the dirty looking clouds give way to a welcome brightness.
The Springsteen-esque set opener is swiftly followed by Took A Train, before promising – and then delivering – a 'little Celtic soul vibe' with Galway Girl.
The Faithful are the rabble of expert players that you'd want to gatecrash your party, for a guaranteed roar. They play 11 tracks for us tonight, and they mention Rod Stewart probably just as many times, but when Rod is your idol and he's invited you to tour with him?
No wonder Johnny's face is set to permanent grin mode.
The band break into 'One of Rod's favourite tunes,' the old tune Pay Me My Money Down, which was popularised by Springsteen. It's a confident little ear worm: “Hopefully when you wake up in the morning, that's stuck in your head,” he says. Very probably.
We might be at the home of the MK Dons, but with Rod and Johnny Celtic fans through and through, it's the rebel song Let The People Sing which airs this evening, and The Irish Rover causes lively movement stage front.
“You are just too nice to us,” Johnny says, pausing for breath, before slowing things down with Dirty Old Town.
There's a big nod to Rod with a cover of The Faces' Ooh-La-La , and then the chance to plug a JM track, Let The People Sing.
The Best Day Of Our Lives is the penultimate moment in their live-wire set, and things round off with a slice of rock 'n' roll, with the track, Joey Ramone.
It comes with a few recognisable songs by a certain Mr Stewart teased in the lyricisms.
And then the Faithful depart, having made plenty of new friends.
One man not in need of any new pals is rock's Rod Stewart who takes the stage a short time later, and gets on with the business of the evening: We're off to a flying start with Infatuation, This Old Heart and Young Turks.
There's a quick turnover here, and not time for too much chit-chat: “We've got two hours, and 23 songs,” he announces somewhere early into proceedings, "So forget about Donald Trump, forget about Brexit, let's have a good time this Tuesday evening. Alright?" he says as cheers echo.
Rod is dressed in black trousers with a double yellow stripe, black jacket with gold detail, black and white polka dot shirt and a red and white neckerchief.
“I couldn't leave the bedroom like that,” says my other half. But he isn't Rod Stewart the rock star, who can do whatever the hell he likes. And he pulls it off perfectly.
Much like the song, You Wear It Well, Rod does the same.
Tonight's The Night and Forever Young follow in quick succession as an audience engages with every moment.
There are 12 people on stage, Rod included. As expected, he has one hell of a band at play here. Those on stage including a group of girls who are taking attentions for plenty of reasons: Not only are they all beautiful, but they are exceptional musicians and singers.
An assortment of clog dancing, fiddle playing, skin hitting sentationals!
Later, when they cover Womack and Womack's 80s hit Teardrops, they will briefly own the venue.
And then there's Rod. On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the D Day landings, he pays tribute, before delivering Rhythm of My Heart, which is accompanied by emotive imagery from the stage; Of poppy fields. Of soldiers marching to war, and of Churchill.
And then it cuts to Rod at the palace, being Knighted. It's brilliant, is what it is.
Rod is 74 years young and moving like a man half his age. His performance is way slicker than your average.
His wife, and two of his eight kids are in the audience tonight, and we spy former Celtic fella Gordon Strachan in the venue too.
Strachan might be lasting the duration this evening, but that's more than can be said for Rod's youngsters: “They have to bugger off soon – it's a school night,” he explains.
Rod takes a seat and delivers The Killing of Georgie, and Tonight I'm Yours with a drum break that is rarity – this one is worth keeping in the set.
And then? “My shoelace is undone – would you get wardrobe?” he asks, and swiftly someone walks onstage and obliges.
The graphics from the stage are suckering the venue with that continuing display of delicious footage and iconic moments, and when Rod re-appears ater a quick-change in a wow-some sparkling suit, the audience shouts its approval.
“I've always loved clothes,” he declares, “I used to save up... now they are a bit more expensive and lairy,” he admits.
Of course the scarves-in-the-air, tartan wearing fans want more songs, and he delivers; Including relative newbie Look In Her Eyes, Every Beat of My Heart, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, and You're In My Heart.
He explains his next number: “It was originally recorded by Van Morrison, but my version is far superior. Only joking,” he smiles, before saying something about Van being a miserable bugger, breaking into Have I Told You Lately...
It's perfect, much like that aforementioned Teardrops delivery by his sensational singers, which is up next.
As the venue is dressed by the darkness of a summer night, the last portion of Rod's show plays out with musical moments that everyone knows: Twisting The Night Away, Sailing, Da Ya Think I'm Sexy and Baby Jane. And then we're all done, 'cept for the Muddy Waters cover Rollin' and Tumblin'.
A quick group bow and the band are off, leaving the usual spray of fireworks to say one last goodnight.
What ticket-holders saw tonight wasn't just a gig. It was a masterclass in songs and stage ownership courtesy of one of the real legends in music. Magnificent.
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