By Chris Varias
Enquirer Contributor

Despite Rod Stewart's rock 'n' roll persona, his recent fascination with the American songbook is no great leap. The superstar singer had already been dabbling in sappy pop love songs and lightweight golden oldies in the years following his artistic peak in the 1970s, so his last two albums of songs by the likes of Hoagy Carmichael and Rodgers & Hart is more of a logical step backward than the surprising detour it has been made out to be.

Stewart's Wednesday night concert at U.S. Bank Arena illustrated as much. The two-hour performance was divided into two parts meant to present the singer's two sides. The first was the "rocking" Rod set and the second could have been called "Rod Sings with Strings." But the rocking set had its mellow moments, and vice versa, which only proved that whether it's "Maggie May" or "The Nearness of You," every title Stewart selects is no more than fodder for his raspy, campy interpretation.

The first set served as a condensed version of the show Stewart had brought to Cincinnati his last few trips: multiple wardrobe changes (including one in the middle of "Downtown Train"; kicking soccer balls into the audience throughout the course of "Stay With Me"; and a sampling of B-list material like "Young Turks" and "Rhythm of My Heart."

He also took a break backstage in the middle of the set while a backup singer sang lead on "Proud Mary," but overall the first hour of the show was strong, with enduring Faces favorites like "Stay With Me" and "Ooh La La" ranking as highlights.

When the curtain opened for the second set, the stark "rock" stage look of Set One was replaced by an orchestra bandstand, and the rock ensemble was augmented by a string section composed of local musicians.

Dressed in tails, Stewart eased into the set with "As Time Goes By," while clips from the film Casablanca flickered on the video screens behind him. Somewhere between "The Nearness of You" and "The Way You Look Tonight," Stewart slipped in his own "Tonight's the Night," which, at this point in time, seems about as old as his other pop standards.

And although Stewart went to great lengths in describing the greatness of "The Way You Look Tonight," the best song of the night - better than anything from the American songbook he cracked open - was his own "Maggie May." As crooners go, Stewart may not be a threat to Frank Sinatra's legacy, but Sinatra never wrote anything like that.

E-mail cv@fuse.net