Watch Rod Stewart fit a harp onstage at the Troubadour

By Mikael Wood

April 29, 2013 4:11 PM PT

As you may have heard, the Rolling Stones took over L.A.’s relatively tiny Echoplex on Saturday night for a much-buzzed warm-up gig in advance of the band’s North American arena tour, which is to kick off Friday at Staples Center.

But the Stones weren’t the only English rock veterans returning to their club roots last week: On Thursday, Rod Stewart played an invite-only show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, previewing new tunes from his upcoming album and delivering old hits such as “Forever Young” and “Rhythm of My Heart.”

Due out May 7, “Time” is billed as Stewart’s return to songwriting following his decade-long stretch doing covers albums like “Soulbook” and the five volumes in his “Great American Songbook” series. One of the originals on the record is called “Sexual Religion,” which certainly sounds promising.

Even more impressive, though, is the fact that Stewart fit what appeared to be an 11-piece band on the Troubadour’s very cozy stage -- an 11-piece band, we should add, that included no fewer than three backup singers, as well as a woman playing a harp. A harp! Those aren’t small, people.

Watch the concert below.