Critics said, "This is one of the bands you have to see before you die." But, i was far less concerned about my own wellbeing compared to my concerns about their energy levels and anxiously waiting to find out how energetic their performance would be. By the night's end, i was convinced that i would be beaten by Sir Mick Jagger in a 1.5km jogathon held an hour after the concert.
That was it, they seemed to be able to absorb the youth of the audience and turn it into some form of elixir for them to stay young. I just can't fault their performance that night, and for me it was worth every penny. Forget their history, forget their bollocks off stage, forget what they stand for, but i can't forget their music. They are showpeople, and they know how to light up their audience.
Among the notes of their introduction, was that the Stones have amassed around 500+ songs to their credit. I wished there was less. That way the value derived from being there would be greater (typical kiasuness) but it was great just being there. There was genuine class being exerted, and genuine effort to stay young, remain in the business, set the standards and show the world that they are still at their fighting best.
Genres are elusive in this show, for they epitomised music itself. Masterful tracks. Brilliant coordination. Energetic. They are everything they are on the stage. Without the stage, they'd cease to exist. But enough with the superlatives, and get down to the tracks.
My faves that night in no particular order:
- tumbling dice
- honky tonk women
- brown sugar
- angie
- satisfaction
- you can't always get what you want
Tracks i wished they had played:
- beast of burden
- wild horses
- gimme shelter
- ruby tuesday
- under my thumb
- street fighting man
Nevertheless, fantastic stuff. You could go to each and every show of theirs, and still find something new to enjoy, that much i'm sure of.
