Damn alright
Rolling Stones concert review, Tuesday, September 6, St. Paul, Minn.,
By William Ferleman, Jayplay contributor
Disregard the ill-informed unbelievers — the Rolling Stones pack more frenetic, demented energy into one show than most mere rocking (or otherwise) mortals could their in whole lives. With age, they've gained in passion and finecraft, raunchily-immoral showmanship. Now they're no longer simply recycling "outdated" classic ditties, but also performing newer material. Four songs from their twenty-song set came from their recent album, A Bigger Bang. And these songs, including current single "Rough Justice," garnered just as much reverence from attendees as tested the
staples. Incredibly, the 43 year-old band remains deathless and relevant, defiant and experienced, now justifiably singing. "Hey, Hey, Hey, that's what I say!"
With the uplifting opening riff to "Start Me Up," still-breathing guitarist, Keith Richards, brightly kick-started the festivities with charismatic, hyper-caffeinated front-man Mick Jagger and the band in tow. Beddecked in tight black jeans and a faux, fancy, lips-logo Wonka coat, Jagger looked like the affable midnight rambler kissing off the fates.
Perennially raising his arms up and down, dancing in dizzying circles with
saucily and Elvis-like hip gyrations, Jagger, 62, continues to be the model rock frontman and entertainer. His dictatorial, mesmeric sway over the audience seemed reminscent of a certain vegetarian mustachioed "leader," or at least of Pat Robertson's Jesus. Spouting the lyrics to hits like "Beast of Burden" and "Brown Sugar" was second-nature, but nonetheless cheerfully and honestly carried out. Despite eons of touring and onstage conventions, Jagger somehow
managed to lay out the illusion of chastity and joyful spontaneity; at one point, even sticking his mic suggestively in his pants.
Drummer Charlie Watts continued to beat along nicely and rhythm guitarist Ron Wood grooved spiritedly with the Jagger-Richards alchemical,
bluesy-rock machine. As for Richards, he's still up to his old gamesome impishness, having arrived onstage wearing a black "Homeland Security" shirt, telling the crowd he's not just glad to be in St. Paul, but "anywhere." Richards' work on the guitar couldn't be better and his reclusive, resigned contrast to Jagger's determined limelight-lust only
italicized the performance's stimulation and mystique. On the most well-received and potent number, "Jumpin' Jack Flash", Richards emphatically and artfully slash-strummed his guitar. But most of the evening, he slyly maneuvered in the background.
For audience thrill, the band manned a portable stage, which jettisoned to the center of the complex. They played a four-song set which included their most popular hit, "Satisfaction (I Can't
Get No)" and also the new satiric "Oh No, Not You Again." Jagger chatted briefly, stating that the new songs went over "damn alright." The encore included the ballad "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll."
Jagger still
struts like a rich player across the stage. And the rest of the band, including Richards, shows no signs of fading away.
5. 14-16