It's Only Rock'n Roll
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It's Only Rock'n Roll |
Flip the Switch, Anybody Seen My Baby, and Out of Control sound great live, and they mix in well with the first half of the set.
Bobby Keyes sounded flawless tonight. Far Away Eyes was a perfect song to play in Nashville, it went over extremely well.
The strong winds made it chilly, and the fireworks and confetti blew around more than usual, while the sky was picture perfect for this "matinee" show.
Start time: 5:30 p.m. End time: 7:45 p.m.
The set list:
We arrived in Nashville round 11:30 and got a table at Rio Bravo on West End Avenue. The restaurant is in sight of Vanderbuilt Stadium. Place was empty and not yet serving beer.... At noon things started to change. Within an hour the drinks were rolling and the place was overflowing into the streets! Bill and I were meeting friends there, Brian and Beth (who is expecting) and a few other acquaintances... We had a great time catching up on old times over pitchers of Margaritas and red beer. I was happy of the fact that after all these years we still get together for such things as the Rolling Stones.....
At 3:30 we joined the thousands of other fans crowding the streets moving toward the gates. We stopped at the cars to get our jackets and raingear preparing for the weather. Stones gear was on sale at several stands and was selling more volume than any other stop I had seen, I witnessed one vendor sell the shirt off her back! At the front gate dozens of people were trying to unload tickets.... If anyone needed a ticket they could be had for next to nothing.....
Inside Sheryl Crow was attempting to bring in the crowd. She is a wonderful entertainer but most of the crowd had not arrived at the early 4 PM start time.... At this point I have to say Vandy was in no way sufficient in handling this crowd, gates, restores, ushers, completely unprepared for an event of this nature. This tends to happen in these type college stadiums though.
Daylight faded as the clouds cleared and the temperature dropped. As the lights went down the wind stirred the curtains of the stage as well as all of us in the bleachers. Many people were very cold. I remembered how cold the Chicago show was and how it soon warmed up nicely once the band hit the stage.....
Finally Keith goes to work, without the usual fire and flashpots, center stage, still unable to get any "Satisfaction." Keith is wearing his full length leopard coat and Mick chose a cherry red (What's you favorite flavor) jacket and scarf tonight. After the first number Mick chats with the crowd commenting on the early start time (guess the locals don't stay up late in Nashville) and that they just finished breakfast.
Next it was "IORR" and "Lets Spend the Night Together." Visibly cold the band is really getting warmed up. Mick is on a tear. Ronnie is wearing a big heavy winter coat. Nashville is beginning to sit down! Most fans in the stands are sitting and shivering. Fortunately Mick is not too bothered. "Flip the Switch" is next. One of the highlights "Gimme Shelter" is amazing. It has been said a million times - Lisa Fisher is outstanding!
A one two punch, another highlight, simply incredible is "Sister Morphine." Possibly my fav of the night. "Anybody Seen" is next and the rap is now intelligible. Mick says "We came to rock Nashville, like this!" The crowd recognizes this song and responds. "Tonight the home of country music is the home of rock-n-roll!" Mick screams. "Bitch" is next followed by "Out Of Control." This song came off great, Jagger gave all he had here seeming to really enjoy performing. Still he doesn't seem too bothered the crowd is sitting.
Thanks Mick for keeping it going for those of us who were into it! Don't get me wrong, I am not saying the Stones were not doing the job, I am saying Nashville is lame!
The web choice "Faraway Eyes" was next. This song has a long personal history for me. Kind of predicted we would hear this one tonight. Ronnie Wood gets the crowds attention with the steel guitar. Mick gets some help from Chuck on this one. Another highpoint here. "Miss You" - again. Lisa Fisher we ALL miss you! And you have no more secrets under that tiny leather skirt! Don't think we need any further explanation here!
Mick comments about the wind and makes a comparison to Chicago here. From my point of view the wind was a major element adding to the whole effect of the show. A Stones Storm...... Intro's and Keith.... Nashville takes a restroom/T-shirt break. You can bet if they were sitting down for Mick they were in the jon for Keith. Keith seemed a little miffed but politely thanked us and blessed us before he surrendered the mic.
The crowd now watched in amazement as the Bridge rose from under the stage. What a sight. Every tour they come up with a new trick, this one as always is very amusing. Finally Nashville is on their feet as the band runs across the bridge extended over head. "Little Quenie" goes over very well, now we are rockin. "Last Time" and "You Got Me Rockin." Nashville is rising to the occasion.
Mick screams the beginning of "Sympathy" from the walkway in the middle of the stadium. Something about seeing Mick wearing red, basted by spotlight, prancing in the grips of the audience....... "Hope you guess my name." "Dice," "Honky Tonk," "Start Me Up" (without any fire or explosions), "Jack Flash" finish the show. During "Honky Tonk" Mick felt safe enough to venture half way down the center runway.
By "Jack Flash" the exit isleways were full of Nashville residents up past their bedtime..... This has to be the first Stones show I ever saw people leave before it was over.. Quikly they return to the stage with fireworks and confetti doing "Brown Sugar." Similar to Chicago the wind whips the confetti over our heads wildly. Nice touch. The performers take their last bows and finally it is just Mick, Charlie, Keith and Ron. Mick takes to each end of the stage to say good-bye...
After a longer than usual delay only a short spurt of fireworks went off to the delight of the crowd. It was now only 8 PM. The show lasted the usual 2 hours 15 minutes. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones thankyou for coming." My twelfth Stones show was as good as the rest. They are picking up momentum and getting better with each show. A few songs are changing here and there and the video feed was entirely different this time, I wonder if Nashville censored it? Nah, the boys wouldn't give in to that....
The Rolling Stones still rock-n-roll and generate excitement like no other band. It can still be said anyone who has seen the Stones came away satisfied..... Now they head West........ See ya when you get back to Atlanta if not before......
Read all about the 1997 tour in the It's Only Rock'n Roll magazine issue IORR 30 out Oct. 15, 1997.
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It's Only Rock'n Roll 1997 -
© The Rolling Stones Fan Club Of Europe |