It's Only Rock'n Roll
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It's Only Rock'n Roll |
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Stones
NEWS |
Tell Me Forum |
Hackney Diamonds |
Tour 2024 |
Mick Jagger |
Keith Richards |
Charlie Watts |
Ronnie
Wood |
Live pre/post show comments:
Seattle WA USA show live updates - Wednesday May 15, 2024 - The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Tour
Keith is fully dialed in, and everyone seems relaxed even as they race through the songs. I was on Ronnie's side and watched him mouth “What's the matter with you, boy” to no one in particular up front. And Mick treated us to the opening line from a Blake Shelton song while waiting to begin “Miss You.”
“When it's sunny in Seattle and it's snowing down in New Orleans,” he crooned while playing his guitar, before adding, “I just learned that.” (The 2011 song was new to me. I thought he was riffing on Johnny Horton’s “When It's Springtime in Alaska.”)
For me the highlight was the second outing of “Whole Wide World,” probably my favorite song on the new album. I was thrilled by the live version, which includes a nifty Ronnie solo. WWW should be a nightly staple, even if the reaction is muted. The people need to learn it somehow. It didn't help that the Seattle crowd was pretty lame, and Mick must be out of his head if he truthfully thought the singalong on “You Can't Always Get What You Want” was the best so far in the tour.
This reminds me, maybe they could try and resuscitate “Hackney Diamonds” by saying its name, and IDing the new songs. People don't know this stuff, and it's more than likely that most of the folks each night don't even own the album. And how about treating the captive audience to some shameless promotion on the giant video screens before the opening act comes out?
The rest of the selections echoed recent shows, and everyone had heard vote winner “Wild Horses” being rehearsed under the open roof hours earlier. “Satisfaction” was atrocious. Mick had a problem with his ear monitor at the start and never really got into the groove. In one of the choruses that I recorded, he sounded dreadful. But this was at the end of a two-hour workout and I certainly don't begrudge him the rare lapse.
At the same time a British pop combo called The Rolling Stones started their journey into the stratosphere, and in Seattle last night did not look or sound at all dated. Remarkable to think how they have spanned all the technological changes over this period, and now play in front of a huge video wall using radio technology, in front of tens of thousands of people using their cell phones to record photos, audio or high definition video, posting on social media (in 1962 social media was the gossip columns of the paper press). All that was science fiction when they started out.
At one point Mick mentioned their first concert in Seattle in 1965, when a girl punched a policeman and broke his glasses…. They even showed a still photo from that gig, and the venue once called the Coliseum is still standing, but has a new name. This was the 13th Stones show in Seattle and proved unlucky for people who didn’t buy a ticket: it was a great show, on a par with Las Vegas, and tickets were freely available on the day of the show.
Most promoters now drip-feed out tickets, the intention being to maximise revenue and minimise scalping. As a result, even months ago it was very tough to get a ticket, until the next batch were released. But for shows where people travel, especially in mid-week, that risks empty seats and a spacious field. This looked to be the case last night.
This was another show where it became clear, within 15 seconds of Keith hammering out the opening riff of Start Me Up, that it was going to be a great show. The audience reaction was massive; Jagger and Richards grinned and soaked up the radiated energy. That fed-back to the audience and we were off for a really exciting time. The air was cooling as the crowd and band heated-up; the modern stadium (no roof to open which is a bit strange in notoriously wet Seattle) allowed fantastic sound. The arms and phones waved in the air. People were even pogoing near me.
It was five initial songs of maximum rock’n’roll. Get Off Of My Cloud, Lets Spend The Night Together (Mick and Keith singing together), Angry (now a real sing-along, the crowd joining Ronnie on vocals), and IORR (easy to forget this was not named after Bjornulf’s website)…. Great solos, Keith in his best Berry-esque mode; Ronnie excelling; Darryl pounding out the bass rhythms; Chuck broadening the spectrum; and Steve hammering the drums. Again Bernard was hitting the drum pad so hard on Angry that he need to changes arms several times. The smiles and enjoyment across the band was a joy to watch.
The song vote result was as predictable as an election in Russia. When one of the most famous Stones songs is in the list, Wild Horses last night, anyone who expects another outcome risks the gulag. Delightful playing, Keith on open-tuned electric when he often
plays an acoustic for this song. Tim Ries adding to the keyboards with some Hammond organ. Great song, great performance. How about the next song vote list being all “rarities”? Go on take a risk guys!
The HD choice tonight was Whole Wide World, played live for the second time this tour and third time in total. I feel the first time, in NYC last year, was the most energetic. Last night the start seems a little out of sync, but it soon settled down and many people started chanted the classic line “they think the party’s over, but its only just begun”. Mick sang this direct to Ronnie’s face, as if he needed reminding! This whole Tour could be called that – it would make a great slogan on a T-Shirt. Let gets creative team.
Dice followed, and then YCAGWYW. I realised that both these were slightly extended in length: have the band settled into their stride and feel comfortable jamming a little? All under the close direction of conductor M P Jagger who throws glances, flips his wrist, nods or otherwise indicates to Keith, Steve, Chuck or all three to extend, finish, or go to the bridge. In a city famous for an alleged shark incident with Led Zep, located by the ocean, I almost expected someone on stage to ask “where’s that confounded bridge?” once or twice… (look it up).
Band intros had a novel moment when the superb Bernard emerged from stage left, Mick looking towards the drums anxiously for him, before finding him in the opposite direction. They both laughed. Chanel has introduced that particular move. She of course received two more bows later in the set for yet another spectacular performance. What a star! Mick hugged Ronnie and welcomed Keith – more smiles and fist punches all around.
Keith has settled back into 2 songs, excellent renditions of You Got The Silver and Little T&A. The first is sparse, mainly acoustic, almost old delta blues. I always think of Zabriskie Point when hearing it. The second rocking, complete with horns, a rock guitar classic. The pool’s open but the patio ain’t dry – a first world problem for a rock star in 1980.
The last part of the main set rattled along again, some slightly extended versions, especially Miss You and Sympathy. For Stones concert newbies this is an exhibition of some rock classics. Everyone on stage looked fresh and excited: no boredom from playing these classics nearly 1000 times (ask HM how many times as he has a database).
The air was cooling as the time passed, and Ronnie obviously got a bit cold. Firstly his guitar tech placed a jacket over his shoulders, like a short cloak on a Napoleonic era hussar. They he rushed backstage between songs to get a leather jacket. The cool breeze certainly made the audience experience pleasant: and the crowd near me was friendly, mainly very well behaved, and having a ball.
Mick started singing two lines from a song referring to Seattle and New Orleans: it is called Sunny In Seattle, although Mick told us he had just written it! Plagarism or a joke? He also reiterated his plea for people to vote in the November US elections – I wonder if he has done a political poll of his audience to confirm that they agree with his preferred choice for President?
Did I mention everyone on stage? Well they all did great and provided a truly complete performance in all senses. When you see people play like this and enjoy themselves you know it’s been a great gig. Thanks to them all: the crew, the management, the promoter, the band, security, helpers: everyone. If one piece fails it shows – and with this band that very rarely happens.
The encore break seems crazily long this year. I have no idea why unless the band need a refreshment and kidney break. Gone are the days when the volume and length of the crowd’s “more” shouts determined if a band came back on. As it is, Sweet Sounds followed by Satisfaction is brilliant. Firstly take it down low and slow, then bring it back to a peak…. as they say.
Sweet Sounds got a short reprise in Seattle, and then as Keith uses the same guitar they almost segued into Satisfaction. 2024 combined with 1965 – you can’t beat it. Otis Redding would have been impressed by both – especially as the Stones have used horns now on Satisfaction for years, and Sweet Sounds could have been one of his songs.
For the first time in ages I watched all of the support act: Joe Bonamassa – and it was the best Stones support act I’d seen in years. All great musicians, nice songs, great guitar work. The stadium, access in and out, and their staff were excellent. A very good experience all round, slightly diminished by finding almost all the bars in downtown Seattle close by midnight… I find it somewhat bizarre that drug use is a minor issue, yet you need to be over 21 for alcohol and even then you can’t buy it after midnight. Mind you it was clear that the many homeless, many no doubt addicted, folks on the streets had acquired their favourite poison before midnight.
Summary on the Seattle show – up there with Vegas as my favourite of the tour so far. Great performance and atmosphere; pity we didn’t get more variation in the set. The band now takes a week break – they have been working for over 7 weeks now including rehearsals – before re-convening in New Jersey.
If you don’t have ticket, believing the nay-sayers about this tour, I suggest buying one. I get no benefit or commission or anything else for saying this: it’s just an awesome experience for anyone; fantastic for Stones fans of any era.
Few highlights I will remember this show by: Ronnie was coming back to the middle of the stage from his side wing after LSTNT solo and Mick pointed finger at him to keep playing there. Mick was huging himself after the song.
Steve was so loose and in the groove during YCAGWYW and droped his right drumstick which almost felt to the floor, but he managed to catch it while playing, nice. Mick said that was the best singalong on it this tour. During Bernard's introduction Mick was expecting him coming to the front middle of the stage, but Bernard snuck behind him and greated the audience infront of his backup vocal spot.
Ronnie gestured he was cold during GS so had to put on his jacket on his shoulders, was looking like a guitar prince with a cape. Keith and Mick smiled to each other and Chanel because how great Chanel's bit was.
One of my favourite highlights, JJF was really strong. Don't know if they crack up the volume on that song or Keith just strums it so hard, it is usually louder than previous song, but this time it was really loud and powerfull. If they were in 5th gear uptil then, from then on it was like when racing car turns on the nitrous. Then Keith came to the catwalk few times and in the pit we got the sound of his guitar from the catwalk monitors AND IT WAS EVEN LOUDER. Pure rock and roll. Thank you Rolling Stones!
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Bjørnulf Vik
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Matija Djuricic
Photo by Matija Djuricic
Photo by Matija Djuricic
Photo by Matija Djuricic
Photo by Matija Djuricic
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