It's Only Rock'n Roll
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It's Only Rock'n Roll |
The band came on at 9:09 to a great reception. Immediately, Satisfaction took the crowd into a high energy level, eager to rock and party. As I had just flown 2000 miles in the morning from Ottawa, Ont to attend my first ever Vancouver show, I was not sure what a west coast crowd was like. Boy, can they rock! Whether it was the band, the temperature inside the dome, or the crowd (or all three) this was a hot concert!
The first highlight was Ruby Tuesday (has it been done on the tour so far?) Just as much as on the Steel Wheels Tour in '89, this was a crowd pleasure and an accompaniment song for everyone for the ages. The choruses were very loud, Keith's acoustic was bang on and we loved it.
The web choice was Under My Thumb. Mick said that Ronnie would be the band leader on the number, glancing knowingly at him. Ronnie picked up the cue and even though Keith played a great solo that I had never heard on the song before, Ronnie's riffs were great. So was he, by the way, and all night long!
Before Miss You started, Mick asked if we had heard the difference between Bill Clinton and the Titanic. He said that "only 500 women went down on the Titanic!" Miss You was a great improvisation, with lots of things that were different than other nights, like Lisa being very lewd with portions of Mick's bottom! Suffice to say, the crowd around me loved it. Mick noticed the boisterous reaction from the crowd too, as it was the first time ever that I heard him say "I've got to tell you Vancouver...you're some f---ing kind of audience!"
After the introductions, and Keith's two numbers, including one that I had not heard live before (You Don't Have to Mean It - great with Ronnie on electric piano and Blondie Chaplin on guitar), the bridge was extended. Seeing as how I was sitting on the floor for the first time ever, and was only 20 seats away from the bridge, I got a great look at the band as they went over to the small stage. I was also less than 50 ft from the stage, and I must admit that I have never had so many goose bumps and head rushes, as I did tonite, rocking with the band from such a close distance. (The pictures should be great!)
The final seven songs were the same as usual, only I think that Mick has picked up on the great reviews he got from Madison Square Gardens when he did Jumping Jack Flash primarily from one spot, with his dark Ray Bans on for half of the song. With the usual fireworks starting it, the intensity level was awe inspiring, and we all knew exactly who Jumping Jack Flash was - Mick left no doubt that he was taking no prisoners. Toss in Keith's incessant riffs, and Ronnie's magnificient frills and fills, and it all made this song the highlight of the evening for many around me.
I finally got to hear You Can't Always Get What You Want on this tour! Buffalo, Giants Stadium and Quebec City had all missed this number, and I loved it the way it was performed tonight. By the time Brown Sugar and a triple dose of confetti was completed, I was drenched in sweat, my hands were nearly raw from clapping and my throat was as dry as the Kalahari Desert. Yes, I almost thought that if I never saw the band again, then I could go to my grave happy. (Of course, if they don't come back to Toronto and Montreal, I don't know what I'll do - I don't want to think this is the last time I'll see them for awhile)! However, Vancouver certainly rocked themselves silly, the band was hot, obviously enjoying themselves, and it was definitely a memorable evening for all.
The set list:
One thing I noticed however on my right of the main stage the big golden woman up near the top of the speaker tower dissappeared around the encore. She was there when the curtains opened but when I happened to look up during the encore she was gone and I could see right through to the back side of the stadium. Did anyone else see this or was I just having so much fun I imagined it? I assumed she must be an inflatable and popped during the fireworks of Jumpin Jack but I can't be sure. All I know is she was gone..
Anyway it was a great concert, and I'm going to keep my ticket stubs for a long time...
Read all about the Bridges To Babylon tour in the It's Only Rock'n Roll magazine issue IORR 31 out Jan, 1998.
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It's Only Rock'n Roll 1998 -
© The Rolling Stones Fan Club Of Europe |