It's Only Rock'n Roll
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It's Only Rock'n Roll |
The first four songs were the usual. During Gimme Shelter Keith went up to Lisa when she did her solo part, and it was a special moment, as he faced here, back to the crowd, on his knees, doing his guitar playing. Lisa took her deepest breath ever and did a wonderful and endless tone on that song, as Keith was her best company.
Then it was on to the best part of the show. First Mick said they would have a special guest. Then he said they would do Memory Motel. The piano was there already, and Andy Snitzer took place on it. Mick was still on the front, on his microphone. Memory Motel started. Mick did the first verse. Then Dave Matthews came walking in, and did the second verse. Keith walked up to Mick and Dave to do his part. I had tears in my eyes as I had Memory Motel for the 2nd night in a row, and what a version! It was surely different from the ones when Mick did the electric piano, but my emotions were stronger than ever. Mick, Keith and Dave together up there, all working on the vocals on this great song of mine - sure I was in heaven, and I hoped they could do it forever and ever...
Live With Me was next. A great and fast version. Then Saint Of Me. It was probably the best version I have heard during the tour. Not because of the Stones, but because of the crowd. First the song itself is great. Then they (we) kept singing after the song was over. Then Mick closed the song down officially. But the crowd picked it up again. Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah, over and over again. The Stones jammed on to back the crowd. This is how a rock concert should be - spontanous and straight from the heart.
Out Of Control was just as good as it use to be on it's best. Mick was all worn out. The crowd was pleased. What more can you ask for?
Then it was time for the web choice: She's A Rainbow. Mick needed his acoustic guitar, but nobody brough it. He shouted "I need the guitar" and "Dave!!!". Then he went back to pick up the acoustic guitar himself. A beautiful version of She's A Rainbow followed.
Miss You. Again Mick called upon Dave for his guitar. He was so into it, he could not wait. Ronnie did his great work on the solo part, and the crowd was fantastic on the singing.
From that moment on I was already in Stones heaven. I had got such a great set of songs. The sound felt a bit bad during the first two or three songs, but after that I was all gone and lost into this great music. Friends told me later that the sound was actually much better than yesterday. Still I could not tell, because I fell in love with this set very early on.
Keith did Thief In The Night. I moved to the center stage, and made a brilliant spot on the Ronnie side. Then Keith did Wanna Hold You. My hardcore Keith friends were front row on the other side of the center stage, ready for Keith to come down. Then the bridge, and they were there - only 2 meters away from me, i.e 6 feet or so. Amazing! Little Queenie, I Just Wanna Make Love To You and Like A Rolling Stone went by all to fast for me.
Then the rest of the set, very strong as usual. Nothing to report except it was great as always. It's strange how fast these great shows are, like they last for 2 1/2 hours, but it feels like nothing; suddenly it's the final bow and it is all over.
After Saint Of Me Mick said: "You're a fantastic crowd, I'll tell you that". Sure. It was one of those shows you wrap in gently, keep close to your heart, and bring with you for the rest of your life. Thank you, boys!
Start time: 21:40 End time : 00:10
The set list:
Again it was a long and beautiful day; and a lot of sunshine. The gates opened at 18.00 again. (Nobody knows why they wait so long). We had a nice spot in the fifth row against the catwalk. And only one sad thing happened to us after that. The Dave Matthews Band surprised us with an encore ;-) The opening band played almost an hour, although Dave was losing his voice (which seemed to suit us well later!).
The Stones started Satisfaction at 21.40 and in a fast tempo followed Let's Spend The Night Together, Flip The Switch and Gimme Shelter (wow Lisa what a big mouth you got). Then there was Memory Motel. With no keyboard for Mick (Chuck did his work perfect) but a surprise was that Dave Matthews did the vocals. Luckily for us his voice wasn't well, so that Mick helped him with that. Also Keith did his lines at the main microphone at the edge of the stage. It was a great version they gave us!
And after that song there was a real surprise. I thought I heard Mick announce Let It Bleed but he must have said Live With Me, because that was the song they did. Wow! Awesome!
Than followed Saint Of Me (the crowd never stopped singing!) and Out Of Control. The Web choice was She's A Rainbow. Although I heard this one in the USA last October, I was very happy with this choice. It gave me gooseflesh. And everyone sang along with it (and not because we were all drunk, but just because we enjoied it so much!) After this Miss You was played (Mick's Dutch is getting better every day now).
Again Charlie was fourite when the band was introduced.
Keith did his wonderful Thief In The Night (even the intro of the song was done properly) with again the lovely Leah Wood on backing vocals and Wanna Hold You.
After Keith's set we rushed through the crowd to the center stage where again a magnificent Little Queenie was performed. I Just Wanna Make Love To You was very nice and bluesy. Mick forgot to do the harmonica part, although Ronnie reminded him of it. Then Like A Rolling Stone (I'm beginning to think that I'm the only one that doesn't like it anymore, so I won't ever say something about it).
Although we hoped for a You Can't Always Get What You Want, they played
the normal final part of the show:
Sympathy For The Devil
Tumbling Dice
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Jumpin' Jack Flash
and the encore Brown Sugar
The show was over again just after midnight. Thank you Rolling Stones for another great evening!
Keith opened Satisfaction at 21.40 The sound was not as good as monday from this spot but the show was even better! During let's spend the night together Mick was coming over the cat-walk and was two metres in front of us. The fifth song was the web choice from monday: Memory motel. No Mick on piano this time but a duet with Dave Matthews. The sixth song was for the first time this tour: Live with me! great version with a few liitle mistakes as always when the do 'new' songs.
Next song was Saint of me Everybody was singing: 'Oh yeah, oh yeah, you never make a saint of me......" The web choice was the rarely played She's a rainbow with mick on guitar. After Keith sung Thief in the night and Wanna hold you they walked over the babylon bridge to small stage. You got me rocking was replaced by I just wanna make love to you.
Back on the big stage they played great versions of Sympathy for the devil, Tumbling dice, Honky tonk women and Start me up which got four(!) breaks during the opening riff! Jumpin' jack flash was followed by Brown sugar which I was waiting for because Keith would come over and he did! unforgettable moments! I and 50.000 people witnessed again a great show. So far they played 25 different songs in Amsterdam, but more new ones to be expected....
The local post office did not offer tickets to concerts and we had to make our way to the center of town to the main post office. We took the trolley (albeit in the wrong direction for a few stops) but made it.The center of town was bustling and very different from the area that we were staying in. A lot of the tourist sites were there. The post office did not have any field tickets left. So, I would have to find one on line tomorrow.
Aahhh! Show day! A'dam 2 - Up at 8:00 AM, meet at 9:00 AM around the block at the fountain. Buy sandwiches, water, etc. On the train, on line by 10:00 AM. Today, they seemed to have gotten wise to the queue situation and reworked the fences. There were only a handful of people in front of us, so we sat down on our blue foam tongue seat cushions (Thanks, Allyssa!) and hung out. Our queue was the furthest right on the Keith side. We next to a large grassy field, which proved to be very convenient. We were able to take turns climbing over the fence to go get a drink at the bar or go to the loo or scalp a ticket. No problem.
The Sport Bar at the Arena was decorated in orange soccer shirts from the players, pictures and orange boa-like streamers. Needless to say I was missing an ornament around my neck. So for the price of a kiss, the bartender ripped off a sizeable piece of orange boa/streamer for me to wear. I now felt like part of the team and back to the queue. The hours pass quickly with Dem weather reports, other joking around, meeting new people.
The queue was much larger and crowded now, and spread out beyond the limits of the fencing. Except for the first section where we were still with our backs up against the fence and legs stretched out facing in both directions. were truly in the golden circle. We were able to sit like that until 5:45 PM, but there still wasn't a crush when we stood up. It seemed that security was positioned almost immediately behind us holding back the masses. At 6:00 PM the gates opened and we ran. We huffed up about 40 something stairs (2 at a time), then across to the field -- huffed another 15 or so stairs, then ran like hell across the full length of the field to the opening of the golden circle on the right. Then through the opening and more running to the walkway -- collapse and catch your breath for a job well done. For we were at the front tonite, standing behind the people already grabbing the front rail. It was gonna be a Keith nite for sure. I was now back on the floor and very happy to be there.
Keith. What a cowboy. His stage presence is phenomenal. He struts onto the stage with his guitar (I defer to Rob Vousten for specifics) in place, ready to break out the glass of the dome. He is wearing a leopard shirt that seems to shimmer with the light that stars create woven into the fabric. Black pants with fringe tassels around his waist. Small braid over his right ear with a few beads. Chain hanging down his left leg. The leopard coat, long and embroidered with an African motif. Then Bam....Satisfaction. Mmmmmm. It felt so good to hear those chords after what was such a long time. So, tonite was a Keith nite. We were so close to the stage that I couldn't see anything unless they came to the edge or down the stairs. But Keith was very on the edge. How so much sound comes out of that one guitar is amazing.
Flip The Switch - I think it was missing the longer choo choo jam near >the end. I started moving to the rhythm when it started, but it ended >before I got a good groove going.
Memory Motel - blech! with Dave Mason.
Live With Me - my all time fav, it's even in print. When the NY Daily News interviewed me way back in the fall, they asked me what was my favorite song. This was it. This was all I could ever hope for.
SOM - pales to Flip The Switch at this point. Has lost some momentum, except for the forever chanting of the "Olay"-"Oh Yeah" combo from so far the best crowd I have ever seen a show with.
Out of Control - now, seriously. isn't this a great live rock n roll song? He is wearing a gold jacket now that sparkles. And he spazzes out - it's great. Kent is the OOC man!
Wanna Hold You - it seemed to me that no one knew this song......yet.
LARS (back through the crowd to the front) All the songs at the b-stage were performed well, though the sound was very muddy.
We walk to the limos at the front gate with cold Heineken's waiting for us. I could've drank a thousand beers. Then to the Maloe Meloe till closing, then to the Glimmer room until daylight. BTW- I strung my tongue lights over the bed for atmosphere.
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It's Only Rock'n Roll 1998 -
© The Rolling Stones Fan Club Of Europe |