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bye bye johnny
The Rolling Stones at MetLife Stadium
By Jeremy Schneider | August 02, 2019
Aristide Economopoulos
In a perfect world, The Rolling Stones would rock forever. But even Mick Jagger is human.
The legendary band's two No Filter Tour stops at MetLife Stadium was postponed earlier this year so the heart of the Stones could undergo heart valve surgery.
The first of the two shows, which were originally scheduled for June, took place on Thursday night. But with the amount of energy Jagger brought from the moment he swaggered onto the stage in East Rutherford, one could have easily forgotten that his 76th birthday was just last week, let alone that he had undergone heart surgery mere months ago.
No one (other than Jagger’s doctor) is going to tell the last vestige of the British Invasion to stop touring, no matter its age.
The boys from London aren’t some group chasing the glory days or chasing yet another paycheck — even though those checks must be pretty sweet. They still put on a damn good show, and they absolutely brought down the house across a mesmerizing 19-song, two hour-plus performance Thursday.
It all starts with Jagger, of course. His patented struts and preens were out and about as he pursed his lips, pointed to the crowd, clapped his hands and gyrated his hips. You know, the usual.
The consummate frontman still, after all this time, never stops moving and the literal great-grandfather had multiple outfit changes to boot, including a leather fedora and an array of sparkly, bright-colored jackets.
Jagger thanked the crowd for having patience following the postponement. He even boosted his Garden State bona fides by talking about how the band went to Tick Tock Diner just up Route 3 in Clifton, eating Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches, disco fries and Sloppy Joes.
Was this classic Jersey pandering? Yes. Is cardiologist thrilled about this? No. But the cheers still rained down from the stadium packed with multiple generations of lifelong Stones diehards.
Jagger's voice might not be quite as strong as it once was, but his drop-off isn’t even close to as notable as other aged singers. It doesn’t appear he’s uses a backing track, though he may rely on backup singers more than he used to. But the verve and enthusiasm he brings to the stage outdoes all. He played guitar on several songs, and his harmonica playing on “Midnight Rambler” was truly impressive. It wasn’t until “Paint It, Black” late in the set that you felt him lagging a bit. But hey, we'll cut Mick friggin' Jagger some slack.
Keith Richards’ decline as a guitarist is perhaps a bit more pronounced, though he shined during his searing “Sympathy for the Devil” solo and then took the microphone for “Slipping Away” and “Before They Make Me Run.” Longtime rhythm guitarist Ronnie Wood still shreds, and his guitar solos were likely the most impressive musical component of the night from the original members [sic].
Now, no one would blame the band, in its 57th year of performing, if it was simply going through the motions, cranking through the hits and getting the hell out of dodge. But the performance never felt that way with the Stones, who turned into a jam band during the later tracks, riffing and soloing and stretching out songs, sometimes with the help of their touring members. A organ solo in “Can’t Always Get What You Want,” in which Jagger turned into a pastor and had the crowd of 55,000 clapping like MetLife had become a southern Baptist church.
They of course saved some of their best work for last, encoring with “Gimme Shelter,” featuring soulful and inspired vocals from the incredible background singer (and former "The Voice" contestant) Sasha Allen, her and Jagger cat-walking down the long runway-like stage. Then “Satisfaction” capped the night, with Jagger bowing as fireworks lit up the Bergen County sky.
The day will come when The Rolling Stones no longer tour, when the biggest living rockstars hang up their guitars and microphones — and who can blame them, they’re almost in their 80s. That threat alone is enough to make dropping a hundred dollars or more to see them play MetLife again on Monday worth it. But if this performance was any indication, this is no farewell tour.
The day will come when The Rolling Stones no longer tour, when the biggest living rockstars hang up their guitars and microphones — and who can blame them, they’re almost in their 80s. That threat alone is enough to make dropping a hundred dollars or more to see them play MetLife again on Monday worth it. But if this performance was any indication, this is no farewell tour.
[expo.nj.com]
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Straycat13
We like that when you share the mic on Dead Flowers, Mick and Keith!
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Hairball
Excellent pics and reviews - thanks again to everyone for posting.
Chomping at the bit now whilst waiting for the Santa Clara show to roll around!
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shatteredQuote
Hairball
Excellent pics and reviews - thanks again to everyone for posting.
Chomping at the bit now whilst waiting for the Santa Clara show to roll around!
I hope you get Happy.
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HairballQuote
shatteredQuote
Hairball
Excellent pics and reviews - thanks again to everyone for posting.
Chomping at the bit now whilst waiting for the Santa Clara show to roll around!
I hope you get Happy.
To follow up and in reply to your other post in the "Half way on the tour..." thread:
You can't always get what you want...
If not Santa Clara, there's a chance in Pasadena and/or Glendale, but not counting on it...seems Keith is sticking to his guns and in a bit of a rut now.
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shatteredQuote
HairballQuote
shatteredQuote
Hairball
Excellent pics and reviews - thanks again to everyone for posting.
Chomping at the bit now whilst waiting for the Santa Clara show to roll around!
I hope you get Happy.
To follow up and in reply to your other post in the "Half way on the tour..." thread:
You can't always get what you want...
If not Santa Clara, there's a chance in Pasadena and/or Glendale, but not counting on it...seems Keith is sticking to his guns and in a bit of a rut now.
He can change if he wants. I noticed Happy was missing too but didn't say anything since things are going so good.
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laertisflash
Hairball, I love "Happy" too, but my No1 Keith's song is - by far- "You Got The Silver"...
Just preferences...
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bye bye johnny
Aristide Economopoulos
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Stoneage
Most of the reviews posted after the gigs seems to be made by tourist centres. They are all alike. Tributes rather than critical reviews.
If you have read one you have read them all. Fine with me. To each his own. But objective or well written they are not.
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Stoneage
Most of the reviews posted after the gigs seems to be made by tourist centres. They are all alike. Tributes rather than critical reviews.
If you have read one you have read them all. Fine with me. To each his own. But objective or well written they are not.