Re: The Stones Have Missed A Golden Opportunity...
Posted by:
Rev. Robert W.
()
Date: October 20, 2005 19:07
Something else that I have noticed re: the setlists...
The "warhorses" themselves are not well served by the obviousness of the Stones' approach. That is to say, by making "Brown Sugar" (for example) a obligatory part of "The High-Priced Rolling Stones Concert Experience," they've actually diminished the value of the song. Even people hearing the tune live for the very first time instinctively realize that it's a pro forma part of the evening.
By making better than half the show a run of deadly obvious megahits, they lose any sense of thrill and dynamics. It all just hurtles along at one energy level--not the best way to show off some of the greatest songs in rock'n'roll history.
Now, imagine that some nights, "Brown Sugar" got played and others that "Satisfaction" or "IORR" went into its slot...if people heard, say five of the monster hits on a rotating basis, it would seem a thrill, not just a cynical payoff to a lazy audience.
Besides, when the Stones legitimately nail something, the crowd always reacts. At both Fenway and Charlottesville, "Nighttime" blew the place away, as did "Out of Control" in '97-'98, or "Not Fade Away" in '94-'95.
In places as big as 20,000 and up, showmanship is a must (and "Tops" probably isn't going to work). There isn't a doubt in my mind that if the Stones tore into "Around and Around" late in the show that they could electrify the place while making the ensuing performance of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" seem even more special.