At Gillette, the Rolling Stones come out rocking with songs and a spirit that never get old

By Stuart Munro
May 31, 2024


Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff

For many, many years, the Rolling Stones have been said to be too old to rock and roll. The band even saw fit to answer that charge (by one reading of the song) with “You Got Me Rocking” in 1994. Yet here they are, 30 years after that, out on a tour unironically sponsored by AARP, and one might conclude that they’re having the last laugh.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, both 80, have shown themselves, each in his own way, to be veritable freaks of nature (Ronnie Wood, who will turn a mere 77 on Saturday, is the baby of the bunch). And on the heels of releasing “Hackney Diamonds,” their first record of new material in 18 years, none of them looked too old to rock Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, where they returned to play the 100th show at the venue after playing the first show there in 2002.

The band played for exactly two hours, and for the most part, it was a show made up of vintage Stones concert staples, starting with “Start Me Up” and on through the likes of “Tumbling Dice,” “Wild Horses,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The Rolling Stones give the people what they want.

But they also gave a healthy sampling of their new album with four of its songs, including “Angry”; the video for the song, projected high and wide around the band, served, with its snippets of the Stones in action across the years, as a reminder of how long they’ve been at it. And they added a rarity in “Emotional Rescue,” the fan-voted selection for the evening. “This is the first time we’ve done that one for a long time; I hope it didn’t show,” Jagger remarked, after demonstrating that he was still up to the falsetto the song demands.

He was up to more than that; he was astonishing from the get-go to the last note, strutting, whirling, cajoling, preening, skipping, and sprinting as only he can, ranging from one end of the stage to the other and out onto the catwalk that extended into the crowd. Richards seems more sedate these days, or at least he was through the first half of Thursday’s show, but he started to flash his smile during “Little T&A,” one of two songs he sang.

It was right about then that the show found another gear, first on an incendiary “Sympathy for the Devil,” and then on a ferocious, extended take on “Midnight Rambler” that wended its way to a brief visit to Robert Johnson’s “Hellhound on My Trail.” Shortly thereafter, backup singer Chanel Haynes took center stage and unleashed her gale-force vocals, first on the chorus of “Gimme Shelter,” and then in tandem with Jagger during the encore of another new song, the soaring, gospel-channeling “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.” This may well turn out to be the final tour for the Rolling Stones. But if Thursday’s show was the last that Boston sees these ancients play, they went out rocking.

[www.bostonglobe.com]

Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff


Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff

Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff


Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff

Thank you!

Thanks for the videos Professor!

I always wondered how Emotional Rescue would sound live, personally I thought it was great. I'd enjoy seeing it being added for every show. His falsetto was good

'Wild Horses' couldn't turn fans away from Rolling Stones' Gillette Stadium triumph

Craig S. Semon
May 31, 2024


Craig Semon/Telegram & Gazette

FOXBOROUGH — Jumping Jack news flash. The Rolling Stones have yet to run out of gas, gas, gas.

In fact, the Stones still run circles around their rock ‘n’ roll peers that are half their age or younger, as evident May 30 at Gillette Stadium. Then again, the Rolling Stones are not known as "the world’s greatest rock 'n' roll band” for nothing.

For a two-hour, 19-song set (including a two-song encore), Mick Jagger had the crowd of 45,000-plus under his thumb and on their collective feet.

While it would be laughable for Jagger to sing “The Last Time” with the catchy refrain, “Well, this could be the last time/This could be the last time/Maybe the last time/I don't know,” personally, I thought it was going to be the Stones’ last time back in 2019 after Jagger’s life-saving heart surgery, and I never expected to see them tour again after the death of the Stones’ beloved drummer Charlie Watts, at age 80, in 2021. But what do I know? I’m only a music critic.

And it would just be downright comical for Jagger singing “Mother’s Little Helper,” with the opening line, “It’s a drag getting old,” when the remaining Stones (Jagger and Keith Richards, both 80, and Ronnie Wood, who turns 77 two days after Thursday’s Gillette Stadium concert) truly are old, but have proven age is merely a number and time is on their side. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

After Thursday night, I am convinced that the Stones will never retire. And why should they?


Craig Semon/Telegram & Gazette

'Start Me Up'

Touring behind “Hackney Diamonds,” the Stones’ first album of new original material since 2005, the Stones sounded ferocious. The accompanied players were tight. The setlist was phenomenal. And the new cuts are killer live.

In short, the Rolling Stones on a tour, sponsored by AARP (insert punchline here), sound like they are getting better with age.

Jagger made an incessant pledge that he will “never stop, never stop, never stop” on the adrenaline-pumping, arena rocker “Start Me Up.” And the Stones front man wasn’t kidding. He swiveled his boney hips to the song’s signature three-chord crunch and his limber legs repeatedly ran up and down the catwalk and covered every inch of the massive stage while his arms and index fingers were extended out as if he was directing a fleet of planes flying on and off an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. And “Start Me Up” was only the opening number.

Wearing patchy black and red leather jacket that looked like it was lifted out of Michael Jackson closest, the skinny-as-a-rail (but, at the same time, larger-than-life) Jagger jumped right into the 1965 single "Get Off of My Cloud." And while the sentiment sounded a little dated, the enthusiasm conveyed in Jagger’s voice and the combined guitar crunch of Richards and Wood made it sound rocking and relevant.

Not only was “Bitch” totally bitchin’, it was the first number in which Richards and Wood had an opportunity to rock out with reckless abandoned, which they did. The dual guitar onslaught laid down a sweaty and sinewy groove that was peppered with Karl Denson and Tim Ries’ fiery horns, making it a fierce, full-body rocker and one the evening’s early standouts.

On “Angry,” the first of four songs performed from the band’s latest “Hackney Diamonds,” the Stones prove they still know how to write a great arena rocker with an indelible power chord crunch.

'Emotional Rescue'

After tongue-in-cheekily reminding the audience to vote during this year’s presidential election, Jagger revealed that the fan-voted song of the evening was no other than the Stones’ last days of disco foray “Emotional Rescue.” Rarely played but sounding like it’s meant to be played live, Jagger’s flawless falsetto meshed with Darryl Jones’ funky bass line. By the time Jagger was serenading the audience with, "You will be mine. You will be mine, all mine," they were deep under his hypnotic trance.

Jagger and company continued to roll nothing but sevens with the “Exile on Main St.” gem, “Tumbling Dice.” After running out of audience members to point at or wave his arms to, Jagger stood on one leg like a flamingo. Talk about getting a leg up on the competition.Pouring his heart out over the jagged guitar riffs provided by Richards and Wood, Jagger was tall in the saddle on “Wild Horses,” arguable one of the greatest tender tough guy ballads ever recorded and another evening highlight.

The Rolling Stones delivered an absolutely stellar version of the timeless rock 'n' roll sermon, "You Can't Always Get What You Want." With Jagger strumming an acoustic guitar and keyboardist Matt Clifford tooting a French horn, the song became a soul-searching, singalong that the audience couldn’t have wanted more from a number.

At the concert’s mid-point, Jagger acknowledged that the Stones were not only the first to play Gillette Stadium (on Sept 5, 2002), but that they played before any of the six Super Bowl championship banners were hung at the gridiron. And not only did Thursday mark the fourth time the Stones have played at the current home of the New England Patriots, the band was playing the 100th concert at Gillette.

Of course, the Stones also played several times at the old Sullivan Stadium in the ‘80s and Foxboro Stadium in the ‘90s, both previous homes of the Patriots before the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era.

Speaking about eras, roughly a year ago, Taylor Swift brought her triumphant “Eras Tour” — a live extravaganza covering the first 16 years of the pop diva’s recording career — to Gillette Stadium.

Thursday night, the Stones brought their “Hackney Diamonds Tour” — with songs spanning from 1965 to the present, which is span of 59 years — to the grid iron.

I know it’s only rock ‘n’ roll but if Taylor Swift is calling her latest tour “The Eras Tour,” wouldn’t it make sense to call the Stones’ latest tour, “The Eons Tour”?

Love Taylor. She’s great and all. But can anyone truly imagine Swift (and a crowd of 45,000-plus balding Swifties) filling out Gillette Stadium singing “Shake It Off” 40 years from now in the year 2064? I think not, but I digress.

'Gimme Shelter'

After Richards did a commanding job singing lead on a pair of prerequisite ditties ("Tell Me Straight” and “Little T&A”), Jagger embarked on the darkened stage as a "man of wealth and taste" on "Sympathy for the Devil," one of the great literary marvels and complex character studies to emerge from the rock 'n' roll era. With Jagger performing in front of video images of snakes wrapping around Grecian columns and hellfire consuming vast empires, the Gillette crowd hasn’t seen this many snakes since Taylor Swift’s “Reputation Tour” in 2018.

After the always dependable bump and grind "Honky Tonk Women," the Stones delivered the fierce and ferocious blues boogie "Midnight Rambler." Jagger's blistering harmonica was answered with a series of riff-shredding, awe-inspiring blues licks from Richards and Wood, as well as fevered backbeat of Jones and drummer Steve Jordan, who was handpicked to replace Charlie Watts by Charlie Watts (before he died and was thinking about retiring). And, when it looked like the evening couldn’t get any cooler with that epic scorcher, the best song of the night was just around the corner.

Taking a short break in between songs to address the crowd, Jagger acknowledged that it has been almost 60 years since the Stones’ first played in Boston, although time and time again, Bay State Stones fans know Jagger uses the term “Boston” interchangeable to encapsulate every place in Massachusetts, including Foxborough (“Hello Boston”) and, you guessed it, Worcester.

In fact, the first time the Stones played Massachusetts was on April 30, 1965, at the Worcester Memorial Auditorium and the Stones also Sept. 14, 1981 at Sir Morgan’s Cove, which is in Worcester NOT Boston.

“Gimme Shelter” was not only arguably the evening’s undisputed standout but it also served as the coming out party for soon to be superstar Chanel Haynes. Remember that name. Singing the spine-tingling, soul-stirring, female vocals part first immortalized by Merry Clayton, Haynes — who portrayed Tina Turner in the West End theatre production of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” — owned the song and the moment. She also later sang the Lady Gaga part on the gospel-driven encore "Sweet Sound of Heaven." Not only did she stand toe to toe with (and shared great chemistry with) Jagger, Haynes, with her long blond locks cascading down her gorgeous blue gown, left him in the dust while leaving the crowd in awe.

[www.telegram.com]

An epic night with @RollingStones



LARGE version

[x.com]

Lots of Stones shirts around downtown Boston right now. Beautiful day

Really not pleased about the crowded pits. That’s gonna get ugly at some point soon.

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Ellipooh
Really not pleased about the crowded pits. That’s gonna get ugly at some point soon.

Were you there? Can you share more? I only attended Houston and Vegas in the pit, which wasn't too bad. New Jersey seemed rough.

Just got back home from the show. I must say I was impressed, I felt they were even stronger than 2015 when I last saw them. Brought my 16 year old son for his first time seeing the Stones and he said it was his best concert ever. Just hearing that made my day!

The pit is becoming more and more crowded. Met Life was standing room only. Last night wasn't as bad but it was still crowded.

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cyclist

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Ellipooh
Really not pleased about the crowded pits. That’s gonna get ugly at some point soon.

Were you there? Can you share more? I only attended Houston and Vegas in the pit, which wasn't too bad. New Jersey seemed rough.

Concert Review: The Rolling Stones — As Precious As Ever

May 31, 2024
By Scott McLennan

Returning to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday night, the Rolling Stones, miraculously, sounded dangerous again.

The Rolling Stones, May 30 at Gillette Stadium


Photo: Paul Robicheau

Defiance has long been the fuel for the Rolling Stones. From the brash bluesy rock that separated them early on from The Beatles, through the narcotic outlaw machinations of the late ’60s and early ’70s, into the later eras of decadent sleaze, the Rolling Stones became notorious for shattering the rules and the mores of civilized society.

They also fell prey to the trappings of wealth and fame, going through long spells of playing greatest-hits sets that were inevitably enjoyable but rarely daring.

Returning to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday night, the Rolling Stones, miraculously, sounded dangerous again. Before the band had completed its third song, one guy next to me passed out after smoking a joint. He needed to be removed from the premises; two others behind me started a fist fight. In other words, Foxborough felt dangerous, like rock ’n’ roll shows used to feel before the perversions of “platinum” tickets and “VIP access” separated the commoners from the elites.


Photo: Paul Robicheau

The Stones reclaimed their rebellious spirit, thanks in large part to releasing the excellent Hackney Diamonds album last year. The band is using it as a springboard into a tour in which Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, both 80, and Ronnie Wood, 76, not just playing well, but performing as if they realize that the style of music they serve up is no longer the coin of the cultural realm. But they aren’t about to let their legacy be washed away by the waves being made by new pop titans.

The very predictable show opener “Start Me Up” hinted at the direction the Stones would go through a two-hour concert. The song’s energy was high and frenetic, with Wood and Richards playing off of each other in a very loose and natural way as Jagger rallied the stadium (which was far from full, but held a respectably large crowd) into partaking of what was promising to be a rock ’n’ roll bacchanal.

The Stones then veered into the insouciance of 1965’s “Get Off of My Cloud” before uncorking the steamy tensions of “Bitch.”

Three songs in and the Stones had covered roughly thirty years of rock ’n’ roll milestones: an exhilarating lineup of indelible riffs, choruses, and lyrics; unparalleled attitude; and sharp, provocative performances.

While Jagger (in remarkably excellent voice), Richards (in remarkably upright position), and Wood comprise the heart and soul of the Rolling Stones, a lot of credit for the show’s success must go to the cast members surrounding the triumphant trio.

Drummer Steve Jordan had the unenviable task of following — since nobody will ever “replace” — the beloved Charlie Watts, who died in 2021. But, because he was the percussionist in Richards’ solo band the X-Pensive Winos, Jordan has a great feel and understanding for the Stones’ sound. He is well aware of how everyone else in the band keys in on the drummer’s work.

The sax tandem of Karl Denson and Tim Ries, keyboard players Chuck Leavell and Matt Clifford, bassist Darryl Jones, and singers Bernard Fowler and Chanel Haynes all contributed mightily to the effort — each had his or her moments in the spotlight.

But the essential dynamic for the evening went something like this: Jagger and everyone else except the guitarists performed with impeccable precision while Wood and Richards played with a sense of wild abandon. The guitarists were not sloppy, but neither were they particularly clean and crisp as they traded lead and rhythm parts. That jaggedness is what injected the pricklier, rougher tones into the songs.

“Angry” was the first of four songs plucked from the Hackney Diamonds album and it was a solid inclusion in the set. That wasn’t the case for “Mess it Up,” a newbie that was sandwiched between classics “Tumbling Dice” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” “Mess It Up” became the diamond that got snuffed, because the Stones pumped real life and blood into “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” a song that for many years seemed lost in a fog of nostalgia but it has recently reconnected with its original dread.


Photo: Paul Robicheau

In the early goings of the 19-song concert, the Stones played the slinky “Emotional Rescue” for the first time since 2014 (it was the night’s song chosen by fans by way of online voting). Jagger nailed the tune’s signature falsetto as the rest of the band captured the spectral creep of the number.

The loping ballad “Wild Horses” was another top-half stand out, especially with Richards contributing world-weary backing vocals.

As has become custom for the Stones, the concert’s midpoint is marked when Richards steps up to sing a couple of songs. In Foxborough, he started with the plaintive “Tell Me Straight” from Hackney Diamonds, working up nice instrumental conversations with Wood. Richards then just opened up the engines for a blast through the still-raunchy “Little T&A.”

The second half of a Stones show has for years been a predictable affair, and setlist wise that was the case on Thursday. Performance-wise, it was was a different story.


Photo: Paul Robicheau

Richards gave a clinic with his solos on “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Honky Tonk Women,” methodically sculpting riffs and exploring tones that sounded fresh as they reiterated his lasting influence on generations of guitar players.

“Midnight Rambler” ran the gamut of wiry small-combo blues to woozy full-on psychedelic splurge. Haynes and Jagger struck libidinous sparks on “Gimme Shelter” before the Stones revisited the garage-rock glory of “Paint It Black.” Few other bands could hold all of this variety together with as much natural flair.

The Stones closed the regular set with what seemed a very intentional revue-style read of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” as Jagger took on the role of rubber-limbed dancer as the band behind him deployed big, sweeping feel-good waves of music.

The encore offered one last mighty display of defiance with the soaring soul of “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” a Hackney Diamonds track that has earned its spot in the canon of Stones classics. Jagger, aided by Haynes, sang it with a passionate verve, knowing that once again he and his mates — old as they may be — stole fire from the gods.

Seeing Richards projected onto the huge screens flanking the stadium stage as he fired off the opening riffs to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was the rock ’n’ roll equivalent of viewing the “Mona Lisa.” We’ve all seen and heard this before, but the Stones still make it precious.

[artsfuse.org]

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georgemcdonnell314
The pit is becoming more and more crowded. Met Life was standing room only. Last night wasn't as bad but it was still crowded.

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cyclist

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Ellipooh
Really not pleased about the crowded pits. That’s gonna get ugly at some point soon.

Were you there? Can you share more? I only attended Houston and Vegas in the pit, which wasn't too bad. New Jersey seemed rough.

A rock concert implies a crowed pit, right? What's wrong with that ?
Too restless ? Stones fans too old for that?
Look at the AC/DC pits in Europe right now, Sevilla for example...

***
I'm just a Bad Boy Boogie



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-05-31 21:49 by powerage78.

The pit is NOT crowded. I can only speak for pit A and there have been no problem so far on the tour. Those who walk in last minute to the pit will of course meet some resistance from those who have been there for one two or three hours, but in general, the pit is not overcrowded. If you don’t like to be close by other people then get a seat there are plenty.

As for Pit B i.e. «Keith side» it has always been a bit more busy but it is a rock show not a meditation camp. People will have their arms (and mobile phones) up in the air, but with a little understanding then things do work fine.

Some times I have a big heavy guy next to me - in the pit- jumping up and down like in trance - typically on «Paint It Black» or «Jumping Jack Flash», then I move half a meter ie 2 feet away to be on the safe side, that is always possible in the pit. Mind you not everyone may be in row one or right on the rail.

Bjornulf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-05-31 22:55 by bv.

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bv
The pit is NOT crowded. I can only speak for pit A and there have been no problem so far on the tour. Those who walk in last minute to the pit will of course meet some resistance from those who have been there for one two or three hours, but in general, the pit is not overcrowded. If you don’t like to be close by other people then get a seat there are plenty.

As for Pit B i.e. «Keith side» it has always been a bit more busy but it is a rock show not a meditation camp. People will have their arms (and mobile phones) up in the air, but with a little understanding then things do work fine.

Some times I have a big heavy guy next to me - in the pit- jumping up and down like in trance - typically on «Paint It Black» or «Jumping Jack Flash», then I move half a meter ie 2 feet away to be on the safe side, that is always possible in the pit. Mind you not everyone may be in row one or right on the rail.

Thanks for the reassurance. I based my earlier post on what I perceived as a nearly 50% increase in the number of people in the Pits in NY/Boston as compared to earlier shows, based purely on the photos posted here.

I believe in a meritocracy in the Pits. Those who are willing to pay the price (in dollars, or time and effort, or both) deserve to be rewarded. I am one of those persons, and have been in the Pit since they were first introduced. My fear based on the photos is that this largely self-policed area will devolve into something beyond simple pushing.

My first tickets in 2024 are for Orlando, the next show. It’s going to be a very long and very hot day. That’s either going to lessen the problems or exacerbate them.

smu




get off of my cloud




bitch




angry




emotional rescue!




tumbling dice




wild horses




mess it up




ycagwyw




mick talks sports




band intro




tell me straight




little t&a




sftd




htw




midnight rambler




shorter but better




gimme shelter




paint it black




jjf




ssoh




satisfaction




last half better qaulity




local news reports








ronnie on the way to soundcheck
facebook

ronnie doing his setlist backstage
facebook

ronnie heading back after the show
facebook

tumbling dice - soundcheck




red clay strays - opening band

wanna be loved




don't care






i'll be moving and updating this as i find more and better videos

please do not quote this entire post it's very large and i'll be editing it a lot

Show #40-something for me last night (and the night prior to my now 65th BDay today). The 1st 2/3 was ‘good’, but then from the killer Rambler (Thank you!!) onwards, they were simply on fire. Chanel is stunning on Shelter and Sweet Sounds…SO good.
Looking forward to Lucky Dips in Philly!

Anyone at Fenway tonight? I’m in the Stones shirt



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-06-01 03:05 by TW2019.

CindyC any photos...

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ColonialstoneNZ
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Well that wins for Start Me Up opening chord of the tour (not a prize normally worth handing out but here we are…)

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cyclist

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Ellipooh
Really not pleased about the crowded pits. That’s gonna get ugly at some point soon.

Were you there? Can you share more? I only attended Houston and Vegas in the pit, which wasn't too bad. New Jersey seemed rough.

NJ2 pit A was perfect. Never seen so many polite, not moving/walking people but still very enthousiastic. Best Pit experience for me so far, although it has always been good. Maybe except Paris 22 A which was really crowded.

Just heard JJF, and I have to agree Keith was killing it. Very happy for this!

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frankotero
Just heard JJF, and I have to agree Keith was killing it. Very happy for this!

"hear, hear!"

Keith's got the most dirty, grungy sound set up coming from his guitar right now and he's delivering it on JJF in a different way than before.

Lovin it, hope he keeps on improving and breaking new ground

Honestly i think the new songs ( and a few new warhorses) have given this band a new lease of life.

Editorial IORR Foxboro/Boston pages updated with more reports and pictures now:

The Rolling Stones
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA (Near Boston) USA
Thursday May 30, 2024

Bjornulf

Was this show better than East Rutherford NJ 2? Or same level, especially from Keith ?

***
I'm just a Bad Boy Boogie

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powerage78
Was this show better than East Rutherford NJ 2? Or same level, especially from Keith ?

well i think the second new jersey show keith played better and was more active onstage (judging by the videos)

but ronnie was complaining about the cold in one of his facebook videos after the show and they were all wearing coats onstage unlike new jersey

i'm sure the cold makes a difference on an 80 year old guitar players severely arthritic hands

florida is gonna be much warmer we'll see if it makes any difference tommorrow i guess

Rolling Stones concert attendee hopes to find ‘life-saving stranger’ from Gillette show

[www.yahoo.com]

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artedm
Rolling Stones concert attendee hopes to find ‘life-saving stranger’ from Gillette show

[www.yahoo.com]

I saw them taking him out on the stretcher. Glad he's ok, I see we both live in the same town.

Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

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artedm
Rolling Stones concert attendee hopes to find ‘life-saving stranger’ from Gillette show

[www.yahoo.com]

Okay fellow boomers, that's what we're doing. When I'm his age, I want to be like this 78 yo Bostonian and having any first heart attack at a rock concert with... an RN?... two rows away, instead of out mowing the grass. This guy's my role model now.