john r Wrote:
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> I remember feeling irritated by the 'programmed'
> parts of "Undercover" in '89, which was pretty hot
> nevertheless, but the canned aspects of that tour
> sometimes kept the band too restrained and Charlie
> relatively metronomic...There may be some
> Chuck-controlled tape on this track, as with the
> percussion on SFTD, but the band is shaking up
> parts and Mick - who does have a distinctive
> guitar style on records - is loud & clear when he
> bothers to play, on RFD & especially "Back Of My
> Hand" unlike some past tours where his guitar
> sometimes seems more like a prop (again, '89 on
> 'Rock and a Hard Place' & others on which he was
> barely audible).
Well, it's because on previous tours guitar for Mick was more like a toy to dance with while on Bigger Bang he actually plays it (and of course dance with it, what looks great, I know he must feel sexy with it). Back Of My Hand was serious change in Mick's guitar playing during the show. I would love to hear them doing it again. It really worked fine and Mick was doing great job. When you watch Boston video you can see this beautiful scene with a little bit nervous Mick with guitar and Keith just right behind him, Ronnie on left - supporting Mick in "I back you up in case" kind of way - this is indeed another beautiful moment in Rolling Stones - their interaction and co-operation. Back Of My Hand worked really great and I there was no reason to drop it from the setlist, I wonder what the reason was.
But anyway - you're right - now you can hear Mick adding this 'whatcha whatcha' sounds in RFD, nicely feeling the background of the song, while Keith & Ronnie are waving and exchanging licks -> I love the way they do it just right after Darryl's solo -> I called it "question & answer" guitar interplay - it's beautiful.
But also you can hear Mick on Miss You. On Licks Tour although I could hear Mick adding some licks in Don't Stop, but he wasn't that much audible. I remember hearing his guitar so clearly in Amsterdam 2003.
Anyway - go Mick, go - he obviously improved his guitar skills. But after all he had the greatest teachers around him