Re: Madrid show reports and comments
Date: June 30, 2007 04:05
THE ROLLING STONES, Vicente Calderón, Madrid.
Hi all.
Madrid, 30º C at 18:30 in the shadow when doors were opened. After several hours of standing under the sun, my friend Ivan and me run to the front side and, surprise, there was FOS area for those who arrive early. FOS areas were packed soon, but at least, we were at about 12 meters from the stage, Keith´s side. It´s not a bad record, 400kms. from Bilbao and we will stand next to the boys, lovely.
The second surprise came soon, great Stones IORRean fans from Vienna were in front of us, Ronnie´s side, close to the barrier of the catwalk. How could I recognise them?, well, I think the sign they have is quite eloquent: “The Stones are Rock´n´Roll and Vienna likes it”. Best wishes for them and enjoy the rest of the Tour, you lucky girls!
At 19:40, firs warm-up act, Loquillo & The Troglodytes, from Barcelona. Jose María Sanz (well-known as Loquillo = woody woodpecker famous cartoon) is a good old rocker who´s been writing and singing rock and roll in Spanish for the last thirty years, and he has done even some poetry and drama. Last month he warmed up the Who in Bilbao and this time has been The Rolling Stones, a well deserved prize for him. And people in the Vicente Calderon stadium enjoyed his set.
The second group was Jet. The Australians not were in their best form but, their second theme “Are you gonna be my girl”, made the people on the pitch sing and dance and frontman, Nic Cester, tried to warm the audience indeed, jumping, screaming, sitting on the edge of the stage as he was playing the guitar and smiling frecuently. I bet you drummer Chris Cester, lost several kilograms last night due to his killer playing style.
All in all the stadium was nearly full packed at 22:15. Last minutes before the show nobody can fall feeling nervous. Security people distributed plastic-glasses of water, as it was really hot in the FOS area and the first oe-oe-oe-oe could be listened. Suddenly, lights were off, the big screen turns on and the fiesta starts the whole stadium up.
Start me up broke through the sky of Madrid loud, clear and full of energy. I could clearly see Keith feeling comfortably and smiling. I feel like it´s going to be a high-level show. No need to mention it, people downstairs are going really nuts. As soon as the first song was finished, everybody in the house began chanting oe-oe-oe-oe, the boyz are smiling, they could hardly go into Let´s Spend the Night Together as the audience is singing and party is going on. Afterwards, Mick took off his jacket and addressed to the public in Spanish, “"Siento haber tardado en venir. Estamos muy contentos de estar aquí finalmente" (sorry for the delay. We are very happy to be here in the end). Again oe-oe-oe-oe-oe and Mick working the crowd and helped by Ronnie.
The third one was She´s so cold, I think it´s a good choice for this part of the set, although Madrid show was an A Bigger Bang European 2007 Tour show with no songs from A Bigger Bang and, actually, I missed Rough Justice because it rocks, but, they are so many good songs in forty five years to fill a lovely night that a lot of them must be left. All down the line was another public beloved song and it was not less with Monkey Man, one of the highlights of the night, the whole theme was superb and Charlie finished it in a very energetic way.
With no doubt this was the best part of the show, and then they went into a resplendent cover of You Can´t Always Get What You Want, first time this year, sang by Mick and several thousand people more! Then Sway, no very well song by the vast majority of the people but, hand downs, a lovely song, and Keith playing sitting down just ahead of Charlie´s drums-kit. Next one was Ray Charles´ Night Time, and Lisa and Mick performed a lovely dancing in the middle of the stage that left everybody full delighted; nice Lisa, wonderful voice, big ovation. After the song, Mick prayed Lisa´s sexy green dress: “Qué vestido tan bonito Lisa, ¿te lo has comprado en el rastro?" (Nice dress, Lisa, have you bought it in the rastro? = the popular street market in Madrid).
And to full this great part of the set list, nothing better than Tumbling Dice. Great artists are capable of writing songs that have their own character and Tumbling Dice is that kind of perfect song that always make people feel happy.
Later it came the break form Mick, band introductions and warmer welcomes were for Lisa and Bobby Keys. Then was Mr. Wood´s time and Ronnie easily found the public´s feedback, the last singing more oe-s and the first one dancing and laughing. All in all, he played very well all night long. Of course, Charlie, as sober as always, made his salute beating his drums. Charlie, his playing was as steady as a rock. Then was Keith´s turn and of course, everybody started singing more and more oe-s, while he thanked “muchas gracias” while a true, wide smile appears on his face.
Great, Keith did You Got the Silver with no guitar, Ronnie on steel and Keith dancing and rumbling around. Then it came the funny moment of the night, when Keith bent down on his knees and when he tried to stand again, Mr. Richards nearly dropped; people shouted, we loved you Keith, and he smiled like a child. Next song is ready to be introduced by Keith, when some fans asked for Happy, so did I. And, yes, in spite of some lacks, Keith makes Happy as Happy makes the fans even happier.
The next part of the concert started with several chords played by Chuck, Darryl maked the bass sound and Mick took a guitar: Miss You is on the air and moving towards the B-stage. Later, IORR and basically, Satisfaction, set the stadium completely on fire and so did Honky Tonk Women coming back to the main stage. Ready for the last rush, a lot of us started shouting whoo-whoo just before the stage turned in red and Mick went upstairs in order to play his particular devilish performance of Sympathy for the Devil. By the way, Keith increased his myth and was missed for a while during the song. And from red lights and fire, the easily recognized riff of Paint in Black took us to a nigh and mysterious atmosphere and Keith recovered from the shadows. Last song was a rocking Jumping Jack Flash with Keith taking the centre of the stage playing powerful and the encore came with Brown Sugar, with fire-works and a go-and-back sprint from Mick all along the catwalk in the end of the show. Indeed, Mick has no need to do this to prove he is the best one, but just for those who were in doubt.
When the lights are on after the show, you can see people´s faces, widely opened eyes, huge smiles, greetings each other. They are just the greatest ones. Last year cancellation and now, here they are, 25 years after their first show in the same stadium, well remembered by a very hard storm. I know, it´s only r&r, but I love it.