It's Only Rock'n Roll
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It's Only Rock'n Roll |
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Stones
NEWS |
Tell Me Forum |
Hackney Diamonds |
Tour 2024 |
Mick Jagger |
Keith Richards |
Charlie Watts |
Ronnie
Wood |
Band 2
Tim Ries |
Rolling Stones : 8:10 p.m.-10:10 p.m.
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I went to a Rolling Stones show and ended up seeing a covers band. In yet another historic concert, the Stones covered tunes by two Texan musical giants that they�ll probably never do again, and they also dusted off the Temptations� �Ain�t Too Proud To Beg.� Given that the show was taped for the DVD, the widows of Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings, as well as Motown scribes Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland can look forward to some nice checks down the road.
The first cover was Jennings� �Bob Wills is Still the King.� Based on my experiences in Wichita and El Paso, I was expecting a truncated version, but Mick sang the whole thing, playing acoustic while Ronnie was on the pedal steel. Mick�s reading was so powerful and authoritative. He barely glanced at the teleprompter � an indication that he�s more familiar with other people�s songs than his own. Later on, Keith did the unthinkable, shuffling his set list to play a Buddy Holly tune. I guess we were expecting something a little more familiar than �Learning the Game,� but you can�t go wrong with anything from his small catalog. Keith�s version was also sublime and actually rather emotional. I can�t wait to see this on DVD. We were reminded several times that the show was being taped for the DVD, though it was fairly easy to work out given the huge cranes that hovered over the 42,000 people at Zilker Park and the extra cameras on the floor. Mick rose to the occasion, delivering an almost-perfect performance. Even when he missed his cues on �She�s So Hot� and �Satisfaction,� it allowed us to savor the extra long intros. This actually marked their first trip to Austin, remarkable given the number of times they�ve played the Lone Star State. Mick remarked that �we�re probably the only virgins in Austin.� Later on, Keith joked about moving to Austin � �anyone got a room?� Perhaps the biggest surprise for me is that the whole concert went off without incident despite the absence of seats. There was no pushing and shoving down the front, and everyone got along great. Hopefully we can have more of these democratic shows, which allow the real fans to get up close and personal. Certainly, Mick had to be thrilled that virtually everyone in the front rows was young and beautiful. |
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It had been brutally hot on that Saturday. Even though good weather was predicted for Sunday night, we couldn't have ordered up a more perfect night weather wise, it was cool and dry, just perfect, not always like that in Austin.
I've lived in Austin since 1980, first saw the Stones in Houston on that '81 tour, followed by the Halloween show at the Cotton Bowl that year where it rained cats and dogs, where the Stones first blew me away, the first 6 or so songs at the Cotton Bowl that day were life changing, magical, off the charts. Seen them 11 times total now.
But there was something in air this night at Zilker park, the boys had something to prove, and prove it they did, and overall the crowd was great, a really good vibe going on, just unbelievable. This will not be the last time the Stones play Austin, I can't wait for the next time.
The parking downtown was the usual nightmare with any size city but the shuttle buses made it very easy to get to Zilker Park. You pay your parking, walk to the shuttle area, load up, take the 5 to 10 minute shuttle and there you are - easy. The entire process was very organized, Austin has it down. As we got off the shuttle bus and began to make our way to the main festival site area of Zilker Park we could he the bump-bumping of the Bump Band. I was not expecting much but to tell you the truth they were pretty damn good. At about 6:PM Los Lonely Boys took the stage. They ended up cancelling their opening slot at the Houston show due to illness so I was really looking forward to seeing them this time and they did not disappoint. We love the Texican blues.
There was an hour wait before the Stones hit the stage. In that time the announcement came over the P.A. that the show would be filmed for a DVD release and showings around the world. The instructions were to yell as loud as possible and when the cameras were on you show some real Texas enthusiasm. I don't think they had to really worry about that but I guess they wanted to sure it all looked good. There was a 45 degree chill in the air and at about 8:PM the lights dimmed and it was on. YOU GOT ME ROCKING was a great opener. I am suprised they haven't used it as such more often. The Stones were really at their best and the sound at Zilker Park was perfect. The crowd was all as one and into the show, it was wonderful.
They followed with LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER, SHE'S SO COLD, OH NO NOT YOU AGAIN and SWAY - the best version I've heard from this tour and I hope it makes it on to the DVD release. At this point Mick walked up to the microphone with an acoustic guitar strapped on and I just knew they were going to launch into DEAD FLOWERS but no, they started giving us some suprises and played BOB WILLS IS STILL THE KING. The song is a well-known Waylon Jennings tune that has some special meanings for Texas as it is about the creator of Texas swing, Bob Wills. The song also has a little sing-a-long part and the crowd did it right. The Stones really did the song justice and the crowd showed their appreciation. Mick was dead on with his vocals and guitar playing.
STREETS OF LOVE was next and it was the only downer in the evening. It just didn't cut it. The show came to a halt during the song. STREETS might have been a hit elsewhere but in the States its just not as well known and it showed by the crowds reaction which was no reaction at all - a very good chance this will be cut from the DVD release. Keith's guitar was barely audible during the first half of the song and when it came in Mick made a face and turned around at him and smiled. Then it was off again with AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG (the Stones dedication to Motown), BITCH and TUMBLING DICE. Ronnie played a great solo during DICE but it wasn't the right one, his only faux pas during the entire evening. Ronnie was spectacular for the rest of the show and I take back all the criticism I have personally given him before. Ronnie shined in Austin.
Keith gave us a nice suprise with a lesser known Buddy Holly song, LEARNING THE GAME, that Keith made his own. He followed that with LITTLE T & A. I was so happy to see that Keith was playing this song again. His vocals in Austin were very clear and his voice was at its best. The next suprise of the evening came next with UNDER MY THUMB a la 1981. Now I know people have said that the '81 version is not the best but for me it is my personal favorite. Ronnie walked to the front of the drums and started the beginning riff - a perfect version. After this it was the standard second half. I know alot of us bitch about the lack of change in the second half but be honest... when you are there and hearing it all who is bitching then? I loved it. I have seen the Stones 9 times and I have to say Austin is right up there with the show I say in Ft.Worth in 1997. WHAT A SHOW!
On a side note... We were right against the barriers that surrounded the mixing boards. In front of the boards there were about 100 seats set up for guests of the band and crew. Right before the Stones took the stage I saw a young girl that looked very familiar. Was it Elizabeth Scarlet? No way, she left the area by herself and started walking thru the crowd by herself smiling at everybody and saying, "excuse me" as she stepped over people.
About 10 minutes later the young girl returned with about 4 or 5 people in tow which appeared to be related by their interactions and age differences. I told my friend in a joking way that it was Elizabeth and my fiend just rolled her eyes and thought I was crazy. But my friend didn't think I was crazy when a few minutes later a young 20 year old Mick Jagger with blond hair walked by us. It was Jimmy. For the rest of the show we had just as much fun watching the kids as we did the Stones! I know for most people it wouldn't be the same but for me and my Stones buddies it was like sitting 15 feet away from royalty - rock and roll royalty!
I arrived at Zilker Park around noon on Sunday to check out the parking and ticket situation. I found free parking on the street about a mile away and verified it was ok with the two police officers working the street. I spent a relaxing afternoon walking the trails in the park along Barton Creek and then finished my free time off with coffee and salad at a diner in the area.
It was a difficult decision to make whether to shell out 350.00 for a reserved seat or 95.00 for a stand up general admission. After inspecting the seating area through the cyclone fence erected for the concert I decided to go for general admission. Only once before I purchased general admission and that was in 1981 for the Stones in the Superdome, but that came with a seat. Today I realized I would have to find my own space to stand on. Back to my car to get my bag with the approved 1 liter water and my borrowed white towel from my Motel 6 room.
Back and forth I went from the ticket booth,scalpers and folks at will call willing to sell below face value to get rid of extras. One hour after the gates opened I was able to secure a general admission lawn ticket for 50.00. What a deal. Got in walked and enjoyed visiting with all the fans in such a nice setting on a cool evening. I ran into some of my friends from Houston and 4 of us decided to hike down to see how close we could get before the Stones came on. We stepped over several hundred blankets and weaved a path down 5 feet from the runway and about 2/3rd the distance from stage to smaller stage. Perfect for sound and able to see the entire stage. What a night! Fireworks at the first note. Lets Spend and She's So Cold really got us excited and all were shouting along and enjoying the evening. Never thought I would be hugging and bumping on the lawn of a park where George Bush onced lived and was the governor. Bob Wills song was a great surprise. Thanks you Stones. Brown Sugar ended the show with more fireworks and all all of us standing and shouting for more.
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It's Only Rock'n Roll 1980 - 2006