The Rolling Stones
Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
Sunday August 5, 2007

The set list

1. Start Me Up
2. You Got Me Rocking
3. Rough Justice
4. Rocks Off
5. Dead Flowers
6. Ruby Tuesday
7. Can't You Hear Me Knocking
8. I'll Go Crazy
9. Tumbling Dice
   --- Introductions
10. You Got The Silver (Keith)
11. I Wanna Hold You (Keith)
12. Miss You (to B-stage)
13. It's Only Rock'n Roll (B-stage)
14. Satisfaction (B-stage)
15. Honky Tonk Women (to main stage)
16. Sympathy For The Devil
17. Paint It Black
18. Jumping Jack Flash
19. Brown Sugar (encore)

During "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," Mick backed into Keith while doing a harp solo, Keith cheerily offered a guiding hand on his shoulder, said something of apparent amusement in Mick's ear, then glanced out in the audience with a big smile.

Keith also got to sing backing vocals, nominally, on two songs in a row: "Dead Flowers" and "Ruby Tuesday." Before starting his solo tunes, he flexed his arm muscles, congratulated Ronnie on his playing of "You Got the Silver" and thanked Toots and the Maytals for their opening set. Between songs, he thanked Ronnie again, and noted, cryptically, "At least I know how to give a compliment." With the emphasis on "I."

The show itself was nothing overly memorable. I'm so over "Dead Flowers," though others may have gotten a thrill from this alleged rarity, and the locals certainly dug "Ruby Tuesday." I remain unenthused about the various solos on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." I didn't pay to see a Santana show. Lisa's excessive soloing in "I'll Go Crazy" allowed Mick the opportunity to grab a half a dozen tissues and run off stage to blow his nose. Before engaging in his dirty-dancing bit, he wiped his nose with his arm, presumably to make sure she wouldn't get a close-up of any stray pieces of mucus.

By the way, the crowd was disturbingly ancient. Lots of tweed blazers, sweaters draped over shoulders, and frosted hair. This is the usual deal in America, but I hadn't noticed it to such an extent in Europe before. The oldies seemed enthusiastic (except during Keith's set) -- or maybe the energy level was sustained by the hardcore Norwegian contingent we keep hearing about. And people: please don't place your precious extra cups of beer on the ground and then go nuts when people walk on them. Act like Keith, and drink 'em like there's no tomorrow.

I must admit that I was a little nervous before the concert after the strange tabloid writings from Swedish papers. And Keith looked a little grumpy when he hit the first riffs of Start me up. But after only four seconds his smile covered his old rock n roll face. From then on everyone was convinced : They are on fire tonight.

A strong hard rocking section followed with You got me rocking, Rough Justice and Rocks Off. Already now it was evident that Ronnie was great tonight. I've never seen that man so sober and concentrated. All solos played very well. Beautiful awesome guitar-stuff in Dead Flowers and You got the silver. A strong lovely version of Ruby Tuesday was the slow one tonight followed by the masterpiece-version of Can' you hear me knocking. For me it was the first time at a stadium concert. I'm sure most people didn't know it, but it went down very very well. Some loud old rock n roll-guys were standing beside me. At this point in the concert they were all big smiles and totally exhausted from joy. This was clearly more and better than they had expected. In fact I think most people were overwhelmed by the strength and the performance of the Stones. Surprisingly few drunks and a great response all through the concert made this concert one of the highlights in the Copenhagen Stones-history.

We all did go crazy with Lisa and Keith nailed a strong Tumbling Dice before he got the biggest applause of the whole evening when he was introduced. And he deserved it. So far a victory for all of us. Including the band on stage. Then on to the b-stage with some the classic stuff. Excellent decision to play Satisfaction here. Well, and what can you say when they pass by you one meter away. During Honky Tonk Woman Keith noticed a little boy on his father's arms beside me and he immediately smiled and threw his pick at him. Somebody else was the fortunate at the receiving end as the show rolled on to the rest of the highlights. Sympathy with a very wild Jagger, Paint it black with its perfect Keith-intro and Charlie's hard hitting drum. Yeah Charlie was good tonight. Even a minor solo hit it straight on during the introductions. Keith hit another perfect start with Jumpin Jack Flash. Brown Sugar was perhaps the song where they messed up a bit during the third verse, but they came back strongly...and what did it matter anyway. Even when they became sloppy it still rocked. And Ronnie ended a superb evening of his with some nice few solo notes at the end of Brown Sugar.

I'm sure much more can be added. I've already noticed some great reviews from Danish newspapers. Mind you : This time they're absolutely right. This was perhaps the last time in Copenhagen. If so, this concert will forever stand out in my memory just as strong as my first Stones-concert in Copenhagen in 1970. Three generations experienced the Greatest Rock n Roll in the World. Not just a phrase. This was real live.