It's Only Rock'n Roll
|
|
It's Only Rock'n Roll |
|
Stones
NEWS |
Tell Me Forum |
Hackney Diamonds |
Tour 2024 |
Mick Jagger |
Keith Richards |
Charlie Watts |
Ronnie
Wood |
Band 2
Tim Ries |
Show start : 8:48 pm Show end : 10:59 pmLive pre/post show comments:
Vienna Austria show live updates - Friday 15-July-2022
It is really too late for writing a report at 2am in the morning after the show, but I just wanted to share a couple of memories.
While the Stones were off stage, and we waited for the encores, they arranged many microphones at the far end of the stage, Ronnie side, where Sasha and Bernard normally are. Soon we found out what was going on. The Dzvinochok boys choir and Vognyk girls choir group, alongside their choirmaster Ruben Tolmachov, had managed to travel from Kyiv Ukraine by road. Now they were on stage singing the choir of "You Can't Always Get What You Want". They all looked so happy, but don't forget the war, it is so sad, but it was a great gesture of The Rolling Stones to do this very special moment during these difficult days for the Ukraine people. An additional note about the boys in the choir - there were only one boy, the rest of the choir were girls. Even at that age, 15 or so, it seems like the boys are needed back in Ukraine.
The story about the picture below is as follows. The last song of the show - Satisfaction - is just finished. The band is getting together for the final bow. Steve Jordan is sprinting up along the center stage to hand out his drumstick, and he will be late for the large final bow. Ronnie is celebrating the show with Bernard. Mick and Keith embrace each other at the back of the stage. Sure it was a great show!
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
The last time the Stones hit the stage in the Ernst Happel Stadium was back in 2014. Upon entering the stadium on 15th July, 2022, a colourful stage could be seen with the curves of their iconic tongue right in the middle of the stage. Behind the tongue a huge screen took place, on the sides of the structure the smaller screens were placed. Unique stage, for sure.
The band hit the stage at sunset time, and did a great 130-minute show. Most of the songs were played a bit slower than in 2014, but this is understandable considering the age of the band members. What was striking for me is the very strong guitar play by Richards, the unstoppable Mick, who frequently ran on all the three catwalks, like a rolling stone, and the extremely loud, but not disturbingly loud sound quality.
Also, the two most memorable parts of the show were the fact that at last the Stones played one of their greatest songs Out Of Time. How long had I been waiting for listening this song live! The second one was the intro of You Can’t Always Get What You Want, where the Ukrainian children choir appeared on the stage where Bernard and Co. sing. The children happily sang the first verse of the number, but at the same time, we, the audience must not forget about the war. So, two different, but very moving moments at the beginning and towards the end of the show.
So, again, the Stones gave us what we had wanted, and they do not seem to stop what they have been doing for sixty years. Thank you Stones, thank you Charlie.
But now, back to Vienna. I only planned this one after Bern was cancelled. My first ever concert of the Stones in this country was Imst in 1999 if I don’t make a mistake It was surrounded by mountains, bit rainy and no PIT A/B, Golden circles etc… “First come, first in” was the thing at that time.
I only arrived after 3 o’clock and there were already al lot of people queuing for the pit area. I received a wristband once I showed my printed A4 ticket. Won’t tell the nationality of the fans but some distributed their ticket for a wristband PITB. Once the gates opened after 5.15 it was a disaster, people walking by the security, not even scanning their ticket. Why would I and I just followed the ones. This is really shocking for a country with a reliable public transport system and a lot of garbage bins everywhere. Anyway, there must have been a staff issue as everyone started to run (as in the old days) and the security boys and girls didn’t know what to do. Once at the PIT entrance, people tried to get in without a wristband, which was a no go of course.
I managed to get a nice spot, second/third row in the front. I waited, ordered a beer with the famous 60 glass and started to talk around, not knowing that this turned out to the best show so far I saw on this tour.
I was shocked to see Keith in such a fabulous shape, he was even shaking his legs as in the old days, waaaw... he was also vey generous with the guitar picks. The sound in the front was really great and Mick realized that the band was on fire as he went also beyond during certain moments. Even his German was funny but the audience loved it! The setlist was a combination of the previous shows with Wild Horses as a warm welcome, which I heard already rehearsing while waiting to get in.
The interaction and weaving between Keith and Setlist painter Ronnie was great to look at but even more to listen to, loved every minute of it.
I loved the opening songs, the classic of 2022 Out of Time but I admired listening to Ghost Town, in which Steve plays a tremendous role. I was fortunate to talk to him earlier this week when the Stones were still staying in Brussels and he’s just a simple nice dude, professional, funny and grateful to be part of the greatest rock ‘n roll band ever.
And everyone present, must have realized that they’re the greatest. Loved to see the choir singing onstage, knowing how difficult it must be for all their families and friends. One word: RESPECT! Everyone got what they needed in Vienna, a superb show, tons of energy, big smiles, Keith having the perfect Slipping Away, although they don’t...
Gimme Shelter, Jumping Jack Flash, even Satisfaction was extraordinary, they were still singing and jumping went the complete band waved goodbye to the audience. Till the next time, DANKE!
According to Mr. Jagger, this was the 17th Stones show in Austria. Well, they definitely should come back soon – and more often! I thought the audience was even more into the show than Hyde Park (and certainly Munich).
After the exchange of our Lucky Dip confirmation into Diamond Pit A tickets, we already were in the best mood – a couple of friends also made it into the pit which just added more fun.
After the tribute to Charlie, the Stones opened again with Street Fighting Man. For me, this is the perfect opener: It sets the energy and enthusiasm for the whole evening – and also emphasizes that the Stones are unique: They still put on the greatest Rock’n’Roll Roll show, and have defined their own category in terms of touring and playing, sound quality (which was superb), and of course the backbone of everything: their huge song catalogue with all these iconic riffs, lyrics – performed by legends. Mr. Jagger stormed out from behind, already in the best mood, which seemed to even grow during the show, thanking the audience for their singing – everybody on stage had a blast, and the audience indeed sang along with great devotion.
In regard to sound quality: when we picked up our ticket, the Stones did their sound check. So even if you had for some reason lost your tickets, or didn’t have the cash to purchase a ticket (which would be understandable at these prices), you’d had a perfect sound outside the stadium. So it was no surprise that the second song was Let’s Spend The Night Together. We already had heard this song while standing in the line of the merch stand picking up one more Stones t-shirt. Another iconic song!
Tumbling Dice was next, followed by the Stones anthem Like a Rolling Stone. I guess everybody in the sold-out stadium was on his*her feet by then, and sang along this great song – thank you, Sir Bob!
After this humerous summer sing-along hit song Out of Time, the vote song: Wild Horses, played with such feeling and perfection, the stadion was a sea of lights.
Powerful songs followed, Ghost Town, Paint it Black, and Honky Tonk Woman. Band Intros followed. Mick talked during the show as usual, tons of Vienna slang, introducing the Picasso of the Prater (Ronnie), and his Hawara (friend) Keith. Many emotions during the show, hugs, smiles, somewhat intimate gestures throughout the gig, such as Steve throwing his drum sticks, a hugging Keith and Mick, Ronnie and Bernard bowing and greeting.
After further great renditions of Slipping Away and Happy in Keith’s set (and again highlights for me), the second half of the show started. Some mixing up of the set list, Miss You and an excellent Midnight Rambler. Actually I can’t tell what they played differently in the latter song, but it was a great interpretation of their iconic blues-rocker.
Great and powerful versions of Sympathy and Start Me Up followed. Gimme Shelter was moved second-to-last, and Jumping Jack Flash closed the set.
Emotional moments of the encore: Microphones were set up, and a youth choir from Kiev (Ukraine) started You Can’t Always Get… Wonderful, great, emotional, again a sea of lights.
As usual Satisfaction closed the show, Keith being the last to leave the stage waving and enjoying the last applause.
From Hyde Park (I) we had the impression that we couldn’t see any reason why the band – if they like to continue – wouldn’t go on tour in the next few years to come: High energy, the band tight, friendship, hugs, smiles, many perfect solos, emotions and joy: Mick’s youngest son waving at the audience, and receiving hundreds of waves and smiles before the show.
We had a more or less direct comparison between the greatest Rock’n Roll show and other gigs, like Guns n‘ Roses two days before in the same venue: Sure, Slash, Richard Fortus, Duff McKagan and the other band mates are excellent. Still, Axl has lost his voice, the sound was abysmal, songs that would not come close to any Stones level, and parts of the audience somewhat rude or drunk. I’ll trade any other rock show for Mick, Keith, Ronnie and the band with whatever set list, venue or occasion they might chose.
The Stones are in a league of their own, indeed, they themselves have defined their unrivaled class. They are rock legends who tour for the sheer joy of it and treat us to unforgettable evenings.
Incredibly emotional after seeing the destruction, also by Russia, in Ukraine on the huge video screens during Gimme Shelter. People around me had tears in their eyes, especially when the choir appeared in Ukrainian-flag coloured tongue t-shirts. The planning, and checking, to make this possible must have been a huge task but what a fantastic gesture of support. The easy bit, and a clue of what was coming, was a set-list shuffle with Paint It Black appearing early in the show and Sympathy for the Devil before the encore break.
Over 100 years ago, Vienna was the capital of Austria-Hungary, then the third biggest economy and country in Europe. The large number of really impressive buildings in the city bear witness to this rich history which came to an abrupt halt in 1918. One such building was housing a certain 78 year old British gentleman, whose presence there was unhelpfully “announced” in the Austrian newspapers.
As a result, when Mr Jagger was due to leave for the gig, the 300 or more people crowded outside the front door presented a big issue even for his experienced team and certainly for the solitary policemen present. Police reinforcements eventually arrived and sterling work from the Stones team allowed for a safe exit, complete with Mick’s customary smiles and waves, but very late for the sound check.
Not everyone appreciates that Austria is a neutral country like Switzerland, a result of an agreement made way back in 1955 in Moscow as a condition of Russia removing its army from Austria and allowing that country to become a sovereign, free, state again. Sovereign but, like many countries, very dependent on gas from Russia: but that did not stop the people showing their feelings when seeing Ukrainians perform in front of them.
The very packed Austrian crowd responded with appreciation as well as feelings. I haven’t seen the floor of a stadium so packed since Buenos Aires. It was buzzing, singing, waving and cheering in equal measure. Where we stood everyone was well behaved. Many people had travelled from neighbouring countries – some for a rite of passage and some to once again see the Stones. The emotion started for many with Street Fighting Man, and then singing along to the chorus of Like A Rolling Stone.
Yes, it was that type of evening. Even during the support band, not one of my favourites, the stands were largely full. Organisation at the Ernst Happel stadium was mixed – both efficient and confused. It’s a simple structure, but not designed for easy floor access. It is another venue with a great acoustic mirror called the stand roof – but the Stones team managed to handle the sound very well and we heard few echoes. The volume was very high: my ears were ringing later in the evening.
The band themselves were clearly enjoying the show as well, with a superb performance from everyone on stage and many smiles, even grins, and indications of appreciation. Wild Horses, the song vote, was beautifully performed. Keith was using a five string guitar, not the more common ten string which I seem to recall had component issues last year.
Dedicated fans always want to hear about the little slips that make the Stones the slightly-sloppy (aka loose) band that epitomises their sound. This show had fewer than I can remember – they were that good. The hug between Keith and Mick at the show ending; the grins during Rambler; the huge grins from Steve Jordan directed at Keith during several songs – all evidence of a band realising they were played at the top of their game. The slightly cooler weather helped: a show the day before would have been in 30C plus temperature, but Vienna had cooled nicely in the previous 24 hours.
As friends of mine commented, even Ghost Town sounded so fresh that it could have been a brand new song, just unveiled this year. I know it is new compared to the rest of the set, but the subject matter and people’s memories of the pandemic give it bad associations for many. Recent bad events can be too raw as the audience matures. Last Night it rocked.
What does all this mean? Well I think we just had the best show of the 2022 Tour … so far. It has set a new level to be exceeded. Some of the emotional elements cannot be repeated, but the performance level can: a slightly more radical setlist can help bring the level up even further.
This may be tough in next stop Lyon, where we may be seeing evening temperatures in the mid to high 30s C (that’s mid to high 90s F) so performing and watching will be harder work. Maybe some cooler numbers would help? Lots of support from the venue would be very wise: this audience has many young people, but they can fade just like the old farts!
Paint it black was a surprise in the first part of the setlist. My first thought was will we get Brown Sugar in the second part? Later I noticed they skipped YCAGWYW and I wondered, but everything made sense when I remembered that someone wrote that they will do it with a choir so it was logical they do it for the encore. Crowd seemed on and off, not into it during the whole show, at least what I could see.
Personal highlights to remember this show by: Mick sang LARS with american accent and Dylanish pronunciation, more than usual. Keith's first note in HTW solo was the loudest ever and came a millisecond earlier than it should so it was enphasized even more, the solo was the best I have heard Keith play. Keith's singing in SA was superb, I think his voice is the best on that song from all of his songs he mixes in the setlist. Loved the prolonged crescendo in MR during instrumental before the last verse.
Then show day. It began with a text from the airlines that now my flight to Lyon the next day was cancelled so that added some stress, but I was happy to be going to a show. The Vienna public transport was amazing, some of the best from any city I've used, and I got to the show easily. As I had Lucky Dips I was hoping this would finally be the time to get the pit (I've been there before, but never officially!) instead I got the very back. It was a blessing in disguise for me though. I lost a friend last week and just wanted to listen to music and enjoy the moments I have still in this life and the seats were perfect.
The sound was great where I was, every note was clear. The crowd around me was warm and fun, not like some I experienced last year during the US shows I attended, but of course this was my first show in another country so maybe the crowds are different than what I am used to. And my favorite moment was at the end after the band left the stage when the entire stadium was filled with the crowd chanting the tune to Satisfaction. I posted a brief video of the crowd's chant on twitter (look for the twitter name akchomps) and the photo I included here is from my seat. The show had a good turnout as you can see. I did make it to Lyon today, but if I decide not to go because of the heat I will be happy that Vienna was a show of shows!
My own wife (who had joined me for all of the band’s post-1990 Vienna shows) originally didn’t want to go this time, but changed her mind after viewing Matt Lee’s terrific video of “Out Of Time” from Munich on YouTube. It was a bit of a challenge to get an extra ticket just a few weeks prior to the sold-out concert, but I eventually managed to track one down on eBay for about €30 above face value.
We were in the regular standing room area on a packed floor, and it sure has been a while (U2 in 2005 I think) since I have seen the Happel-Stadion filled to such capacity. There was a buzz all around the place that already suggested that the crowd would be very much into the show. “Bilderbuch”, an Austrian band I had never even heard of before, did a decent job of warming things up, and were well received by the audience. One just could tell that people were in great spirits and excited about what was to come.
When the Stones entered the stage at around a quarter to 9 P.M., that excitement immediately exploded throughout the stadium. Mick, quite obviously being in a very good mood, had the crowd in the palm of his hands right from the very first note of “Street Fighting Man” and would keep it there until the band’s final bow 2 hours and 15 minutes later. I had specifically looked forward to hearing “Out Of Time” (the night’s personal highlight for me), which of course was delivered with perfection. The only gripe I have with their setlist – and I know that this may be considered a “sacrilege” by some – is the regular inclusion of “Midnight Rambler”, which always kind of bores me as it just goes on for way too long. Keith too was in fine form and great spirits, hardly hitting any wrong notes (although there sure were a few during “Satisfaction”) and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Speaking of Keith, I enjoyed his two-song section a lot more than usual this time, although I thought that “Happy” could have used a little more drive and tempo. Mick’s references to Austrian institutions like “Stelze”, “Würstelstand” and the ever-popular local “Ottakringer” (beer) were a lot of fun, and if you ever wondered what a “Hawera” is, this is a specific Austrian dialect term for “pal” or “good mate”.
As widely reported, the greatest moment of the night of course was the Ukrainian children’s choir being on stage for “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. It was a bit of a bittersweet moment, considering what is happening in those kids’ home country and them having to return there after the concert, but you could also tell that they were beaming with pride and thoroughly happy to sing with the greatest rock’n’roll band on the planet. They also got a great response from the crowd, which is hardly surprising considering that the people, government and companies of Austria have always shown great empathy for Ukrainian fugitives and strongly supported them in any possible way ever since the start of the war over there.
Summing things up, a great time was had by everybody – both the band and the audience. This was my first rock concert in more than three years, and at the same time one of the best I ever attended. My wife, who enjoyed herself immensely, sure was glad she came along after all and still is on Cloud Nine. Reviews in the Austrian media also were overly enthusiastic without exception. If this really was “the last time” the Rolling Stones have visited my country, they sure went out with the “biggest” bang ever, and I’m glad I was there. Thank you, lads!
If it’s true, as Mick stated, that they drove in from Kyiv, then their 15-plus-hour trip shames my own travel woes whereby I rolled the dice on a show-day flight from Paris and won the booby prize of a last-minute cancellation. But we all made it in the end, and got what we wanted.
I probably would have kept the kids on stage for "Satisfaction" - if ever there was a song they could relate to - and let them join the bows at the end, but that might have been the sort of mawkish overkill you’d see at a McCartney or Springsteen show. I do hope, by the way, that the Stones get around to selling Ukraine-styled t-shirts, something I’d first suggested in my Madrid review. At any rate, I'm sure some collectors have already managed to secure some shirts off the kids' backs.
As for the rest of the show, it seemed the Stones had run out of new songs to play. This was the first "Sixty" show without a song making its tour debut. "Wild Horses" was first seen in Milan, and both "Let’s Spend the Night Together" and "Like a Rolling Stone" in Amsterdam. Keith played "Happy" for the fourth time, and that was pretty much it for the pop-in songs. I do hope they can dust off one or two others as we hit the home stretch.
Maybe it was my location in the middle of a very big and oversold pit on Keith's side, but it seemed as if the drums were the dominant instrument. Steve worked way too hard, Mick's voice was strained, and the guitars were often enfeebled. Songs like "Paint It, Black" and "Gimme Shelter" were a mess. During the latter, Keith abruptly stopped playing his pre-Sasha solo, and Ronnie rode to the rescue as usual.
Speaking of Sasha, a little restraint wouldn't go amiss. Subtlety can be more powerful. Stomping like an angry toddler risks reducing the show to a Broadway parody.
And speaking of backing singers, did Steve cut them off at the Jumpin' Jack Flash intro? All I heard was Bernard singing, "Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a-." And that was it.
Keith's twofer remains a thrill. At one point he wanted to say something heartfelt, but words escaped him and so he wrapped it up with, "It's like . . . ehhh." During his death song "Slipping Away," he improvised a rare aside, "We all gotta go."
So the Ukrainian kids saved the Stones. Assuming our little heroes won't be rejoining us, I hope the Stones can draw on their youthful valor and wrap up the tour with the sort of virtuosity and showmanship that powered Liverpool, Brussels, etc. into the annals.
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Bjornulf Vik
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Victor Woods
Photo by Josef Massinger
Photo by Josef Massinger
Photo by Peter Lacres
Photo by Peter Lacres
Photo by Peter Lacres
Photo by Peter Lacres
Photo by Peter Lacres
Photo by Peter Lacres
Photo by Matija Djuricic
Photo by Matija Djuricic
Photo by Matt Shields
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Hendrik Mulder
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Jan Veeken
Photo by Martin Magát
Photo by Martin Magát
Photo by Martin Magát
Photo by Martin Magát
IMPORTANT! Reports and pictures are welcome, for editorial review/publication. Please send them as soon as possible after the show. There is a limit of approx 30 photos per report/show in order to speed up browser load time. Updates of the editorial reports pages will mainly be done within 2-4 days after the show has been performed.
For publishing details and policies see :
IORR editorial reports - pictures and reviews
This page will change over the next few days, as you and other fans send reviews, set lists and reports. Please send your e-mail to IORR. Thanks! For details and great photos from the Rolling Stones and their World Tour get the IORR magazines.
It's Only Rock'n Roll 1980 - 2022
© The Rolling Stones Fan Club IORR