A June at Madison Square Garden just shy of five decades ago was the last time I saw this band live in concert.  I won a lottery then.  You needed to mail in a self-addressed stamped envelope to get an opportunity to purchase.  Oh how times have changed. You just need to get on the right presale list, sign on to your Ticketmaster or LiveNation account (for now it is same company but the US Department of Justice seeks to break it all up) and get in cue. What is crazier the tour sponsor is AARP (not a member as is shills for regressive, inequitable, unfair and economy killing tax plus I do not need its Medicare Advantage plan.): members were eligible for some sort of seat upgrade after they entered Met Life Stadium. If you did not know at the outset, I presume the hints share this commentary expounds on The Rolling Stones concert, last Thursday evening, May 23, 2024.

I took my daughter who was excited to share this experience.

The aforementioned June 23, 1975 show was certainly one of the best performances I attended. Thursday’s show was up there too. The constants are Mick (Jagger), Keith (Richards) and then newbie Ronnie Wood.  Billy Preston played keys back then.

Obviously no Bill Wyman (retired) on bass and Charlie Watts (of blessed memory) on drums.   Darryl Jones continues to play bass since Wyman retired. Renown Session drummer Steve Jordan first subbed for an ill Watts  and since filled in permanently. Former Allman Brothers piano player Chuck Leavell plays keys and serves as music director. The other musicians: Bernard Fowler (vocals), Chanelle Hayes (vocals), Tim Ries (Sax), Karl Denson (tenor), Matt Clifford (Keyboards & French Horn)

I looked at the older setlist. Missing then and included last week, “Satisfaction,” “Paint It Black” and “You Got the Silver.”  Played then and missed (by this correspondent) this time:  “Street Fighting Man and “Midnight Rambler.” 

On the drive home streamed the first two live Stones LPs I own: “Got Live If You Want It” and “Get Yer Ya-Yas Out.” The older LP basically covered getting out of the parking lot and accessing Route 3.  After Yas-Yas, I opted for Linda Ronstadt’s cover of Tumblin’ Dice and the Flying Burrito Brothers’ cover of Wild Horses; love Linda’s and late Gram Parsons’ vocals on both.

Got Live included live versions of “Satisfaction” and “Get Off of My Cloud.”Ya-Yas included live versions of “Honky Tonk Women,” “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”

The set included three tunes from the latest CD, “Angry,” “Mess It Up” and “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.”

Marisa agreed on the show and testified to it to her mom.  She posted a brief video to Facebook.

It was special to share this show with her.

As an aside I’ve not been a fan of attending shows (or games) at Met Life (or its Giants Stadium) predecessor; as great as the show the fan experience reaching, entering and leaving the stadium was the best ever.

The title for this commentary comes from lyrics from my fave Ronnie Wood song ("I Can Feel The Fire") which features Mick on backing vocals from his very first solo LP (Keith plays on it.), “I’ve Got My  Own Album To Do.” (Excellent live version done with the Faces on The Midnight Special two months before Ronnie performs with the Stones.)

Full setlist below:

Start Me Up

Get Off of My Cloud*

Shattered (tour debut)

Angry

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (but I Like It)*

Wild Horses (fan-voted song)*

Mess It Up

Tumbling Dice*

You Can't Always Get What You Want*

(band intros)

You Got the Silver (Keith vocal), Keith & Ronnie Acoustic guitars) 

Little T&A (Keith vocal)

Sympathy for the Devil

Honky Tonk Women*

Miss You

Gimme Shelter*

Paint It Black

Jumpin' Jack Flash*

Encore:

Sweet Sounds of Heaven

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

     *performed June 23, 1975

 Watch and listen to the entire show on YouTube.

P.S. for those who missed it here’s the Journal for last Sunday’s Gotham Battle of the Band presented by Jason Greenberg of Phoenix Public Adjusters that Friday’s Blogger reviewed.