Monthly Archives: May 2024

Rolling Stones at MetLife Stadium on May 23, 2024

If anyone could have predicted back in 1989, the first time I saw the Rolling Stones live, in East Troy, Wisconsin, that in the year 2024 the Stones would STILL BE HERE, and touring with a brand-new album under their belts to boot, I would never have believed them. When I saw the Steel Wheels show back in ’89, I was certain that this was my one and only chance I would get to see the Stones, ever. The fact that this band is still here, still playing, is an unimaginable feat. They have been performing live since before I was even born, and I am no spring chicken myself. We are so blessed to still have the Stones after all these years.

The Thursday, May 23, 2024, show at MetLife Stadium was one of the best, if not THE best of all the Stones shows I have yet seen. Not only were the lads in fine form musically, putting on a fantastic performance, it also turned out to be a wonderful overall EXPERIENCE. This was my 20th time.

My most recent show had been May 11 in Vegas, which was also fantastic, but in my view the Stones were even better tonight. Mick had more swagger and was more enthusiastic and had more flamboyant gestures. During Miss You he gave us some extra what’s-a-matter-wich-you-boy’s, in addition to his howlig and harmonica playing.  Keith was in top form as well.  His guitar playing was splendid, especially on You Got the Silver, Gimme Shelter, Sympathy, and Jumping Jack Flash. Best of all, you can see they are really enjoying themselves up there! Those 60-foot screens don’t lie.

Gene’s favorite numbers included Get Off My Cloud, Angry, and Jumping Jack Flash. My favorite this night was Miss You. Gene and I were both impressed by Chanel Haynes on Gimme Shelter. Gene remarked that he was especially moved by Steve Jordan’s drumming and Keith’s overall joyousness.

Rolling StonesThis was my first time seeing the Stones with Lucky Dip tickets. I had originally intended to attend this show with my friend Bill and go with him to meet Shidoobeans for the first time, but sadly Bill threw his back out that morning and had to reluctantly cancel.  Our mutual friend Gene saved the day, driving us from Brooklyn.  I am so very glad to have had the chance to go with Gene, who is also a lifelong Stones fan and — an eternal optimist — who has seen them many times over the years. Not only that, but Gene met both Mick and Keith and many others associated with the band over the years, and he has many war stories to share.  For tonight, Gene timed everything perfectly, as we got there just before 8 pm as the opening act, Jon Batiste, was just taking the stage. Our LD seats were on the side of the stage in the lower bowl, section 142 to be exact. Although these seats were labeled “limited view” on our paper tickets, we were both thrilled with our proximity. While we did not have a great view of Steve Jordan, we were close to the runway on Ronnie’s side of the stage and the large screens helped immensely. From this angle we could see not only the band, but the large and enthusiastic crowd. What a festive night this was. The crowd was in such good spirits.

The vote song was Wild Horses. I had voted for Depending On You in honor of my dear friend Steve Couse, of blessed memory. The other choices this night were Worried About You and Fool to Cry.

Jon Batiste was the opening act, and his performance was fantastic. He had a full entourage with him, but he also performed several numbers by himself on piano. He wore a sparkly gold suit and a beaming smile. One of his songs was When the Saints Go Marching In!

After Jon Batiste finished Gene and I had time for a pit stop, a visit to the refreshment stand, AND a stop by the merch stand for t-shirts, where there was absolutely no line, and we were back to our seats in plenty of time. Thanks to Gene’s strategic parking decision and driving, we were on the highway back to Brooklyn in no time. Up until today the weather forcast had called for rain, but Gene insisted that we would definitely not get any rain — and he was right. On the drive home, the full moon was shining on us.

Rolling Stones in Las Vegas on May 11, 2024

A lot of the fun of traveling to a Rolling Stones show from out of town is running into fellow concertgoers who are also from out of town. My friend Craig and I both flew to Las Vegas from the East Coast on Friday night — me from New York City, and him from Washington, D.C. — for the show on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium. We spent the day Saturday checking out the strip. We stayed at Mandalay Bay, and we walked from there to Luxor, Excalibiur, New York, New York, MGM Grand, Paris, and Caesars Palace. All along the way when we weren’t playing the slots we saw many, and I mean a great very many, people wearing Stones tee shirts. Most of the wearers were Baby Boomer age. But some had children or even grandchildren in tow.  We usually nodded to one another or said hi and sometimes we chatted each other up about where we’re from. People were in Vegas from all over the country and even from overseas. In an elevator we ran into a couple from Australia who were going to Seattle next to catch the show there.

Craig and I went for an early dinner but found that most of the places already had long waits! (Note to anyone traveling from out of town for a show: If you plan to have dinner beforehand anywhere near the venue, be sure to go plenty early, because every restaurant in the vicinity is sure to be packed!) We kept looking and found a pizza place, where we were among many fellow diners also in town to see the Stones. Two in particular caught my eye. It was a man with a younger man who looked like his son. Both were wearing Stones tees and big smiles. They were absolutely glowing. They were talking to each other the whole time, not on their phones, and they were clearly enjoying each other’s company and experiencing this event together.

Getting to and from Allegiant Stadium for the concert was a breeze. We simply walked across the bridge, which the local cops had closed to vehicular traffic, from Mandalay Bay. There were lots of people coming in, but the lines moved quickly, and things went efficiently.  I guess Vegas is accustomed to large events like this. This is the same stadium where the most recent Super Bowl was played! On the way over the bridge, the late afternoon desert sun was blazing. Several water stations were set up along the way. Once we were on site, the biggest crowds were the lines for merch. I would have bought a tee to add to my collection, but the lines were too long!

Rolling Stones Las Vegas 2024

It was my 18th Stones show and Craig’s first. In the song vote, I chose All Down the Line and Craig wanted — and got —You Got Me Rocking. (The other two songs up for vote this night were Sad Sad Sad and Live With Me.) Craig also wanted — and got — Sympathy for the Devil and Honky Tonk Women, and he also wanted — but did not get — something from the Steel Wheels album. He predicted, correctly, that Start Me Up would be the first song.

Our seats were in the 300 level, Row A. I chose those seats because I wanted to be in the front row of a section. I could have easily stood and danced and moved and grooved through the entire show, but it’s scary up so high! Both Craig and I were a little bit afraid of the heights, and we chose to stay in our seats for most of the show, not only out of fear of falling but also because we did not want to block the view of anyone behind us who might also be sitting.

We chatted up the folks on each side of us, of course. The gentleman to my left said he had been to see many Stones concerts over the years starting in 1972. He said he still remembers when the song Satisfaction came out when he was 16! To Craig’s right was a couple from Vegas. Her name was Angie! It was her first Stones show, and she definitely wanted them to perform “my song” but sadly it was not in the cards this evening.

The Las Vegas show did offer a few surprises. Two songs, Let’s Spend the Night Together and Like a Rolling Stone, made their 2024 tour debuts. The next surprise was Keith doing TWO songs at this show after only performing one on the first three shows of this tour. He started with You Got the Silver followed by Little T&A, also known as She’s My Little Rock ’n’ Roll. Keith was in fine form. Craig remarked to me after the show that he looks so happy playing music.

They did Angry and Mess It Up from the new album, the latter of which sounded a bit messy but that’s totally OK with me. I wish they would add Bite My Head Off from the new album to the set. I was sure that would be the new You Got Me Rocking, and I am flabbergasted that they are not performing that yet! The only song that did not sound all that great, in my view, was Get Off My Cloud.  But Miss You and Paint It Black were both flawless. And Jumping Jack Flash never sounded better.

Mick’s stage banter included asking where everybody was from, and he also said that he and Keith came to Vegas for the first time in 1964, not to perform but to gamble. He said they stayed at the Flamingo and that he lost lots of money but tonight he was going to try to win it back.

Mick played harmonica on Miss You and on Like a Rolling Stone and, and he played guitar on several other songs including You Can’t Always Get What You Want.

For me one of the highlights of the show was Gimme Shelter, with Chanel Haynes. Chanel was fantastic, offering not only astounding vocals but facial expressions and physical gestures that were so very powerful. She put her whole body, voice, and soul into the song. Chanel returned for Sweet Sounds of Heaven, the first of two encore songs. I think Jagger added a new lyric, something along the lines of “Let the old feel like they are young” and hearing this addition to the song moved me greatly. Yes, the Stones are older than the rocks in the Grand Canyon, but they are indeed young. In my view, this tour is a triumph, especially because they are promoting a new album, Hackney Diamonds, and a solid effort at that. Even more impressive, is that they recorded most of it this very year. I can’t wait for the follow up to Hackney Diamonds. Meanwhile, as long as the Stones are still touring, I will be there and wearing a lips and tongue tee to boot.  I’m going to FOUR more shows this tour alone!

The Vegas setlist:

  1. Start Me Up
  2. Get Off My Cloud
  3. Let’s Spend the Night Together
  4. Angry
  5. Like A Rolling Stone
  6. You Got Me Rocking (vote song)
  7. Mess It Up
  8. Tumbling Dice
  9. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
  10. You Got the Silver (Keith on vocal)
  11. Little T&A (Keith on vocal)
  12. Sympathy for the Devil
  13. Honky Tonk Women
  14. Miss You
  15. Gimme Shelter
  16. Paint It, Black
  17. Jumping Jack Flash
  18. Sweet Sounds of Heaven (encore)
  19. Satisfaction (encore)

The opening band was The Pretty Reckless, featuring a female singer. I thought the band was fantastic, and she was charming. It must be difficult to open for the Stones, especially if you are a band that most audience members are not familiar with. I thought they did a nice, respectable set. I *always* attend the opening set. After all, if the Stones have invited a band to play on the bill with them, I am going to give that band some respect.

Before the show started, I told Craig that I was not going to take my phone out too much because there would be lots of pictures and videos posted to social media, as there always are, and sure enough, there were indeed. There was one post in particular that really made my day! Remember the father-son duo from the pizza place? They posted selfies from the show and, get this, it turns out they had Lucky Dip tickets and got Pit!

What a night, what a show.

See you at MetLife!