Mick, Keith, and Ronnie all looked fit, trim, and healthy — both physically and emotionally. And they look like they are generally having fun on stage. At least that is my own impression from looking at the expressions on their faces, blown up large on the video. Also apparent on the big screens: A wonderful chemistry between Mick and Keith. Yes, the lads were in top form last week at Fold Field in Detroit on November 15, 2021. It was a fantastic show.
It was my 17th time seeing the Stones live. My first time was 1989 in East Troy, Wisconsin, during the band’s Steel Wheels tour. At that time, I thought that it was my one and only chance to see them. I did not know then that I would one day move to New York City and see the Stones many more times at Madison Square Garden and eventually even at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn!
But this tour they didn’t come to New York city, so I decided to fly to my home state of Michigan. I took my three sisters, who are all younger than me, to the show as my guests. For the older of my sisters, it was her second time seeing the Stones. It was the first Stones show for my other two sisters. We sat about halfway back in Section 121, which gave us a good vantage point. What I like about a Stones crowd is that it is friendly and civilized.
We stayed at the Athenium hotel, which was just a few blocks away from Ford Field. Everyone at the hotel was there to see the Stones. I also did some sightseeing earlier in the day, and again everywhere I went there were other Stones fans. There’s a good feeling of camaraderie when you see other Stones fans out and about, whether you say hello or just nod.
The opening act was Ayron Jones, whom I had never heard of before. He performed a 35- or 40-minute set with his band. Lots of impressive guitar playing. And a very large, shirtless drummer. It was a solid performance. There was some confusion in the crowd before he came on, because an official email from Fold Field before the show said that “Ghost Hounds” was the opening act.
Another bit of confusion came from the local Fox 2 news program the night before the show, which I just happened to catch while channel surfing. They said that Martha Reeves was going to be performing with the Stones as a special guest. But that turned out not to be the case when the Stones played Ain’t Too Proud to Beg as their Motown Tribute. After the show Martha Reeves was pictured backstage with the band members in various social media posts.
Mick said from the stage it was the band’s third time performing at Ford Field, including the Super Bowl halftime. He also said it was their 21st time performing in Detroit, the first show being in 1964. That was before I was born!
Here are a few more notes on Detroit 2021:
- I though the opener, Street Fighting Man, was fantastic.
- There was a nice extra bit at the end of You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
- Honky Tonk Women was fun seeing the closeup of Keith’s guitar work on the big screens. And the animations of exotic women, which to me looked like they were tattoos come to life, were clever!
- In my opinion one of the best songs of the evening was Ghost Town, their newest song. Mick played harmonica on this one, and he also led the audience in a chant.
- Midnight Rambler was another highlight, also featuring Mick’s harmonica. This is one of my very favorite songs to see and hear them perform live. I really like the way they make this song different every time and change the tempo. At one point Mick broke into a few lines of the Robert Johnson song Come on in my Kitchen. Very cool.
- Gimme Shelter, the first encore song, featured a fantastic Sasha Allen on vocals and she joined Mick on the B Stage. She really put her heart and soul into it, as evident in her facial expressions. She’s possessed by the spirits of Merry Clayton and Lady Gaga with some Tina Turner and Janis Joplin thrown in for good measure.
- Wild Horses was the “vote” song. My three sisters all voted for it, and I have no doubt that their votes put the song over the top. I had voted for Sweet Virginia, but I’m really glad it turned out to be Wild Horses. They performed it so beautifully. And I’m so very glad that one of the three songs from that famous recording session at Muscle Shoals was played live.
- And God bless Steve Jordan. I think he did a fantastic job. Others have said that he seems to be banging on the drums a bit harder than Charlie ever did, and this might be the case. Charlie always made his playing seem effortless somehow. I do think that the opening video tribute to Charlie, as well as them dedicating the show to Charlie, was a proper way to show him respect. Everyone misses Charlie of course. Yet I for one am so glad the Stones are playing on — and that they are doing so with Charlie’s blessing.
The Stones came on stage at approximately 8:45 p.m. and played until 11. Here’s the complete set list, in order:
- Street Fighting Man
- You Got Me Rocking
- 19th Nervous Breakdown
- Tumbling Dice
- Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
- Wild Horses (the song voted on before the show)
- You Can’t Always Get What You Want
- Living in a Ghost Town
- Start Me Up
- Honky Tonk Women
- Connection (sung by Keith)
- Before They Make Me Run (also sung by Keith)
- Miss You
- Midnight Rambler
- Paint It Black
- Sympathy For The Devil
- Jumping Jack Flash
- Gimme Shelter (first encore song)
- Satisfaction (final encore)
I have noticed a reaction in myself every time I see the Stones play live. At some point, I get emotional. And the tears come at the most unexpected times. On Monday night it was during 19th Nervous Breakdown, of all songs. When Mick and Keith leaned in together and sung the nigh note into the same microphone. It just lasted a moment, but when Mick and Keith are performing together like that, all is right with the world. I hope they never, ever stop performing live.