WHO: Rolling Stones w/ Trey Anastasio

WHEN and WHERE: Oct. 8, Duke University, Durham

I had never seen the Rolling Stones before, but like tons of people, I know a lot of their music.

I wasn't thrilled about the high ticket prices, but I had to see the band live at least once in my life.

I was expecting a great show - which I got - but I wasn't expecting to see one of the largest stages I've ever seen in my life.

This thing is massive. It has to be more than 100 feet tall, and it takes 70 trucks to get it from city to city.

A large video screen in the center is bordered with levels fannning out on either side - two of which were occupied by audience members who won "upgrades" by text messaging before the show.

From my seat, the band was about an inch tall, but the video screens gave you close-up looks.

Trey Anastasio's opening set was great, yet Phish free. He did, however, pull out a cover of The Beatles' "I am the Walrus."

After his 40-minute set, which included a song dedicated to his mother, it was time for the Stones.

A short video followed by fireworks broke the darkness, and then the first few chords of "Start Me Up" rang through the night.

Mick Jagger, in a bright green jacket, began strutting and dancing his way back and forth across the stage - an act of enthusiasm that didn't let up all night.

After "She's So Cold," Jagger said hi to all the Duke Blue Devil students which raised more boos than cheers.

A follow-up mention of North Carolina at Chapel Hill brought one of the loudest cheers of the night.

Their first new song, "Oh No Not You Again," fit right in with the old tunes.

The band paid later tribute to Ray Charles with "The Night Time is the Right Time."

During the band introductions that followed, Keith Richards was the final one to get a nod. (Though no one officially introduced Mick Jagger).

Richards stepped up to the microphone and said, "It's good to see you all. It's good to see anything!" Which received a huge round of laughter.

Richards then said he was going to sing, "a song off of Voodoo Lounge, I think. I can't remember all of them..."

Part of the stage was rolled out into the middle of the stadium for a few songs including, "Satisfaction" and their latest single, "Rough Justice."

"Sympathy for the Devil" had the stage lit up in black and red as Jagger sang a slightly modified version of the song - adding pauses for a slower rhythm.

The band's two-song encore, "Can't Always Get What You Want" and "It's only Rock and Roll," ended the set nicely.

Overall, it was simply an incredible show, and well worth the price to see the legends of rock do their thing.

My only qualm - the lack of "Gimme Shelter," my favorite Stones song. But I'm ok with that, because the rest of the show made up for it.

Here's the complete set list:
1)Start me Up
2)You Got Me Rocking
3)She's So Cold
4)Tumbling Dice
5)Oh No Not You Again
6)Wild Horses
7)Dead Flowers
8)Bitch
9)Nightime
10) The Worst
11) Infamy
12) Miss You on center stage
13) Rough Justice on center stage
14) Satisfaction on center stage
15) Honky Tonk Woman stage moving back
16) Out of Control
17) Sympathy for the Devil
18) Brown Sugar
19) Jumpin' Jack Flash
ENCORE
20) You Can't Always Get What you Want
21) It's Only Rock N' Roll

Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at October 9, 2005 10:19 AM

Comments

I agree it was a great show! I think Nighttime was the best song of the night. I'm going to see them again in Charlotte and will be interested to see how much the set list changes.

Posted by: jane at October 13, 2005 1:06 PM

Yep, I was schocked when Mick Taylor joined them for Angies.

Posted by: Rehcnaf Leinad at June 15, 2006 9:53 PM