Birthday smiles all round! The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang tour rolled into Cardiff yesterday. No moss here!
To start from the beginning, we arrived at Gate 6 shortly before opening time - no queues! So it took no time to get in & find our (very well chosen by M) seats. Support band The Kooks came on promptly at 7, and that was probably the only really weak part of the night. Either extremely nervous, tired (from Reading festival) or both, they seemed a bit underwhelming, certainly compared to the hype and the last time we saw them. Set list as much as I could get: Seaside, See The World, Matchbox, Eddie's Gun, Ooh La La, She Moves In Her Own Way, Naive, Sofa Song, You Don't Love Me plus a few new songs mid-way through. All the Radio 2 listeners obviously recognised She Moves In Her Own Way, and there was a decent reaction from those already seated, but there was a bit of 'who are The Kooks' around the place.
The Stones took to the stage prompt at 8.30. Our seats were in the pitch seating section, and there was no chance of anyone remaining seated for the show there. I have read reviews about Stones concerts past, and although sometimes it's easy to ponder on why they bother etc, after the first song it was clear - this band can really put on a show! If they are this polished all the time then no wonder they're always in demand. Keith especially got a huge cheer for his 2 songs (set list below), and everyone (backing band included) appeared to be having a blast. Back to that seat selection - really good choice! We were a bit behind the halfway line, to the left of the 2nd stage runway, so a good clear view of the main stage. The 2nd stage was about 10m diagonally behind us as well - quality! Enormous stage set up itself as well. There were some 'on stage' seats part way up the rigging, apparently a few hundreds each (plus competition winners) as well. Fantastic light show, pyro and fireworks (but with a tour called A Bigger Bang I suppose that was obvious?!) plus massive screen behind the stage, sometimes showing old video footage eg for Lets Spend The Night Together. Even an inflatable Jagger pout whilst the 2nd stage was in play!
A few songs I wasn't familiar with but mostly a set of old time favourites (set list courtesy of Rolling Stones website):
Jumping Jack Flash
It's Only Rock And Roll
Oh No It's Not You Again
Let's Spend The Night Together
Live With Me
Streets Of Love
Midnight Rambler
Tumblin' Dice
Slipping Away
Before They Make Me Run (Keith on vocals for these 2)
Miss You
Rough Justice
Start Me Up
Honky Tonk Woman (2nd stage)
Sympathy For The Devil
Paint It Black
Encore:
Brown Sugar
Can't Always Get What You Want
Satisfaction
Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as did the rest I suppose! I think I have already used the words brilliant and fantastic but the whole atmosphere was truly electric. In particular the encore (after a very short break, no longer than 5 mins) was stunning, and for a bunch of pensioners the Stones seemed to have boundless energy, Mick running from side to side & down the runway to 2nd stage & all just giving 110%. Especially enjoyed the 2nd stage set (which involved the band playing whilst the stage moved beneath them), apart from being much closer, the audience were even more enthused; also a chance to see Charlie Watts close up, could read the set list written on plastic screens (which presumably also act as a shield) around the drum kit. Sympathy had the stadium bathed in red & Satisfaction - well, just say there was a very large choir!
It still intrigues me, though how people (ie some in the cheap seats) sat down for the whole set?? That's not the point, even if it is an all seated event! No photos at the moment - I used up a whole film but still 35mm at the moment apart from a few grainy mobile phone shots (digi cam on the way...). Time now to give my ears a break!
To start from the beginning, we arrived at Gate 6 shortly before opening time - no queues! So it took no time to get in & find our (very well chosen by M) seats. Support band The Kooks came on promptly at 7, and that was probably the only really weak part of the night. Either extremely nervous, tired (from Reading festival) or both, they seemed a bit underwhelming, certainly compared to the hype and the last time we saw them. Set list as much as I could get: Seaside, See The World, Matchbox, Eddie's Gun, Ooh La La, She Moves In Her Own Way, Naive, Sofa Song, You Don't Love Me plus a few new songs mid-way through. All the Radio 2 listeners obviously recognised She Moves In Her Own Way, and there was a decent reaction from those already seated, but there was a bit of 'who are The Kooks' around the place.
The Stones took to the stage prompt at 8.30. Our seats were in the pitch seating section, and there was no chance of anyone remaining seated for the show there. I have read reviews about Stones concerts past, and although sometimes it's easy to ponder on why they bother etc, after the first song it was clear - this band can really put on a show! If they are this polished all the time then no wonder they're always in demand. Keith especially got a huge cheer for his 2 songs (set list below), and everyone (backing band included) appeared to be having a blast. Back to that seat selection - really good choice! We were a bit behind the halfway line, to the left of the 2nd stage runway, so a good clear view of the main stage. The 2nd stage was about 10m diagonally behind us as well - quality! Enormous stage set up itself as well. There were some 'on stage' seats part way up the rigging, apparently a few hundreds each (plus competition winners) as well. Fantastic light show, pyro and fireworks (but with a tour called A Bigger Bang I suppose that was obvious?!) plus massive screen behind the stage, sometimes showing old video footage eg for Lets Spend The Night Together. Even an inflatable Jagger pout whilst the 2nd stage was in play!
A few songs I wasn't familiar with but mostly a set of old time favourites (set list courtesy of Rolling Stones website):
Jumping Jack Flash
It's Only Rock And Roll
Oh No It's Not You Again
Let's Spend The Night Together
Live With Me
Streets Of Love
Midnight Rambler
Tumblin' Dice
Slipping Away
Before They Make Me Run (Keith on vocals for these 2)
Miss You
Rough Justice
Start Me Up
Honky Tonk Woman (2nd stage)
Sympathy For The Devil
Paint It Black
Encore:
Brown Sugar
Can't Always Get What You Want
Satisfaction
Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as did the rest I suppose! I think I have already used the words brilliant and fantastic but the whole atmosphere was truly electric. In particular the encore (after a very short break, no longer than 5 mins) was stunning, and for a bunch of pensioners the Stones seemed to have boundless energy, Mick running from side to side & down the runway to 2nd stage & all just giving 110%. Especially enjoyed the 2nd stage set (which involved the band playing whilst the stage moved beneath them), apart from being much closer, the audience were even more enthused; also a chance to see Charlie Watts close up, could read the set list written on plastic screens (which presumably also act as a shield) around the drum kit. Sympathy had the stadium bathed in red & Satisfaction - well, just say there was a very large choir!
It still intrigues me, though how people (ie some in the cheap seats) sat down for the whole set?? That's not the point, even if it is an all seated event! No photos at the moment - I used up a whole film but still 35mm at the moment apart from a few grainy mobile phone shots (digi cam on the way...). Time now to give my ears a break!
Comments