Almanac Music: The Rolling Stones @ JazzFest 2024

 

 

 

The Off The Record New Orleans 2024 Tour: The Rolling Stones

 

 

Part of the 45,000 strong crowd

 

It did not take long for The Rolling Stones to  start everyone up and provide plenty of satisfaction to the sell out crowd at JazzFest in New Orleans last week. With admittance on the day limited to forty five thousand it was still everyone one for themselves to claim their square metre of standing space when the gates opened.

 

The Stones commenced playing a few minutes after 5pm. For many it was a long wait. Some of the Off The Record New Orleans 2024 Tour group arrived early at  9am to be at the head of the queue to claim a spot close to the stage. Even then the queue was extremely long – the length of the street and more! I relied on my theory that being short would create some possible sympathy from the crowd to allow a senior citizen to make his way through to the front – thankfully that was not necessary as I was able to claim a very good position!

 

Having claimed my spot meant I was committed to that spot and could not leave or it was immediately claimed. With plenty of fluids and food in my bag I was set for the day. My only concern was if I required a pit stop, thankfully the bladder held on!

 

With two acts before the Stones I settled down on my small selection of lush grass to be entertained firstly by Samantha Fish, now a New Orleans’ local, and secondly, Dumpstaphunk including New Orleans royalty Ivan Neville and other related Nevilles.

 

It was evident from the audience responses to Samantha Fish that she has a huge following. She was very good, a ripping guitarist but I thought she was very indulgent with her playing and not my cup of tea. 

 

Dumpstaphunk play that funky style of music New Orleans is renowned for. It is very infectious music and difficult to remain still while it is being played. Even my 73yo legs and hips managed to groove along with the rhythms!

 

Then it was time for the Stones!

 

 

 

 

After waiting for hours it was such a relief to hear the opening bars of ‘Start Me Up’ and to see Mick prance forward to the front of the extended stage in his usual style albeit a little slower and less emphatically than one would expect – but hey, the man is 80yo! However it didn’t take Mick long to fire up and was soon bouncing around the stage with the normal enthusiasm and panache we expect from him.

 

Next, two crackers from the 60s had oldies like me gleefully singing along; first ‘Get Off My Cloud’ then one of my all time favourites, ‘Out Of Time’. I was shattered at the end of the song when I realised I had not pressed start for the video on my phone. I’m sure it will pop up somewhere on social media.

 

Three songs in my voice was soon a little hoarse. I took pity on my neighbours and withdrew my singing for the time being.

 

During his opening comments after the first song Mick gave a serve to the newly elected Republican Governor of Louisiana for introducing draconian measures taking the state back to the ‘stone age’ brought a cheer of approval from most of the crowd though many would have silently booed. 

 

 

 

 

Talking of booing, apparently Keith was booed by the crowd near the front of the stage when he stepped forward to sing. Although he fluffed some lines you just don’t boo Keith Richards, the same as you don’t boo Bob Dylan. Perhaps Keith was not quite up to scratch on the night for it was noticeable, certainly early, that Ronnie Wood played many of the riffs usually associated with Keith. Some forget both Mick and Keith are in their 80s. Apart from these minor aberrations Keith indeed was still the musical driving force behind the group.

 

 

 

 

After a few songs Mick was on fire, dancing and shimmering all over the stage, never still for one moment. He is a master at whipping up enthusiasm from the crowd and certainly was in top form doing so, not that we needed any encouragement. And he played guitar for a few songs.

 

With special New Orleans guests Irma Thomas and Dwayne Dopsie adding some local flavour to a couple of songs, their reception on stage was eagerly acknowledged by the audience.

 

 

 

 

Mick related the story of how the Stones came to record ‘Last Time’ after hearing Irma’s version and invited her to the stage, for the first time, to sing the song with the Stones. It was a delight to see two legends singing together, and obviously both were in awe of each other.

 

 

 

 

Dwayne Dopsie added his vibrant zydeco accordion playing to ‘Let It Bleed’ with great effect adding an extra dimension to the song.

 

Many classic hits of the Stones from the 60s and 70s were a feature of the concert, songs from my younger days that relived for me, and reminded me, of special times as only certain songs can do. Stirring renditions of ‘Honky Tonk Women’ and “Paint It Black’ were prime examples of the song writing ability of Jagger/Richards to generate such great pop songs that still stand the test of time today.

 

 

‘Paint It Black’  (Vid: Bernie Swinkels)

 

 

Gauging by the crowd reactions, ’Jumping Jack Flash’ and ‘Gimme Shelter” were probably the highlights of the night. Everyone knew the lyrics, everyone sang along creating a sense of community, we were one, these were our songs and they belonged to us and nobody was going to take them away from us. That is until Keith’s opening riff from ‘… Satisfaction’ screamed from the speakers raising everyone to another level of ecstatic response. Keith and Mick had everyone in the palm of their hands … and we sang, and we sang, as loud as we could and then it was all over.

 

 

‘(I Can Get No) Satisfaction’

 

 

It is incredible to acknowledge that a group of ageing musicians, some in their 80s can still hold an audience of forty-five thousand in the palm of their hands and have them crying out for more.

 

 

 

 

Set list prepared by Ronnie Wood

 

We can’t always get what we want but Mick and the boys all left us complete with satisfaction knowing The Rolling Stones will never go out of time.

 

The strong whisper is the Stones will be in Australia next year, and probably for the last time, so if they do  tour, don’t miss them, you will not be disappointed.

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

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