Five star Satisfaction from the Stones
CONCERT
The Rolling Stones
Perth Arena
Wednesday, October 29
REVIEW SIMON COLLINS
5 stars
On October 29, 1964, the Rolling Stones played a short set of Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Muddy Waters songs at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California.
Exactly 50 years later and the world's greatest cover band are still at it, albeit playing their own catalogue of rock classics.
After rescheduling the 14 On Fire tour the day it was supposed to start in March, when Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott died, the Stones were finally back in Perth.
The anticipation at Perth Arena on Wednesday was as heavy as the lines at the merchandise stands were long.
A deep tribal beat heralded their arrival and hinted at the unprecedented six decades of rock'n'roll history about to crash down on the arena's massive stage.
As Keith Richards tore out the stuttering opening riffs of Start Me Up, relief washed over many in the 13,500-strong audience and, for many first-timers, a palpable sense of occasion.
The greatest rock'n'roll band of all time were here. In Perth. Rocking.
Mick Jagger worked the crowd, gyrating and strutting and pouting and pointing. "We first came here in 1965, we played the Capitol Theatre," the skinny frontman cackled. "I don't know if any of you were there - I doubt it."
Pirate king Richards starred on the bluesy You Got the Silver and weak Steel Wheels number Can't Be Seen. Fellow guitarist Ronnie Wood lurked alongside, pulling riffs and faces in equal measure.
Imperturbable drummer Charlie Watts could've been mentally rearranging his vinyl jazz collection but was tighter than Jagger is with money.
The touring line-up was the same one that played Perry Lakes Stadium in 1995 - besides ill saxophonist Bobby Keys. Californian Karl Denson filled in, blowing hot and cool on Brown Sugar, which ended the main set and had fans dancing in the aisles.
All great musicians in their own right, the touring line-up featured keyboardist Chuck Leavell and backing singers Bernard Fowler and Lisa Fischer. Her towering vocals alongside Jagger on Gimme Shelter sent tingles up the spine before bringing the house down. Incredible.
Bassist Darryl Jones drove the louche Miss You, the cigarette dangling off Wood's bottom lip only enhanced the Some Girls disco-rock ripper's sleazy vibe.
Old-school fans loved Midnight Rambler, an epic blues-rock jam starring Mick Taylor, a Stone from 1969-74 and a guest on this tour.
Jagger donned a long-feathered red and black robe for Sympathy for the Devil, the crowd singing the "woo-woo" refrain as the frontman proved that no one moves like him.
The 19-song set differed slightly from their first Aussie date in Adelaide on Saturday and featured riff-laden classics such as Honky Tonk Women, Jumpin' Jack Flash and a fantastic Tumbling Dice.
Local choir the Giovanni Consort sang the gorgeous gospel opening to You Can't Always Get What You Want. The encore spun into a frenetic mess before the all-time great riffs from (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction brought the show home.
The Rolling Stones were occasionally rough around the edges, which added to their charm and authenticity. Occasionally, the famous characters on stage seemed surreal, almost cartoonish.
More than half a century since a bunch of English teenagers set out to explore their love of American rhythm and blues, the lads are still on that trip - albeit with wrinkles, casualties and war stories. One for the ages.
THE SET LIST
Start Me Up
Get Off of My Cloud
It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll (But I Like It)
Tumbling Dice
Worried About You
Doom and Gloom
Bitch (by request)
Out of Control
Honky Tonk Women
You Got the Silver
Can’t Be Seen
Midnight Rambler
Miss You
Gimme Shelter
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Sympathy for the Devil
Brown Sugar
ENCORE
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
