Wednesday night (June 3, 2015) I went to see The Rolling Stones! Yes, Mick, Keith, Charlie, and Ronnie aka that group of 70 year olds were on their ZIP CODE tour. As I was still at work when the concert started, I took an hour of vacation to leave early and missed the opening act Grace Potter (who I heard did a good job), but as The Stones did not were not scheduled to play until 9:15pm it was fine that I arrived late. As I was walking to the TCF Bank Stadium (the UMN still charges students a ‘stadium fee’ of $12.50 per semester per student to pay for the construction and debt of the stadium which sits empty most of the year), it was jam packed on the streets and inside the stadium and you could barely move (despite it being super crowded I did run into a friend also attending the concert- hi Keely!). The Stones started at 9:20pm and began with Jumping Jack Flash, my favorite song and really, how can you hear that song and not think of Whoopi Goldberg? They talked just a little bit and continued to play songs from their Sticky Fingers album, which was just re-released. They gave a good concert, but really its just Mick that moves around and performs. The others just kind of stand there and at times you wonder if they even know what was going on. Keith talked to the audience and while he plays and sings great, when he is talking to the audience I wondered what language he was speaking, as it was not English. So a good concert, but considering all the police and security and the fact that they searched everyone entering the stadium, it was amazing the amount of illegal booze, cigarettes (smoking is not allowed on camps or in the stadium), marijuana, falling down drunks, and various other things going on that the police and TCF Stadium security chose to ignored. A real sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll Rolling Stones concert I guess. I left a little early to avoid the herds of drunk drivers and saw people in lawn chairs sitting outside the stadium enjoying the music for free and even at my parking spot, I still could hear the concert. So if you cannot get concert tickets, the next best thing is to sit outside the stadium for free and listen.
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones – TCF Bank Stadium – June 3, 2015 at 8:00 PM
A nice pre-concert article from The Current:
“We are excited to be back in North America playing stadiums this summer! We are looking forward to being back on stage and playing your favorite songs.” – Mick Jagger
“We love being out on the road and it is great to come back to North America! I can’t wait to get back on the stage!” – Keith Richards
The Rolling Stones ZIP CODE tour will see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood head back out on the road after their critically-acclaimed 14 ON FIRE tour in Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 2014. The iconic band will treat their generations of fans to special one night only shows, with a set packed full of classic Stones hits such as “Gimme Shelter”, “Paint It Black”, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, “Tumbling Dice” and “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll”, as well as special gems from their extraordinary catalog.
The Rolling Stones ZIP CODE tour will be the first time the rock legends have played North American stadiums since 2005-2007’s “A Bigger Bang Tour.”
The stage design for the stadium shows includes a thrust that extends deep into the audience allowing the Stones to interact directly with their fans. Known for their ground-breaking sets and use of cutting-edge technology, the Stones’ set design will feature video screens and special effects that will enhance the high-octane experience of attending a live Stones’ show.
The tour will also coincide with the Rolling Stones re-release of Sticky Fingers on May 26 by Universal Music. Sticky Fingers, one of the most revered albums from the Rolling Stones, is set to enthrall a new generation of fans in 2015. The 1971 classic features timeless tracks such as “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” “Bitch” and “Dead Flowers.” Sticky Fingers 2015, with its iconic zip cover, will be unveiled in a variety of formats. The deluxe editions include a generous selection of previously unreleased Stones studio outtakes from the Sticky Fingers sessions and stunning live performances from that time. These sought after tracks have never been available until this release.
Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Olympic Studios in London, and produced by regular confidant Jimmy Miller, Sticky Fingers was released just before the Stones became tax exiles in the south of France, leaving Britain after a sensational farewell tour. It also featured some of the most ground breaking design in rock history, with its famous working zip on the front cover and artwork by Andy” (http://www.thecurrent.org/events/2015/06/03/1036/the-rolling-stones-zip-code-tour/).
The setlist:
Encore:
