The Stones Roll On At Gillette Stadium

The Rolling Stones: Photo by John V

If the audience had any doubts about Mick Jagger's superhuman stamina before The Rolling Stones took the stage on July 7 at Gillette Stadium, they were quickly dispelled as the ageless rocker and his bandmates ripped through a fantastic version of "Street Fighting Man" to kick off the evening. The concert, along with the rest of the dates on the band's "No Filter" tour, had been rescheduled due to Jagger's recent heart valve surgery. There were clearly no ill effects from the procedure, as the frontman led the group through a two hour set of Stones classics. The agile Jagger, who sounded great, careened around the stage, drawing on a seemingly endless supply of energy. The set list was a mix of crowd-pleasers like "It's Only Rock and Roll" and "Honky Tonk Women" mixed with a few deeper cuts like "Play With Fire," which Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Charlie Watts performed on a mini stage, along with a terrific version of "Dead Flowers."

Opening act Gary Clark, Jr. (who kicked off the night with a blistering set of guitar-based rock, funk and soul) joined the band for a knockout cover of the Eddie Taylor blues number "Ride 'Em on Down," which featured some awesome harmonica work from Jagger, who clearly knows how to work a room, and a stadium. The roster of audience sing-along favorites also included a soaring rendition of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and an eerie, menacing take on "Sympathy For The Devil" which was enhanced by the evening's natural light. The band was extraordinary, with the guitar work of Richards and Wood sounding as gritty and formidable as ever, along with Charlie Watt's indispensable drums. Long-time bassist Darryl Jones was marvelous, as always, and the indomitable Chuck Leavell, another veteran member of the band, was also on hand to provide some amazing keyboards.

Keith Richards took center stage for his turn on lead vocals, performing a soulful version of "Slipping Away" and a rip-roaring run through of "Before They Make Me Run." Then Mick returned for the incredible final third of the show, featuring a dance-along version of "Miss You," a brooding "Paint It Black" and an epic, darkly thrilling take on "Midnight Rambler." Then it was back to the hits for "Start Me Up," and "Jumping Jack Flash" before the show proper closed with "Brown Sugar." The band then returned for the encore: a stunning version of "Gimme Shelter," which featured singer Sasha Allen's remarkable vocal byplay with Jagger, as she slinked and strutted around the stage with him during the performance. Finally, it was time to close out the night with a tasty version of "Satisfaction." It was the perfect song to end the concert. The enthusiastic crowd had been in the palm of Jagger's hand all night. He truly made it all seem effortless, and that never-ending supply of charisma just kept on flowing. The band's seemingly loose, yet tight as a drum chemistry was also much in evidence.

The Stones always seem to find the right balance between giving the audience what they want in terms of a live performance, while still allowing themselves some room to jam a bit, and have fun with the music. That they still love playing these songs together is clearly evident. You only needed to take a look at the wide grins on Richard's' and Wood's faces throughout the night (as well the palpable joy emanating from the rest of the band) to feel the bond between them. That positive energy is absolutely infectious. This is not a band that's going through the motions. I've seen them several times over the years, and they never fail to put on an entertaining show. The Rolling Stones are still one of the greatest live bands out there. If you have a chance to get out to one of the remaining dates on the tour, go for it. You will not be disappointed. You can get more info at https://www.rollingstones.com.