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Concert Thu Oct 12 2006
Mini Review: Rolling Stones at Soldier Field
I guess the weather was a blessing and a curse. For the fans who showed up to watch the Rolling Stones rock Soldier Field on their last (scheduled) Chicago visit of the Bigger Bang Tour, and for the band themselves, temperatures dropping into the upper 30's and a brisk lake shore wind complicated things. On the positive side, tepid ticket sales and over speculation seems to have created a buyer's market for tickets, enabling poor fans like myself to land tickets for small fractions of face value. For the band's part, they kept a stiff upper lip, and soldiered through new songs and hits with the aid of radiant heaters and tubes blowing hot air. Opening with a strong "You Got Me Rocking", Jagger lept into action wearing a silver trenchcoat and matching hat. The rest of the band looked like they had just gotten done picking up cold weather gear at a Ramones yard sale, with leather jackets and scarves. Early set highlights included a decent "Monkey Man" and Mick announcing a new song "She Was Hot". Mid show, the extravagant six story high staging came into play as Charlie Watts' drum riser was pushed onto a traveling section which slowly cruised to mid-field as the band launched into more "retro" selections including "Under My Thumb" and a spirited "Rough Justice". The traveling section made its way back to the main stage, and the band concluded the show with a classic triumvirate of "Sympathy for the Devil", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", and a stellar "Satisfaction". The band hustled back on for a quick "Brown Sugar" and departed to a fireworks show, no doubt thankful that their remaining US dates involve temperate climates or indoor venues.
