OK, it’s true. I blew off Watershed to see the Stones. The guys in Watershed are still young (relatively), and they’ll probably play again. With the Stones, you never know. Yeah, they’ve been saying that since the 90’s, but shit, they’re in their 80’s. No one lives forever.

So we hopped in the car and drove to Cleveburg for the show at Cleveland Stadium.. Another town that rolls up the streets at 10 pm, even when the Stones are in town. Try to get a beer after the show downtown. Good luck. But I digress.  

We got to our seats in plenty of time to see the crowd roll in.  I kind of smirked when I found out that AARP is sponsoring the tour, but I gotta tell ya, I’ve never seen so many people with canes at a rock show. The Times, they are a changin’.

Anyway, they came out smokin’ - or so I thought for a minute - with “Start Me Up,” the standard opener for a couple of tours now. It was good musically, but Mick is just singing half lines, in a monotone. C’mon Mick, make me believe it! I guess he’s saving his voice for a long show. the same was evident for the next two songs. Somebody fucked up the intro to “It’s Only Rock & Roll” and Mick looked back at Keith & Ronnie (and drummer Steve Jordan) with that look that an LV (lead vocalist, for those that don’t know) usually gives the drummer when somebody fucks up. I’ve been the recipient of that look more than a few times, and it doesn’t matter who fucks up, the drummer always gets “the look.”

On to “Angry,” the first new song of the set. Finally Mick is singing. Better make the new ones sound good, right Mick? Ronnie & Keith are finally churning out some good funky rhythm. On to “Heartbreaker,” which was OK. Kyle from our local Columbus record store Lost Weekend texted me that they played “Monkey Man” three times during sound-check. I was excited about hearing it, since I haven’t heard them play it live since probably the ‘90’s, or maybe the ‘80’s. Well, I don’t know if they changed the key or what, but Mick sang it in a lower register, which takes ALL the life out of the song. If you’re not gonna sing it like you mean it, leave it off the set-list is all I’m gonna say.

“Whole Wide World” was next, and to be honest, I don’t even remember it.

Finally, “Tumbling Dice”! Now we’re gettin’ somewhere. This warhorse never fails to satisfy. The Stones at their best.  This ain’t no click track, backing tape song. This is pure Stones swagger. If this tune doesn’t make you shake your ass, well, you’re dead.

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was next, and it was good, but it brings me to my first comment on Steve Jordan. Charlie Watts said, if there was anyone that could replace him, it was Steve. He’s undoubtedly right, but Steve ain’t Charlie. The fills on the chorus did not take the song to where Charlie took it. Charlie made you believe it, Steve just takes the song from point A to point B. I guess it’s OK, but it just made me miss Charlie that much more.

Keith’s set piece was next, and it was the highlight of the show for me. First “Tell Me Straight,” the newest of Keith’s Mel Torme/Frank Sinatra late-night barroom ballads. It was pretty good, as Keith at least makes you feel his melancholy with his vocal. Ricki C and I have had many a conversation over Mick’s comment that “It’s the singer, not the song.” (He disagrees, by the way.) But Keith makes me believe it. I just wish Mick would make me believe it, too. “Little T & A” and “Happy” rounded out his set, and it was exactly why the Stones are so great. They were spectacular! For those who think Keith has lost a step in the last few years, you should go Fuck Yourself, because Keith STILL embodies everything I hold sacred in my Rock & Roll Religion. He still sings and plays like the demon he is.

“Sympathy For The Devil,” “Honky Tonk Woman,” “Miss You,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Paint It Black,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” rounded out the set, and they were great.

“Satisfaction” was the encore, as usual, and the Stones didn’t miss a step. Kudos to Steve Jordan on this one, because he actually plays it correctly. Just driving, all the way through. I can’t tell you how many cover bands I’ve seen play this, and they always want to add the tambourine triplet in the drum break. Leave that the fuck out! It was a studio overdub, and Charlie never played it live. He just DROVE IT, the way it should be.

Another Stones show in the books. It’s number 18 or 20 for me. Seen every tour since ‘72. Was it the best Stones show ever? Not even close. Will it ever be the same without Charlie? Nope, it will never be the same, but it WILL be pretty good. Would I drive 200 miles and spend $500 for a ticket again? Fuck yeah, it’s the Stones, man!

Jim Johnson is a drummer-extraordinaire who has driven a number of Willie Phoenix’s bands from The Shadowlords to The Soul Underground, and played with Colin Gawel in The League Bowlers. His most recent drumming stints have been with Kim Crawford’s 10 Ahead and The Beatdowns.

Jim will play the Gazebo Stage at Comfest with Willie Phoenix (and Colin) Friday, June 28th, at 9:55 pm and with The Beatdowns Sunday, the 30th at noon.