Thiery
Zirkus Krone, the show.... (long)
Thierry Joubaud
Hi again...
The lights went down, then off, and the house went... WILD.
Before the Stones hit the stage, heard a few words in German, probably by
the German promoter, whom we had seen some time before when he came to shake
hands with the Munich Nomenklatura who was apparently seating next to us (3
rows below, in the armairs section, we were on benches), and they started...
1. Jumping Jack Flash...
A couple of minutes before the lights went off, we could hear some guitar
chords that sounded like the opening of this song, and I had turned to
Mayumi, and we shared the impression that we could get the No Security
Opener first. This was a really great version, though the sound was not as
good as I hoped for the first two songs. It improved later but never was as
good as in the Joint for example (not to mention the incredible crisp sound
at the MGM arena, but I was front row there). Every body was on stage,
Blondie, Lisa, Bernard, Bobby and the 3 other horns. We didnt see/hear much
of them at the stadium show, but tonigh they'll be there for almost every
song.
2. Tumbling Dice.
I know some people on the list are getting tired of this song, but not me. I
love it and though this is probably not the best version I ever heard, it
was over the average.
3. All Down The Line.
From songs 1+2, I was alittle afraid to get a "normal", stadium style,
setlist, as I got at the Joint in november, their last theater gig, but this
was starting to be interesting. Great energy, specially from the horns (that
I dont like this tour - except Bobby of course), but I was a little
disappointed at Ronnie : his slide parts were not very inventive (though
competent), and he was way too high in the mix for these, as it will happen
all night.
4. Sweet Virginia.
Mick's guitar tech (cant ever remember his name) brought an acoustic guitar,
so I hoped we wouldnt hear Dont Stop, and they went into a very nice and
sweet version of Sweet Virginia. BTW, on friday (stadium) Mick played the
guitar on the whole Dont Stop, instead of playing only the start then
throwing his telecaster to his tech by the middle of this song. On SV
tonight, Mick was the only acoustic guitar (maybe Blondie backed offstage,
not sure, I was keeping my eyes on Mick and Keith). Nice version, though not
unforgettable, specially compared to my very best SV ever, Paris Olympia 95.
5. Worried About You.
Maybe the only surprise song (surprise to me) I had at the Joint in
november, when I saw the keyboards prepared for Mick, I hoped I would get
this song again. It worked, and that was a fantastic version. By the middle
of the song, Mick left the keyboard and Blondie jumped in his place to
continue the keyboard part until the end of the song. Again, a fantastic
version.
6. Stray Cat Blues.
This is probably THE song I heard being played in the tour that I did NOT
want to miss. One of my favourite songs on my cofavourite album (The YaYa's
version). I was soooooo excited ! Very different of course from Yaya's,
still an incredible song. I'm not sure I understand the girl's age, I think
it was fourteen, but maybe thirteen year's old. And Darryl.............. wow
! Bill can sleep well, they dont need another bass player than Darryl(
though I love Bill!)
7. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
Mick introduced the song in english, saying that they hadnt come in this
place for many many many years ago (so many, he said he wasnt even born then
!) and that they used to start their concert with this song then. Per-fect
version. I'm in love with this song now.
8. Dance Part 1
Also intriduced by Mick with a couple of sentences I did not really
understand, but I got the title right. This was fortunate, as I dont think I
have ever hear it before, though I know it is on one of the many albums I
never bothered to buy. Well, maybe I'll change my mind and try to find it
soon...
9. That's How Strong...
Another song I had never heard before, but it is easy to understand the
title of the song from the lyrics sung by Mick ;-)
And I also LOVE this song now. It was clearly Mick's night tonight, he was
everywhere all the time.
10. Going To A Go Go.
Surprises (for me at least) after surprises, tonight, the stones were a Soul
Band. I really thought very few people would believe this setlist was true.
But it was. Another absolutely perfect version to me. I always liked this
song, as I do with Harlem Shuffle which is very comparable for me.
Band Introductions
Usual stuff at the start (Bobby getting a great ovation, Lisa too), the
crowd went wild when it was time for Charlie. So wild Mick could not
introduce Keith for over a minute, so he got to Charlie's stand and put the
microphone in his hand and *insisted* for him to say a few words, which HE
DID ! I didnt really understand what he said, some people told me later it
was something like "Good Evening Munich", not very inventive, but CHARLIE
SPEAKS ! So the crowd went even wilder and Mick introduced Keith before the
shoutings for Charlie had ended. So Keith got very little response for his
own introduction, which he didnt seem to mind actually.
11. The Nearness Of You
First measures from this song, I didnt recognize, so I thought it might have
been "Loosing My touch", but it was not. I had never heard that song
(Nearness) before, but Keith was so nice when he played and sung with all
his heart. Beautiful, wonderful song, and crazy setlist so far.
12. BTMMR
Good, great version. I love this song on the studio album, and I love this
song live, though they are soooooooo different.
13. IORR
seond song (after That's How Strong...) without backing vocals, second song
(after Worried) without horns. Great version, we're back to the warhorses,
but it is good also.
14. CYMHK
Well, wrong guess, not a war horse ! Bobby's harmonica solo was sooooo long
(but I loved every second of it), then followed by the best harmonica solo
by Mick I ever heard. He really drove the song and the crowd during the
whole solo, going so quiet by moments, and then totally wild at others.
Ronnie's solo was not as good as usual this time, though, but overall, the
best version I heard so far.
15. Honky Tonk Woman
I never ever can get tired of this song. Fantastic version. This is Keith's
time now.
16. Start Me Up
Another great version of another great song. The band is totally relaxed,
and still rocking 101%
17. Brown Sugar.
The only thing I dont like about BS is that when it gets played after half
show, it always means it is the last song... Full Throttle ahead,
devastating version. Punk style :-) The band leaves the stage and the crowd
is exhausted band too, probably) but keeps on shouting after an encore... My
son predicts Satisfaction, and he might be right, but I still hope one last
surprise in a theater...
18. (encore) Can't Turn You Loose
Probably, to me, the best Encore idea. Incredible ending : they restart the
final phrase (which is ong) and the finale, then stop again. The horns and
the backing vocalists step back to get ready for the final bow, and Charlie
wants some more, so he launches the beat again, and everybody gets back into
a last chorus, including Mick, who is apparently *very* surprised and very
amused at Charlie's intitiative...
Then it's all over, everybody in awe goes back to the freshness of the
outside (well, it was stille way over 25C/77F outside at midnight, but
sooooooo hot inside). Now it is party time at the GlimmerHotel Bar :-)))
Considering everything, this was my 25th show since 1976, certainly the one
where the band was having the biggest fun onstage, certainly the very best
setlist I ever got. Maybe not the very best show, as I doubt any show can
top Toronto skydome 98 or Paris Olympia 95, but better than any other show I
went to.
Sorry for the long post :-)
Keep on rockin'...
Thierry.
-
It's only rock 'n roll, but we like it. Yes we do.
Zirkus Krone preshow... (long)
Hi y'all...
Just got back a couple of hours ago from the most incredible Stones show I
ever experienced.
Before the show, on saturday morning, we got there to get our tickets and
wristbands (usual paper wristbands for this tour, this time they were green,
and yes, they can stand a night sleep and a couple of showers without any
problem).
I was with my son Francois-Xavier (15, his first theater show, but he had
been to Werchter and Stade de France in 98, and UC voted for Love In Vain at
Werchter just because he had asked for it, some of you must remember), and
Thomas and his surprise guest from Japan, the VIP Mayumi were coming with
us.
In the case of Mayumi, everyone including herself agreed that VIP meant Very
Insane Person, to travel such a long way for only one show. But the next day
proved that she got what she deserved, a fantastic show.
I was still carrying my camera, and at one moment, I asked a security guy if
I could go beyong the fences to take a picture of the Stones poster that was
hanging in a gold traditional circus style place. He replied that it was not
possible, and another security person asked him what I was asking for. He
said to this second person something in German that I did not understand
(though I heard "foto" in his sentence), and the second security person
turned to me and said in english "well, after all, why not, follow me". So I
followed him, and expected to walk 15 or 20 feet outside the building but
inside the fences to get a good shot at the poster... but this person took
me *inside* the Circus right to the stage itself ! Sometimes it is good not
to speak the local language :-)
So I took 4 or 5 pics of the stage and the room, where nothing was prepared
yet, but it was a great feeling to get inside before everybody, and soon
after, many people were circling my camera's digital screen to see where
they would stand the next evening :-)
After meeting a lot of people around the Zirkus/Cirkus Krone we had already
seen in previous shows/tours, we headed up to a BierGarten close to the
venue, were we spent a couple of hours talking and testing beers, then went
to the old (touristic) part of Munich. Strange how we saw many people with
Stones tshirts who had apparently suffered from accidents on hteir right
forearm and had to carry bandages that covered their wrists, or who had long
sleeve shirts in this wonderful 320C (900F) weather...
Later, we got together with some German Glimmers (Johannes, Axel, Thomas,
"the other Dirk" and some others) to the GlimmerBar in the Schwabing
district, where the soundtrack was 100% ontopic, and tested a few more
beers, spending a wonderful evening together. The vast majority of the
people in this bar had the green wristband and wearing beautiful smiles on
their faces. I really LOVE GlimmerBar preshow atmosphere, it is something
worth the trip in itself, sometimes more than the shows themselves.
On sunday morning, breakfast at the GlimmerHotel had a slightly different
touch. Things were starting to build up.
Havong reserved seats, I didnt want to spend the whole day queueing, so I
went with my son to visit Munich and its surroundings, and we finally
arrived at the Cirkuswhen the gates were supposed to have already opened.
Met a lot more people I already knew (Hi Filstan...) and joined Mayumi and
Thomas in the line.
Soon, we got into the venue and explored the merchandise shop. They had a
special teeshirt for this concert only, were the tongue is replaced by a
fac-simile of a ticket. Not beautiful, not original, but it just means you
were inside, though they had some for sale outside too in the morning.
BTW, they also had a special Munich tshirt, with a german flag tongue in the
front and the usual 3 venues in the back, and they do sell the stones
lanyard with a laminate with the triple tongue and the list of the cities,
for 10 euros (so Ego, you dont have to ttry to get one for me now :-))) )
Temperature was incredibly hot inside the Cirkus. Smoking was prohibited but
most security guys and policemen (yeah, lots of policemen inside too, talked
with one in the men's room, he said it was great to get paid to go to a
concert like this !) were chain-smoking so enforcement was quite weak...
Our seats were on Keith's side, at about 4 o'clock if you consider the stage
being at 12, and 7 rows from the top. This would be considered nosebleed in
a stadium, but this circus is so small, and there is no bad seat in a
circus. We had a perfect view of the stage and it was an glimmer row as many
others were near us on the same row.
The mystery opener (never announced on any poster) was Keziah Jones. I'm not
sure I had ever heard him before, except a couple of weeks ago in an
interview on the French National radio, where he didnt say a word about the
Stones then. His set was good and interesting, but most of all, it was short
! got on stage at 8:06, got out at 8:38 :-) The Stones were supposed to hit
the stage at 9:15, but it took a little longer. Saw Jim Callahan a few
times, he seems in great physical condition though he looks a few years
older than earlier this tour with a short haircut.
Next post : the show.
Keep on rockin'...
Thierry.
-
It's only rock 'n roll, but we like it. Yes we do.