Rolling Stones give a phenomenal experience

Thank goodness I remember all of the songs. The Rolling Stones performed at the United Center to a packed house in concert 2 or 3 that are planned. The 3rd and final Chicago performance of the Rolling Stones "50 & Counting the Rolling Stones Live" Tour is Monday. Each concert brings predictions that "this will be the last time." (Couldn't resist that, folks, sorry.)

I took my son Aaron, who is 12 years old, but plays the drums and knows all of the Stones' songs. He also knows songs from Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and both more from my generation and his generation, bands and groups that sound familiar but I couldn't tell you anything about.

My first concert was in 1968 to see Jimi Hendrix at the Auditorium in downtown Chicago. It was just a great band on a small stage. But today's concerts have followed Hollywood with big productions, and spectacular sound and sight effects for the audience. The Stones' stage was impressive. But we are in the presence of greatness. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts. They were accompanied also by Bobbie Keys, Keith's saxophone pal and Chicago local Darryl Jones who played the bass guitar. Lisa Fischer offered vocals support.

The stage was set up with a screen backdrop where live videos of the performances were projected during the show. The clarity is amazing with today's technology. Not fuzzy at all. Surrounded above and below with what looked like plush lips. The stage was extended with a mosh pit where 200 diehard fans paid to stand during the performance, and then behind that was the main floor, and the seating around it at the Black Hawks stadium at the United Center. The performers had a runway where they could dance and sing that circled the mosh pit.

We sat in a section immediately to the side and front of the stage, row 12. They are the absolute best seats in the house. You are right up close, not too low to the floor looking up, and close enough to actually see the performers' faces. The huge speakers boomed the music, almost to ear ringing trauma. In 1999 when I saw the Stones with my wife, Alison, we were in the 2nd level a few sections further back. It was a great show then, too, probably better when it came to performing the music. 

The performance was phenomenal. So memorable. Well worth the tickets which went for as much as $1,200 in some sections. But I couldn't help to notice that the music wasn't always right. In his book "Life," which I have on audio book and almost finished (3 long segments over 20 hours or so), Richards notes that many of their songs are hard to perform correctly live. They were constructed in studios. He also uses both a traditional guitar string setting and the so-called "Open G, 5 string" setting on some guitars which are necessary to play several songs.

All concert music is loud and it must be challenging even with today's technology to be able to listen to it and play it perfectly while performing and jumping and dancing all over the stage. And Mick Jagger is a mover. He never stands still. 

But he was so close. It was clear though that Jagger and Richards still have not overcome their differences. The two are the foundation of the group but in the past decade they have had a few falling outs. Jagger was upset with Richards' book which left no rumor about any of the band's members, living or deceased, unturned or explained.

During the performance, Jagger and Richards seemed to keep their distance. In contrast Jagger and Richards individually would saddle up to Ronnie Wood and put their arms around him and jam with him. But Jagger stayed away from Richards. It's too bad because it was noticeable and also impacted the perfection in the sound. It just wasn't there.

The United Center is a great place to enjoy a concert. The stage crew had to put up the stage and take it down each day so the Black Hawks can continue their play-off games. Jagger took a moment to wish them luck.

The majority of the audience were old headbangers. Lots of old people (my age and older). Lots of old women dressed they were still in high school, but crinkled. The crinkly look just didn't make it, although if they were enjoying themselves, who am I to complain? A few of them were smoking pop, passing doogies back and forth right in front of where Aaron and I sat. The smell of marijuana was noticeable but not that strong. But my son did complain about it. (After the show, he did ask me to stop at White Castles to order some sliders and chicken rings. I remember those days back int he 1960s and 1970s and chuckled.)

The worst part of it all is the cost. The section where we sat was $1,200 per person. How do people afford it? I know that prices and costs have skyrocketed for everyone, including talented minstrels. But stil, it was hefty.

Our ears were ringing after we left. The concert was amazing. I hope you enjoy the pictures and some of the videos to give you a taste of the concert.

I wish the Stones 50 more years of health and life and success and I hope they continue to make some great music. They played a lot of my favorite songs, Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Woman, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Sympathy for the Devil, and some of their earlier songs from the 1960s.

Most importantly, it was a great bonding night with my son, great seats, air wafting with dope. Music so loud our ears were popping. The concert was 90 minutes late starting. You could barely recognize the music. And the drive home through some tough, depressed Chicago neighborhoods keep us alert.

-- Ray Hanania