Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs live at Perth Arena. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images Source: Getty Images
THE Rolling Stones bid adieu to loyal Perth fans with an electric two-hour long performance at Perth Arena last night.
The legendary rockers pulled out all stops as they performed the second and final Perth show on their national 14 on Fire Tour.
Aware this is likely the last time the Stones will perform in WA – fans lapped up every moment. From the opening chords of Jumpin’ Jack Flash the exuberant and enthusiastic audience, many of whom were there for a second time, were on their feet clapping and dancing along.
The band, who played their first Perth show in 20 years on Wednesday night, made a few subtle changes to the set list.
Fans who attended both shows may argue for the next 20 years as to which was better. But for my money the inclusion of You Got Me Rocking, Loving Cup (by request), All Down the Line, Before They Make Me Run and the grooving Happy, upped the ante.
ROLLING STONES ROCK PERTH
Far from appearing tired and weary, the Stones – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts – were impressively fresh, energetic and enthusiastic. This was not merely a band going through the motions, but a group of rock n roll diehards doing what they love with passion and aplomb.
Jagger strutted his stuff like a cocksure rooster. The 71-year-old’s energy was boundless as he whipped out his signature moves. At times he looked like a man being attacked by a swarm of invisible bees as his limbs splayed wildly in every direction.
Occasionally he struggled to keep his trousers in place – does he raid the kids stores for a belt that small? – as he swivelled his impossibly slim hips in time to the music.
Richards had his guitar turned up to ten nowhere more so than when he burst in on Sympathy for the Devil.
“Move over Mick,” he seemed to say with a cheeky smile.
The Rolling Stones perform at Perth Arena. Source: News Corp Australia
For his own segment of the show he changed things up from Wednesday playing Before They Make Me Run and the crowd-pleasing Happy. He called an abrupt halt to the latter with an apologetic smile, “wait wrong intro”, he said, before turning to Wood and asking, “how does it go again?”. Wood responded with a knowing smile.
Watts is the reticent cool cat of the band - remaining calm and collected throughout. He never wavered and kept everything tight, even when things got a little loose around him.
As for Wood, well he still looks like the cat who got the cream. He’s living the dream and lapping up every moment. At times his rock star gestures and flourishes came across as slightly cartoonish.
Indeed there’s something a bit surreal about seeing all of these larger than life characters in the flesh. At times the foursome, who having survived every rock n roll cliche and still have the audacity to be strutting their stuff in their 60s and 70s, appeared like familiar caricatures.
The show gained momentum as the night went on, picking up speed with audience favourite Honky Tonk Women.
Other highlights included old-school gem Midnight Rambler featuring former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor on guitar, and the epic Gimme Shelter which saw backing singer Lisa Fischer trading vocal blows with Jagger.
The set wrapped up with Start Me Up, Sympathy for the Devil and the groovy Brown Sugar, before the one-two encore sucker punch of You Can’t Always Get What You Want and (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
We may have waited a long time to see the Stones in action, and will probably never get the chance again, but who will forget how great they were when they finally did come.
It’s only rock n roll, but we loved it.
Originally published as Stones deliver Perth swan song
