The Stones open 40th anniversary tour tonight in Boston without even the pretense of a new album to promote:

As they launch their 40th anniversary U.S. tour — beginning Tuesday in Boston — the Stones are out to prove that age is no obstacle. So what if newly-knighted Mick Jagger is 59, and the two other original Stones, Keith Richards and drummer Charlie Watts, are 58 and 61, respectively?

The 25-city, 40-show "Licks" tour is the first major one since 1975 not built around the launch of a new studio album. (In October, the band will release the 2-CD "Forty Licks," a compilation of favorite tunes from the four decades that will also include four new songs.)

It will stop in large outdoor stadiums, medium-sized indoor arenas, and smaller, intimate theaters. For each venue, the band promises not only a different kind of stage show, but a wider selection of music.

Tour director Michael Cohl says the Stones have rehearsed about 130 songs. Moreover, says Cohl, they have reached into their archives for material that has rarely, if ever, been played live.

Depending on the venue, ticket-holders could be treated to either a dose of classic hits like "Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Start Me Up," or to less familiar blend of "thematic" material ranging from rhythm and blues to soul.

Boston is the test ground for this concept.

The "thematic" angle in smaller venues could be interesting.

Sunday's show will be on a stripped-down stage at Boston's 2,800-seat Orpheum Theater, where Cohl says the setlist could include just about anything the Stones feel like playing.

That's the show I'd like to see. We'll see how this develops. At least they're trying, it would appear.