While I'm stuck on this subject of the Stones being too old – as if they need defense from me or anyone else – they provided the best defense imaginable in the form of the immortal Buddy Guy who joined them on their ferocious cover of Muddy Waters' "Champagne & Reefer." Listen to the smoke and fire coming from Guy's impassioned vocals and his pyrotechnic guitar and tell me he's too old to be on stage. Guy, nearly ten years older than any member of the Stones, still has more piss and swagger than any living artist. Retire? These guys? Never.
As far as expiration dates go, "Jumping Jack Flash" should be way overdue and has no business still sounding this good this many years later, but even if it has slowed down just a little, these guys still play the hell out of it. It's the same with all the classics they continue to play, year in and year out. They make you happy to hear a song you thought you were over.
That may be the greatest trick of their legendary career. Every time we think we're ready to leave them behind, to relegate them to the back of our minds as great memories, they kick up an unholy noise and remind us they're still here and that they'll be damned if us littles are going to heap a shovelful of dirt on them. Why fight it? They're the Rolling Stones and they'll be the Rolling Stones until they say they're not.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
it is absolutely true about the energy these guys bring to their shows. as i've said before, i was almost shocked at how they blew onto the stage in boston. heck, if anybody could have a reason to phone it in, it's these guys....but they don't.
nice review. gotta get the cd. in fact, i tried to...but the jackholes at borders didn't have any in stock. crazy, eh?
2 - Josh Hathaway
Make sure when you do get a copy (clicking on the above Amazon link, for instance) that you get the 2-CD version, not the single.
I can't wait to see this as well as hear it, but it sounds really great.
3 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.
4 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, Connie. I'd missed this until just now.
5 - Mat Brewster
I finally saw the film on the plane the other day. Scorsese absolutely captures the Stones at this stage in their career. Your right about Buddy Guy too, he scorches, which I knew already from the CD, but it is great to see it on film too.
6 - Josh Hathaway
The DVD and Blu-Ray DVD get released on Tuesday and I can't wait to finally see what I've already heard. We'll have to compare notes once I've seen it as well.