Long Overdue: Near-Miss & Rebound To See The Rolling Stones

 

“Third time’s the charm” is an old adage. 

That sums it up for me in the quest to add The Rolling Stones to my extensive concert list. You can see previous posts about my feelings and love for live music. Somehow, it never worked out to see The Stones. 

But this October night had a different weight to it.

This was my third attempt to see the band. 

The first was a failed attempt. I went to Las Vegas for one of two scheduled shows by the band that year. And I relaxed during the day, playing some “Sons of Anarchy” game to some success. I met a colleague from work for the show, had a drink and we went in. We checked out T-Mobile and grabbed a beer before the show began. 

Shortly after the band hit the stage and ripped through “Jumping Jack Flash,” I wasn’t feeling well. I went to the restroom and light-headed, tried to do the obligatory water splash to the face. Well, that didn’t squash any of it. I woke up in the medical center down the road. Passed out. Evidently, some kind soul kept my head from hitting the sink. 

Assumption was that I was over-served, but I’d had little to drink. Eventually got the Type-2 diabetes diagnosis and the question whether I’d experienced a dangerous sugar crash. So, this goes back to the idea of being “Better,” as discussed in the prior entry. 

I hear the show was pretty tight. 

My second miss of The Stones was a date at the Rose Bowl in 2019. I got the cooler bag associated with my seat purchases and readied myself for a huge night in Pasadena. Alas, I couldn’t get away from the microphone for the evening. That cooler bag comes in handy!!!

Queue the third attempt. 

COVID-19 measures still stood to dismantle events in the back-end of 2021 (and I know plenty of people in NY and SF who have endured crushing cancellations at the theater). So, to say that I feared a last-minute loss of this show was an understatement. Then, in late-August, we mourned the death and celebrated the life, style and music of drummer Charlie Watts. 

The Stones decided to play on. And so I anxiously awaited my birthday present to me - a date at So-Fi Stadium to finally witness Jagger, Richards and Wood LIVE with Steve Jordan providing the beat. 

There was a beautiful tribute to Watts to open the show, following by a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Let’s Spend The Night Together.” And then, it was just a flood of childhood memories, listening to the albums with my Dad and celebrating this Bucket List item. I sat with a goofy grin and celebrated hit after hit, and each iteration of the requisite Jagger Strut. 

The action on the stage was rivaled by the outfits in the crowd and enough throwback T-shirts, pins, jackets, etc., to fill a mini-museum.

And it was a beautiful, cathartic community event. For the crowd … and for the band. 

While reveling in the cheers and applause, there were moments of the band in pure joy and appreciation captured on the jumbo video screens. And it was beautiful. 

Now, enjoy the performance of Keith Richards’ time at center stage with “Slipping Away.”