Venue: Stadion Ernst Happel / Vienna / Austria
Concert date: 13.07.2006
Attendance: 50
Ticket price: 95.72 € (standing ticket)
Our Rolling Stones day kicked off at 7 a.m., when 5 buses led by our national hero Concert Freak set out from Slovenia for Vienna, where a few hours later we witnessed something magnificent and unforgettable.
We got a solid two-plus hours of pure, top-shelf Rock&Roll and a spectacular ˝performance˝ from still the greatest Rock&Roll band on the face of this earth.
The buses were packed with fans of all generations, from high schoolers who, I assume, were seeing the legends live for the first time like me, to the most diehard fans who’ve been following their tours for years. Special mention goes to the gentleman who first saw the Rolling Stones way back in 1969. Counting Vienna, he’s caught their shows twelve times. Respect.
We got to Vienna around 2 p.m. and, after a few complications, found a parking spot for the buses. Since they were only letting people into the stadium at 5:30 p.m., there was plenty of time to kill.
The band’s ˝merchandising˝ stands were in full swing. The fact is that the Tongue (worthy of a capital T) is the most famous and best-selling logo in the world. Around Ernst Happel Stadion I got to see every possible version of a Rolling Stones shirt. There were even fans in Rolling Stones pants.
At 5:30 p.m. they started letting the first people into the stadium. It took a while before I could pick up my accreditation, but I finally managed to get my ticket. After a routine bag check I headed to the stands and took my small, uncomfortable seat in the VIP section. Now it was time to check out the inside of the stadium properly.
A mighty stage complex towered in front of us. It was clear to me that the Rolling Stones are a band that likes to be as close to the audience as possible, and this stage really makes that possible. On the stage itself there are some kind of balconies, for which you need to buy an ˝on stage˝ ticket. Even more interesting is the runway that shoots out from the middle of the stage deep into the crowd and reaches almost to the stands. It ends in a small stage (the so-called B-stage) where they played 3 songs. Experiencing a concert like this from the stands feels really impersonal. The stage is far away, and sure, they have a huge screen, but it’s not the same as standing right in front of the stage.
At 7:30 p.m. a creature by the name of Paolo Nutini took the stage. With the date having been moved, it was apparently hard to find a better-known opening act. How they found this kid is something I couldn’t tell you.
As I found out later on his website, he’s barely 18 years old. Not bad to open a concert for a band like the Rolling Stones this early in your career.
His music and performance were slightly reminiscent of James Blunt, in a less weepy, more rock version. Whether he actually warmed up the crowd is hard to say; he did win me over, though. The crowd also sent him off with tolerant applause. After a 40-minute set he left the stage with his band.
Preparations for the big event began. Everything was going normally, when suddenly, a few minutes before 8:30, black clouds appeared over the stadium and unleashed a 15-to-20-minute downpour. The people on the floor pulled on baggy rain ponchos of every color, others just surrendered to the big fat raindrops, and some gleeful spectators in the stands happily enjoyed watching the drenched crowd below the stage. Those of us in the stands at least had a roof over our heads. One perk, at least.
The strong, muscular roadies who had been setting up the stage earlier now turned into cleaning ladies with brooms, diligently sweeping water off the stage.
Even though things didn’t look too promising, the rain luckily stopped. It would definitely have been risky to put musicians of a certain age on a soaked, slippery stage. Preparations went on and the stage was soon ready. A few last finishing touches and the tension was at its peak. People were already whistling impatiently and the whole stadium was buzzing with anticipation.
The clock struck 9:15 p.m. when the lights went out. The stage lit up in all its glory. We were all staring impatiently at the stage when the first chords rang out.
The show opened with ´Jumpin Jack Flash´. And there they were on stage, our absolute favorite sixty-somethings of the night, in all their splendor.
Mick, still chic, was dressed in tight black pants, a shiny black tee and a very well-tailored red vest. Ron and Keith with their beaming smiles, and lovable Charlie holding court behind the drums. They really were attractive, dazzling, great.
A look around the stadium bothered me a lot, though. The stands were more or less passively watching while the crowd below the stage joined in enthusiastically. Well, at least the ones up front. Apparently Austrians are very demanding listeners, since they only warmed up toward the end of the show and created a good atmosphere.
Next came the hit ´It´s Only Rock&Roll´. Mick’s voice was in excellent shape, and his enormous mouth is still just what it’s supposed to be.
Then Mick announced a song from their album Bigger Bang, ´Oh No, Not You Again´.
A really great song, totally in their style.
They continued with the calmer, more romantic ´Lets Spend The Night Together´, which mellowed the mood in the stadium even more.
After the song Mick asked the crowd ˝Are we feelin Good?˝ Of course everyone answered enthusiastically. He announced another one from their latest release, ´Rain Fall Down´. A really erotic song combined with a funky rhythm. This is where Mick picked up a guitar for the first time. I was also captivated by their touring bassist, Darryl Jones, who played his solo. A perfect musician and bassist.
Next was the song She´s So Cold. Just right for the Austrians, who were by now a bit more in the mood. Projections of old video footage appeared on the giant screen.
Then Mick announced the song ´Streets of Love´. Another one from the new album, but already a proven hit on radio and TV stations.
A slight flub of a note spiced things up even more, as Keith and Mick exchanged a very cute look.
Before the next song Jagger greeted the crowd again with: ˝Are we OK? Lookin Beautiful˝. And announced a ˝pretty old song˝, ´As Tears Go By´. The song drew a roaring round of applause.
I was especially delighted by the two Croatians sitting behind me, who lapped up every breath and move Mick made.
Next came the song ´Tumbling Dice´. And after that, sadly, a song by the late jazz legend Ray Charles, ´Night Time Is The Right Time´. Jagger announced it as ˝Ein Blues˝.
At the start of the song, photos of Ray Charles appeared on the screen.
Ronnie and Keith sat in front of the drums and jammed. Their backing vocalists showed off some outstanding vocal chops here. One of them in particular deserves a shout-out, the only woman on stage. The dark-skinned beauty Lisa Fisher totally blew me away with her incredible voice and energy.
Then came the introduction of the touring group and the band. The touring group consists of three backing vocalists, a horn section (4 musicians), a keyboardist and a bassist.
And of course Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Jagger.
While the other musicians were happily waving to the crowd on stage, it was funny how shy Stones drummer Charlie is. Keith led him by the hand to show him to the audience, but he quickly slipped back into the safe shelter of his drums.
Now Keith took control of the stage and sang two songs, ´This Place is Empty´ and ´Before They Make Me Run´.
A really endearing performance from the guitarist, who by the looks of it has recovered from his recent accident. With his storytelling blues style and dirrty sound he came across as truly Keith-like. Meanwhile Ron flirted along with a guitar and a cigarette in his mouth.
Next came Mick’s dazzling comeback in a really great purple baseball-style jacket (I just can’t skip commenting on his clothes) and the great hit ´Miss You´. Mick, Keith, Ron and the keyboardist gathered around Charlie, and then the stage began to move toward the crowd. Near the end of the song the stage stopped, giving the people in the back rows a close encounter with the Stones. And those of us in the stands also got a slightly closer look at the band.
Then they played ´Rough Justice´ on the small stage. ´Start Me Up´ followed. And that’s when the crowd really exploded with excitement. The atmosphere turned fantastic, insane.
During the next song, ´Honky Tonk Woman´, a gigantic inflatable tongue appeared behind the main stage and retreated again after the song, while the band members also moved back toward the stage.
A few minutes later the stage turned red, with snake-pattern visuals on the screens. It was instantly clear which song was coming. Mick in a red coat with a hat on his head. Rockets went off on both sides of the stage, and an extra devilish treat was a burst of flames over the stage that warmed up the whole stadium.
Definitely a very spectacular rendition of ´Sympathy For The Devil´, which was followed by the equally spectacular ´Paint It Black´. This time the stage was bathed in darker lights, with the lighting effects provided by white spotlights flashing in rhythm with the music.
Then came another hit (the Rolling Stones know how to wow a crowd), and that was Brown Sugar.
The boys left the stage with ˝Guter Nacht˝.
A few minutes later they came back for the encore, first playing ´You Can´t Always Get What You Want´.
Then Mick said something along the lines of: ˝You seid die fantastiche publikum˝.
That was followed by the closer, ´Satisfaction´ – a good choice for the finale. Now the whole stands were on their feet too (except for some apparently crippled VIPs) and the entire stadium went wild together with the Stones. These last minutes felt like the peak of the night. Excitement, clapping, screaming…
Sadly, all good things come to an end, and so the Rolling Stones, after a group bow, tossing out drumsticks and guitar picks, left the stage and the 50,000-strong crowd. Despite the whistling, shouting and clapping, all we got was a few more light rockets and, last but not least, an insanely good concert that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
It’s hard to describe such a truly phenomenal event – you simply have to experience it.
The old tomcats of the music scene, with such perfection (perfect sound, an excellent light show and video projections…) and so much energy, left us with a truly unforgettable memory of this night.
Best to wrap up with the highly fitting title of one of their songs.
˝Till the Next Goodbye˝.
Setlist
1. Jumping Jack Flash
2. It’s Only Rock’n Roll
3. Oh No Not You Again
4. Let’s Spend The Night Together
5. Rain Fall Down
6. She’s So Cold
7. Streets Of Love
8. As Tears Go By
9. Tumbling Dice
10. Night Time Is The Right Time
11. Band’s introduction
12. This Place Is Empty (Keith on vocals)
13. Before They Make Me Run (Keith on vocals)
14. Miss You (B-stage)
15. Rough Justice
16. Start Me Up
17. Honky Tonk Women (main stage)
18. Sympathy For The Devil
19. Paint It Black
20. Brown Sugar
—encore—
21. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
22. Satisfaction
Photo Gallery
