The Rolling Stones @ Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA 10-4-21

The world’s greatest rock n roll band band finally made their long awaited stop to Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field on Monday. The Rolling Stones didn’t let the pandemic derail their plans as fans have been waiting for over a year and half since the original on sale date. This was only the 3rd stop on the current No Filter Tour. Of course, this show will have a somber tone to it as original drummer and co-founder of the Stones Charlie Watts just passed away about a month ago. The show opened up with proper tribute to him which was a video montage of him playing before the band took to the stage. They dedicated the show to the memory of him. The band kicked into “Street Fighting Man,” maybe as a poignant tribute to Watts who was the true backbeat of the band. Steve Jordan (X-pensive Winos) who filled in for Watts did an admirable job. He didn’t over play and let the songs come to him.

The band gave a great overview of their entire catalog including the recent single “Living in a Ghost Town.” I know everyone likes to hear the classics but I was glad they played this and I thought it was one of the highlights of the set. A song that was selected by the fans was “Angie.” I would was hoping for “Undercover of the Night” but didn’t hold my breath. Another highlight was “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The audience fully participated with them signing and waving their arms in the air. It even had lead vocalist Mick Jagger say, “You were great, even better than Cleveland!” Of course, Richards led the band with those few chords into “Honkey Tonk Women.” Richards, was a man of few words outside of his two songs he sang lead on (“Before They Make Me Run” and “Slipping Away”). Wearing a yellow knitcap (traditional Pittsburgh Steeler color), Richards displayed that smile/smirk the entire night. As he said before he started to sing, “I’m glad to be anywhere.” The funny part of the night was before the band intros, Jagger talked about how he didn’t have much time to make the rounds in the city. He said he missed going to the Warhol Museum to look at myself, which drew quite a few chuckles. He did state he stopped at Primanti’s on Saturday night though. Also, Jagger talked about how far back the band goes with the city when they showed an advertisement of the 1st time The Rolling Stones played Pittsburgh. That was at Danceland at West View Park on June 17, 1964. Outside of the aforementioned, the band was rounded out by longtime bassist Darryl Jones, saxophonists Tim Ries and Karl Denson, keyboardists Chuck Leavell and Matt Clifford and backup singers Bernard Fowler and Sasha Allen. I will say I miss longtime back up singer Lisa Fischer as I didn’t think Allen had the same chops as Fischer does on the song “Gimmie Shelter.”

Led by Mick Jagger, there isn’t front man like him. There is a song dedicated strictly to his dance moves “Moves Like Jagger” because of his constant moving during the bands performances. At 78 years young. Not only does he amaze in his dance moves, he continues to hold up vocally as well. I didn’t see too many cracks in his armor. That might be just as impressive. Overall, I can the Stones continue to give fans “Satisfaction” after 59 years in the business. No other band are like them. That’s why they earn the moniker “the worlds greatest rock and roll band.” In Pittsburgh, they deserve the right to keep that title.

Setlist:

Street Fighting Man

Let’s Spend the Night Together

Tumbling Dice

19th Nervous Breakdown

Trouble’s a’ Comin (Chi-Lites cover)

Angie

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Living in a Ghost Town

Start Me Up

Honky Tonk Woman

Before They Make Me Run (Keith Richards on vocals)