The Rolling Stones appeared under the Toronto Skydome on Friday, October 18, 2002, in Toronto, Ontario. A radio-controlled yellow Stones blimp was circling above the venue floor attracting attention. The Canadians crowded the aisles in the front of the stage land-locking everyone in their seats once the Stones came on stage.

     Keith Richards churned out "Brown Sugar" on his guitar as Mick Jagger made his stage entrance in a long gold coat and scarf. Bobby Keys appeared on stage to supply the sax solo. A major musical surprise was "Shattered", their 1978 punk-rock single. The Stones were rocking in overdrive as Charlie Watts kept the pace, and Ron Wood tore into his guitar solo for the bridge.

     Richards and Wood played acoustic guitars on the classic ballad "Angie" with Woodie taking the solo. Chuck Leavel accompanied the beautiful melody on piano. Richards' guitar strokes were complimented by a trombone intro for "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Jagger delivered a strong vocal with harmony support from Lisa Fisher.

     Jagger resembled a pimp in his ghetto get-up to sing the cover-song "Love Train". Darryl Jones laid a thumping bass line, and the Horn section showcased a trombone solo for added brass impact. Richards' stage interaction with saxophonist Keys generated a laugh between the two Sagittarians who share the same birthday together.

     Richards alluded to his spill two nights before stating, "I won't fall over this time till the second half". He sang the lyrics to his funky reggae tune, "You Don't Have To Mean It", with the aid of a teleprompter positioned near the catwalk staircase.

     "When The Whip Comes Down" sounded great on the Skydome B-stage, encouraging fans to stand up on their seats for a better view. Jagger was in strong vocal form, playing the rhythm melody on electric guitar. The triple guitar assault empowered the Stones animated performance.

     The topless cartoon wench appeared on the jumbo-tron, introducing the seductive "Honky Tonk Women". The Horn section contributed to the swaggering beat. Jagger rendezvoused with harmony singer Lisa Fisher at the stage railing and caressed her bum.

     The Stones completed their communal workout with "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Jagger teased Richards, "Alright, give me something...", as a cue to his fellow Glimmer Twin to kick in the jam on his guitar. Red paper petals polluted the stadium interior as Watts crashed his kit to guide the band toward a crescendo climax.

     The singular Skydome encore was their most popular war horse composition, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". A pyrotechnic flash accompanied Richards' raunchy guitar chords. The chorus was picked up by the crowd as Wood tapped his guitar neck into an amplifier. A small fireworks display commenced as the music ended. Mick, Keith, Charlie, and Ron stood shoulder to shoulder for their collective bow.

     While checking on available tickets at the box office before the show, a female Canadian television reporter videotaped me in front of a Skydome ticket window. She interviewed me, asking me how I obtained my second row seat and how many times I had seen the Stones around the globe.

Toronto Skydome setlist: Brown Sugar * It's Only Rock'n Roll * Start Me Up * Don't Stop * Tumbling Dice * Shattered * Angie * You Can't Always Get What You Want * Midnight Rambler * Love Train * introductions * Slipping Away (Keith) * You Don't Have to Mean It (Keith) * Sympathy For The Devil * When The Whip Comes Down (B-stage) * Little Red Rooster (B-stage) * You Got Me Rocking (B-stage) * Gimme Shelter * Honky Tonk Women * Street Fighting Man * Jumpin' Jack Flash * Encore: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

RockonTour   Issue #15
Concert Fan   Concertphile@yahoo.com

RockonTour.net - the Single Source for the Concertphile © 2002 RoT
RockonTour

 

RockonTour.net
                  the Single Source for the Concertphile

The Stones Lick the Skydome
Stones Fans Get Satisfaction Guaranteed

by Timothy Tilghman