In “No Filter” opening stretch, The Rolling Stones channel the blues, satisfy with regulars and rarities

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The amount of bands that matter as much as The Rolling Stones can be counted on one hand, and with four of the principle members still alive and on the road, the opening stretch of the “No Filter” Tour was hands down the hottest ticket all across America (if not the entire world). Anyone who didn’t know 75-year-old Mick Jagger had heart surgery a matter of months before performing a pair of sold out shows at Chicago’s Soldier Field wouldn’t be able to tell given his superhuman swagger, while guitarist Keith Richards (75), fellow axe slinger Ronnie Wood (72) and drummer Charlie Watts (78) sounded shockingly close to their prime.

Given The Rolling Stones’ increasing gaps between albums and outings, this could quite realistically be the last Chicago will ever see of the core four in the flesh, but based on everyone’s sheer indestructibility for what feels like forever, this is one act that may actually outlive its audience!

Of course it didn’t hurt they had several supporting musicians and screens practically as tall as the Willis Tower, but at the end of two breathtaking hours, The Rolling Stones truly did the bulk of the heavy lifting. The fellas’ choice to open up with the double knockout punch of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It”) was as heroic as anyone could imagine and made a mere Tuesday feel like a raging weekend celebration that kept ramping up with a hearty helping of regulars and nearly as many surprising rarities.

“Tumbling Dice” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” fell towards the former, while a snarling rendition of the blues standard “Ride ‘Em On Down” (off the group’s latest long player “Blue & Lonesome”) brought the fellas back to the days of worshipping the Chess Records roster and recording right here in town at 2120 South Michigan Avenue. “Monkey Man” won the nightly request poll over examples such as “Harlem Shuffle” and “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker),” but more than justified its slot in the set after a dozen-year absence.

A mid-field acoustic set with just the official Rolling Stones evoked the days of popping up last minute at Buddy Guy’s Legends or the now defunct Double Door. Granted, it was hard to simulate the feeling of intimacy in a stadium, but “Play With Fire” and “Sweet Virginia” were both gallant efforts that begged for at least a few additional stripped down selections.

Even when The Rolling Stones returned to business as usual, the sheer classic nature of “Sympathy For The Devil,” “Honky Tonk Women” and “Miss You” made it worth every penny of the exorbitant prices people paid. Fans also managed to score a helping and a half of “Midnight Rambler,” initially as a mistake before the planned “Paint It Black,” then fully realized in its intended place as the evening’s most ambitious jam.

“Start Me Up” and “Brown Sugar” colored closer to the studio recordings but were no less thrilling, while an iconic encore of “Gimme Shelter” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” were textbook rock and roll at its primal core. Given The Rolling Stones’ increasing gaps between albums and outings, this could quite realistically be the last Chicago will ever see of the core four in the flesh, but based on everyone’s sheer indestructibility for what feels like forever, this is one act that may actually outlive its audience!

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For additional information on The Rolling Stones, visit RollingStones.com.

For a list of upcoming concerts at Soldier Field, visit SoldierField.net.