Hackney Diamonds
I know that I haven’t been writing to the blog since the year has started. But I found some inspiration for this post in the events that happened last night.
I’ve been waiting for this moment since the tour dates were announced last November.
Actually, it’s more like twenty three years.
Going back to the night back in January 2001 that HBO aired a concert by The Rolling Stones from Madison Square Garden. But for tickets and timing, I hadn’t been able to cross this act of my list of bands that I wanted to see live. After the passing of the late, great drummer and founding member Charlie Watts, I wasn’t sure if I’d get my chance to see the Stones live. It didn’t matter to me that they were old, nor the fact that it would cost me a bit of money to make this happen. We’re talking about the “World’s Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band”, after all.
There was a bit of divine timing here too. As their stop in the area was initially only slated for Thursday, May 23rd. It looked like I would miss this date as it would be a stretch to attend the concert and then show up to work the next morning. I took a look at the dates they listed, there was a gap betwen the MetLife date and their next stop at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts the following week. I held out hope for a second date. And it was eventually added. With my presale code in hand, I didn’t hesitate to purchase my ticket.
I knew I was on the right path when I started to see the bootleg t-shirt sellers outside of Penn Station and every concieveable stripe of Stones t-shirts being worn between Penn Station, the train ride to Secacus Junction and the stadium itself. The signs of what lie ahead were everywhere.
There I was, arriving at MetLife Stadium just before 8PM. With a can of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA in hand, I headed to my seat ready for the night to begin.
The opening act from NYC, Lawrence had just taken the stage. Anchored by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, their group’s soulful pop got the crowd going. And they got my attention after wondering who they were with a killer cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground”.
At 9:20PM, the venue darkened. The opening notes of “Start Me Up” rang out and 65,000 erupted in joy simultaneously. It was a harbinger of the rest of the night to come.
Over the next two hours, Mick, Keith, Ronnie and Steve defied the notion of acting one’s age and brought a mix of hits: “Get Off My Cloud”, “Wild Horses”, “Sympathy For the Devil” to name a few. Mixed in with tracks from their fierce recent album “Hackney Diamonds”: “Angry”, “Whole Wide World”. And the fan voted song, “Heartbreaker”.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the highlight of the night.
It’s no mean feat to sing the chorus of “Gimme Shelter”, a part made famous by singer Merry Clayton. But tonight, vocalist Chanel Hayes made the part her own as she and Mick traded verses to rapturous applause. The chill up my spine could be felt as if I was listening to the song through my headphones, but this moment was actually happening.
After one more track from Hackney, “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” was draped in everyone’s phone and flashlights, it was time to bring it on home.
This night could only end with the riff that rocked the world. And everyone singing in unison….I can’t get no satisfaction, I can’t get no…
Perhaps, it was appropriate that the song after the lights came back on was “Exodus” by Bob Marley. As it felt like an exodus to get back home, as it always seems to be leaving MetLife. From the stadium to Secaucus Junction, to the subway ride back to Queens and finally arriving at my door. I didn’t expect to finally close my eyes at 2AM on Monday morning.
It’s been almost twenty-four hours since the show and I’m still riding the wave of euphoria from last night. I’ve been on this quest to find things that add more to my life, other than writing and going to work. Last night was a forceful reminder of the joy that live music brings into my life.
Last night as I walked around in the fog coming home, I knew for something for sure.
I certainly got some satisfaction!
