Seasoned rockers still give satisfaction

If a pair of aging bands from across the Atlantic are any
indication, rock ‘n’ roll will never die. U2 and the
Rolling Stones swept into the greater Los Angeles area last week,
with U2 performing at Staples Center on Nov. 1 and the Stones
visiting Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Nov. 4 for the first time in
decades. The two concerts had many similarities; both bands filled
arenas with fans who may have paid well over face value for their
tickets, and both played sets heavily reliant on hits from their
glory days. U2, which played four shows at Staples Center this
year, saw tickets for each show selling out within minutes of going
on sale. Many fans had to go through scalpers on eBay, where a
floor ticket could fetch over $1,000. Nevertheless, an enthusiastic
audience erupted into cheers the moment the band took the stage.
Lead singer Bono encouraged audience participation, inciting the
arena to sing along with him on songs such as “Miracle
Drug” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” Throughout the
show, the band attempted to turn the giant basketball stadium into
a more intimate venue. U2’s stage was set up into a giant
heart outline filled in by the crowd, and Bono made an effort to
walk the length of the stage. During “With or Without
You,” from 1987’s “The Joshua Tree,” he
pulled one concertgoer on stage, embracing her throughout the
entire song. The highlight of the night came not from the band, but
from the fans. At one point, Bono noticed four women in the
audience holding a sign reading “Bassist, Singer, Guitarist,
Drummer ““ The Girls Play Really Well.” He invited them
on stage and the rockers handed their instruments to the ladies,
who tore into a scorching cover of U2’s “Out of
Control.” Though the Los Angeles Times later revealed the
girl group ““ known as Exit ““ was a U2 cover band, the
confidence of their performance under the Staples Center lights was
something to behold. U2 itself put on a serviceable performance,
though Bono seemed more focused on talking politics than singing.
His voice is admittedly lower than it used to be, but on Monday
night he had trouble holding long notes and singing falsetto in the
otherwise impressive “One.” The Rolling Stones, on the
other hand, have aged like a fine wine. Mick Jagger romped around
stage like a puppy with a new toy, moving around the extensive
stadium platform with more energy than many rock stars half his
age. The band played a few new songs and a load of oldies, adding
textures and fresh arrangements to their classics along the way. A
horn section joined the group for most of the show, and Jagger made
sure to introduce every musician on stage. At times, over a dozen
people were playing or singing, spotlighting the Stones’
willingness to satisfy fans with songs they love without
sacrificing the band’s continuing musical growth. Despite
their years of experimentation and stylistic changes, the Rolling
Stones have always been true to their blues/R&B roots. This was
particularly evident on a cover of Ray Charles’ “Night
Time (Is The Right Time)” and a show-stopping version of
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” that recalled
soul great Otis Redding’s rendition. If Staples Center was
huge, Angel Stadium was epic. The concert, part of the “A
Bigger Bang” tour, began and ended with fireworks. Like U2,
the Rolling Stones made an effort to reach out to the audience.
Halfway through their set, a platform disconnected from the stage
and moved on a conveyor belt into the middle of the field, giving
fans without the most expensive tickets a chance to see the band up
close. U2 and The Rolling Stones each performed for over two hours,
and with fan-friendly set lists, there’s no doubt audiences
went home happy. Especially in the case of the tireless Rolling
Stones, it seems that classic rock is here to stay.

““ David Greenwald