The Rolling Stones Are Alive and Well, Rock Minneapolis

The Rolling Stones first came to the Twin Cities June 12, 1964, playing at Big Reggie's Danceland in Excelsior. The building could hold up to 1,000 fans, but that night, less than 250 showed up, and most left unimpressed. Several of the fans booed the relatively unknown band, calling them 'Beatle wannabees'. It would be another four months before The Stones' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

What a difference 51 years makes.

The now legendary Rolling Stones brought their ZIP CODE Tour to TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and you couldn't find an empty seat or hear a single boo.  Mick Jagger still remembers though. He told the 1964 story to the crowd, reminiscing that most in the audience 51 years ago 'didn't like what they heard'.

Wednesday night's audience loved every minute if it, from the opening notes of "Jumpin' Jack Flash' to the last licks of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", the mood was upbeat, despite the rain that fell right up until The Stones' took the stage. The crowd even serenaded Ron Wood (68) and Charlie Watts (74) to an impromptu version of "Happy Birthday", as both had turned another year older in the days leading up to the show.

Along with a healthy dose of the hits, the band worked in some B-sides like, "All Down the Line" (from Exile on Main Street), "Moonlight Mile" (Sticky Fingers), "Out of Control" (Bridges of Babylon), and "Before They Make Me Run" (Some Girls).

The band sounded great, and with plans to head back into the studio, and release a live DVD, they show no signs of hanging it up anytime soon.

The show also featured some VERY good news for Sioux Falls music fans: Grace Potter is a real talent! The New Hampshire native opened the show, and later joined The Stones for "Gimme Shelter", displaying some show stopping vocals and some pretty good guitar playing as well. She is the Saturday headliner at 2015 Jazzfest next month at Yankton Trail Park. You will not be disappointed!

The setlist for the show:

Jumpin' Jack Flash

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)

All Down the Line

Tumbling Dice

Doom and Gloom

Bitch

Moonlight Mile

Out of Control

Honky Tonk Women

Before They Make Me Run

Happy

Midnight Rambler

Miss You

Gimme Shelter (with Grace Potter)

Start Me Up

Sympathy for the Devil

Brown Sugar

 

Encore:

You Can't Always Get What You Want (with the Vocal Essence choir)

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction