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The Rolling Stones backdrop for “Honky Tonk Woman” in Chicago.

[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Website’ type=’url’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form] Chicago, IL – The Rolling Stones played the first of 3 shows in Chicago’s United Center on Tuesday May 28th, 2013. Despite the power outage to 21,000 Chicago residents caused by severe weather in the Chicago area, the Stones had plenty of power: power riffs from guitar greats Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and frontman power from perennial hipster Mick Jagger.

Mick Jagger, dancing non-stop, onstage at the United Center in Chicago on May 28, 2013.

Jagger gave a senior class in aerobics for the almost-70 (in July) set that went on, uninterruptedly, for 2 and ½ hours, despite starting nearly 45 minutes late. He defied both age and the tornado-like weather that dumped at least 2 inches of rain on the area just before 8 p.m. showtime. Flash flood warnings were issued for the area and a small tornado touched down in the western suburbs.

Mick Jagger on the lip-shaped stage he prowled during the Tuesday night (May 31) show.

Opening with “Hey, You, Get Off Of My Cloud,” a song popular in 1963), Mick Jagger appeared onstage wearing a black sparkly jacket (with tails) and continued to give a senior seminar in “How to Continue Rocking for 50 Years” by never slowing down during the entire show.

Film of the very young Jagger and Richards was projected on the large screen behind the stage, along with clips of other music greats.

The second song on the band’s play list was “It’s Only Rock & Roll” followed by “Paint It Black,” which led to a brief break where Mick Jagger referred to the United Center as “The house that M.J. built,” meaning Michael Jackson.

Opening of the concert: “Hey, You, Get Of Of My Cloud.” May 28, 2013. Tuesday. Chicago’s United Center.

Nearly every major hit the band has recorded (minus,for me, “Time Is On Our Side”) was performed in this first of 3 shows with ticket prices of $150 to $600 a ticket. One of the best sequences featured the band playing “Wild Horses.” It featured filmed tributes to many greats projected on the screen behind the band, including Leadbelly, B.B.King, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Elvis Presley, the Staple Singers, Howlin’ Wolf, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hank Williams, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Otis Redding, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, Charles “Bird” Parker, Merle Haggard, Miles Davis, Little Walter, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Sonny Rollins, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Little Richard and Tina Turner.

The show continued for an entertaining 150 minutes with hits like “Honky Tonk Woman, “Brown Sugar,” “Midnight Rambler,” “Miss You,” “Paint it Black,” “Sympathy for the Devil” (with Mick wearing a boa feather decorated cape), “Start Me Up,” and “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.”

I’ve seen the Rolling Stones at least 13 times; the lack of camaraderie between Mick and Keith was never more apparent than at this show. Still, name another band still going this strong after 50 years.
See them while you can, because nobody lives forever.