The last time The Rolling Stones played Slane Castle, Elvis was only five years dead, the first CDs went on sale and this reviewer was little more than a glint in his daddy's eye. A lot has changed since then but the performance at the weekend shows that rock 'n' roll is not only still going strong but that nobody has come close to perfecting it like the Stones.
It was 9pm and there were over 70,000 damp people in Lord Henry Mountcharles's front yard when the veterans strode on to the stage and commenced proceedings with the night's first hit, Start Me Up – a fitting opener which did exactly what it said on the tin. The twin guitar assault of Ron Wood and Keith Richards has been working perfectly nigh on 30 years and for two hours on Saturday night they showed why as they riffed their way perfectly through innumerable guitar classics like Midnight Rambler and Honky Tonk Women with a verve and dynamism that would make people a third of their age blush.
The day's rain didn't dampen the crowd's gusto and enthusiasm levels were cranked up even more when during Miss You the stage started to move out to the middle of Slane's natural amphitheatre to give the people further back a closer look at these living legends. There they stayed amongst the fans for a few numbers including the much copied Satisfaction and it gave us a chance to see inimitable drummer Charlie Watts keep up a perfect backbeat with accomplished ease.
After returning to the main stage lead guitar player Richards took over singing duties as Mick Jagger took a breather and it was unsurprising that he needed one after the incredible pace with which he sashayed around the huge stage. Plus it allowed a passage of interplay between Wood and Richards that had a genuine intimacy and warmth which belied the cavernous arena and stage set-up.
HIGHLIGHT
It wasn't long until Jagger reappeared for the last section of the show in a white frock-coat and a pair of jeans so tight that Kate Moss would think twice before squeezing in to. Flames went up at the top of the stage as the band fired up the night's highlight, Sympathy for the Devil. The equally dark and devilish Paint It Black was played next and shortly after things started to come to a close.
After another brief respite the band reappeared for a ten minute version of Brown Sugar as an encore. Jagger seemed to turn his own energy levels up yet another notch as he danced around the stage seemingly possessed by demonic forces inspired by the previous two songs. He strutted, glided, bounded and pranced around every inch of the stage while wrapping 70,000 people around his little finger echoing his song back to him.
A deafening firework display cast dancing shadows on the Co. Meath countryside as the show ended sending thousands of people into the night on a total high and if, like me, they felt privileged to see living marvels at work for what could be the last time in this country. A truly awesome night.
