Shine a Light

Though it’s actually part of two shows with some recuts of songs days later as Mick was unhappy the front row didn’t have enough young girls. Sorry buddy we aged with you. It was a great performance as I was asked questions by Albert Maysales and his brother out front of Beacon pre show. Buddy Guy was fantastic that second night and Xtina was ok too. Though she got kisses from Mick Keith wasn’t having anything of it. Sitting center Keith’s side in balcony I had great sight line the entire evening. And shared a urinal with Elvis Costello who I’d seen back in Fort Lauderdale about 1978ish. As with all Stones shows the seats had plenty of other music biz folks. I scored tix for both shows during the middle of the night when there when site had a ticket drop. Best $50 I ever spent except for Licks Boston club show at Orpheam. I waited a long time to add this to my collection as I have so many shows from A Bigger Bang Tour and they just did the Atlantic City show after an earlier cancellation.

Mick Jagger is not just a famous superstar of music. Jagger’s presence transcends music. He is simply an international treasure - one of the world’s true cultural icons of both the 20th and 21st Centuries. And he is music’s greatest frontman, sorry Freddie, but it’s true. And let’s not forget a music legend named Keith Richards and their entire gifted and original band, The Rolling Stones!! Thanks to God for giving the world these amazing musicians!!

Don't get me wrong it's no old Stones, but it's the best performance I've seen in 30 years by them. But isn't it kind of interesting that if you look at the first 10 rows they are all hot young people. Maybe it's me but I didn't know most of their fan base were hot young people. It's no big deal I guess, but it just makes the performance a little fake. Still it was ok but definitely not even close to 'Ladies and Gentlemen.'

I grew up listening and loving the Stones, I have most of their early and middle period library on my I-Phone. However, I have to admit watching this movie made me cringe. Whereas watching Jagger used to be interesting, it is now embarrassing. Both Keith and Ronnie's skills and timing have diminished to the point where they no longer take chances, everything is old and by the book. Only Charlie and the younger players provide the skills necessary to maintain the viability of the band, which should not be that hard considering they are playing the same songs on stage they have played for the last 15 years while soaking up millions of dollars from their adoring fans. The Stones have bought into the idea of being "Rock Icons" and because of that they no longer have the huevos to take the risks that were such an integral part of their work up until the late 70's. That is, unless one considers it risky to assume that people will be willing to purchase and watch (again) two hours of movie close-ups involving old, wrinkled, drug and alcohol addled faces combined with live music that is stale and represents nothing fresh or even challenging.

Scorsese really needs to stop making documentaries about his musical heroes. The Last Waltz was the last decent one he made, and I was never over the moon about that one, either. As with the Stones themselves, you get ab-so-lute-ly no-thing new here. Yeah, the Stones were great... a long, long, l-o-n-g time ago. They've been going through the motions for what, thirty, thirty-five years now? Good on them for what they did back when, but as for the Stones of today (or 10, or 20, or 30 years ago), really, why do people care? Why do people keep encouraging them and paying good money to hear them walk (stumble, shuffle) through songs they wrote when they were 18? It's a travesty. How can people truly claim that Keef is a great guitarist? That Mick is still "sexy"? Eeeeewwww. The only part of this movie that's got some real music happening in it is Buddy Guy's cameo. The contrast between him and the Stones is, unintentionally I'm sure, shocking and infuriating. You hear this guy play, and you STILL think Keff is a great guitarist? Are you on the same drugs he is? You wanna see a truly, truly great documentary about the Stones, get your hands on C***sucker Blues instead. It was made in 1972 and it was so true and real the Stones never let it be released. You wanna see a truly, truly great documentary about aging rockers, watch Anvil! instead. Anvil's not one-hundredth the band the Stones were a long time ago, but their story is infinitely more interesting and captivating, and they're a whole lot more human and likeable than these zillionaire geezers.

.."I Don't Know What They Are Going To Play!"..Well; "The Mick & Marty Show" really proved that if you let "The Lads" just "Do Their Thing" & "Keep The Cameras Rolling"; Like you did; Mr. Director; From Woodstock to Boston; To paraphrase a Stones' Tune: "You Get What You Need!"-{It's now 2006; In New York City; Boys; Roll Out Those "Tumblin' Dice!"}-A Classic Concert that will make you shout: "We Shoulda Been There; Man!"-Martin Scorcese; What you accomplished for The Band in "The Last Waltz"; You also achieved here for The Rolling Stones! (We do hope "Shine A Light" will not become "The Last Waltz" for these "Rebel Rockers"!)-"Make Every Song You Sing Your Favorite Tune!"...by Grimmbo.

This film is a reminder of the greatness of the Stones, often lost in films showing them in large venues. They are the ultimate garage band and the Beacon was made for them. I was stunned by Mick's neverending energy. Having been to the Beacon for many shows, I can only imagine the treat of the lucky few. Rent it, own it and if your over 40, show it to your kids. It will change their life!

Anyone interested in how gracefully aging professional rock musicians can perform will appreciate this movie. And the band did a nice job. But I have one complaint, and it would be asked of the director: why so much footage of Mick, the guitar players, but so little of the drummer and base player who really held the whole thing together just like a locomotive. That's all I see wrong with it, but it seems such a big omission that I'd take a star off for it.

Why is this movie no longer for rent on iTunes?? It used to be. Was it too good?

The Rolling Stones stopped writing music for their peers in the mid 70’s; after that it was all about what would sell. During the late 70’s and beyond the Stones would prospect, mine and apprehend ideas from the contemporary culture; the results were derivative and only occasionally inspiring. Keith was well known for stealing ideas from other musicians and if you’ve read much about Jagger, you know that for him, it was almost always about the money. They both owe a debt to the talented people whose ideas they filched; this movie does nothing to honor their legacy, let lone repay that debt. The juxtaposition of blues great Buddy Guy against the aging Stones gives the clearest picture of what this alleged “Worlds Greatest Rock Band” (how arrogant) has become: a parody of themselves. All of Mick’s affectations, the mugging, fey prancing and fake southern drawl pervert the Stones blues foundation. Keith Richards’ wretched playing shows a complete lack of respect for the guitar and every hard working musician. When Cream briefly reunited, their integrity as musicians maintained the primacy of their blues roots. I’d imagine that Hendrix would cringe at the sight of what his old friends have become. You may lean more towards the Stones music then the Beatles but if you say that the Stones are a better band or they are more talented then don’t because your embarrassing yourself. The Beatles influenced everything after them. A cover band in their early years, the Stones didn’t really develop a musical identity until “Beggars Banquet”. Compare their music song for song and you’ll find that there’s no comparison. The Stones lost their strongest musical foundation when Mick Taylor left the band; Ron Wood has never had an impact on the Stones music. If you want to hear the Stones at their peak then listen to “Get Yer Ya-Yas Out!”; it’s one of the best live rock albums ever released. Their performance in “Shine A Light” only serves to verify the awful truth of what the Rolling Stones have become: an embarrassment to their musical roots, the 60’s counterculture and themselves.