THE ROLLING STONES REVUE – The Stones Sticky Fingers – Palais Theatre – 26 July 2024 (concert review)
Review: Craig Eriksson Photos: Jason Rosewarne.
The Rolling Stones are such an iconic band, one that shaped, influenced, inspired and changed the world of music forever, beginning in the mid 60’s and they’re still rockin’ on to this present day. It blows my mind to think that The Rolling Stones formed back in 1962 and have remained active over the past 60-plus years and are still playing sold out shows throughout the world, just wrapping up their hugely successful 2024 USA tour last week.
Their milestone Sticky Fingers album was released in 1971 when The Rolling Stones were at their peak and literally had world dominance. Their two previous albums, Beggars Banquet (1968) and Let It Bleed (1969) were very successful selling albums and elevated them to greater heights. The release of those two albums, along with their relentless touring sharpened their playing and broadened their range that formed the foundation and set the high standard and quality for Sticky Fingers. There is honestly not a bad song on Sticky Fingers, an album which references drug use and loss and frustrations due to relationship break-ups and the hardship of life on the road in a rock ‘n’ roll band. Every lick, riff, beat and word is exactly where it needs to be.
In 1971, The Rolling Stones line-up were: Mick Jagger (lead vocals/harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar/backing vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums) and Mick Taylor (guitar) who had replaced the late Brian Jones. Founding member Brian Jones left The Rolling Stones in June 1969 and sadly passed away a month later in July 1969, drowning in a swimming pool at his home at the age of 27.
Tonight we were blessed to see four of Australia’s finest singers perform with an All-Star Band. Tim Rogers (You Am I), Tex Perkins (The Cruel Sea), Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon) and Adalita (Magic Dirt). The awesome foursome delivered a stellar show and paid homage to one of the Rolling Stones greatest albums in rock history; Sticky Fingers.
The Rolling Stones Revue also had a magnificent All-Star backing band featuring guitar virtuoso and backing vocalist, Jak Housden (The Whitlams, The Badloves), Dario Bortolin (Baby Animals) on bass, Gordon Rytmeister (Glenn Shorrock, Hamilton) on drums, Rob Woolfe (Ian Moss) on keys and backing vocals, James Christowski on guitar/congas and backing vocals and Winston Smith on sax/harmonica.
Tonights show consisted of two sets.
SET 1 – Sticky Fingers Album (played in its entirety and consisting of loads of old footage of the band)
The amazing and flamboyant Tim Rogers came out and sang the opening track, Brown Sugar. Tim has all the Jagger-like struts, stage antics and moves. This song still remains as current and popular today as it was back in 1962 with its quintessential blues-rock riff and lyrics.
Sway – Tex Perkins sang a wonderful rendition of Sway with lyrics “Did you ever wake up to find / A day that broke up your mind” and “It’s just that demon life has got me in its sway.” The last time I saw Tex was at The Crox with Beasts of Bourbon last year. Tex has an incredible baritone voice and this was a great song choice for him.
Wild Horses – Tex was joined on stage with Adalita to sing Wild Horses. The stage backdrop was beautiful displaying wild horses running was really graceful and majestic and created the perfect mood and setting for this song. Apparently Keith Richards initially wrote and recorded this song in 1969 before Sticky Fingers release about regret and missing his newborn son with all their touring referencing that wild horses couldn’t drag me away. History tells us that Mick Jagger hijacked the song and turned it into a deception of a burned-out relationship with Marianne Faithful.
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking – Phil Jamieson sang this song, which included a wonderful, tight instrumental section with Smith on harmonica, a fabulous Housdon guitar solo, Christowski on congas and Woolfe playing the guiro, creating a ratchet sound. Unbeknownst to most, Phil actually went up and sat in the crowd during the instrumental (see photo below) and when he went back down and was climbing back up on stage, a security guard tried to grab him thinking a patron was trying to jump up on stage.
You Gotta Move – This song was a Stones cover version they included on the Sticky Fingers album and is a traditional African-American spiritual gospel swampy blues song. Phil, Tex, Adalita and Tim all came together on stage to deliver a beautiful, almost spiritual version of this song.
Bitch – Tim Rogers sang this song with attitude. Bitch is about a hard bitten rocker singing love is a bitch. Smith played the sax on this song.
I Got The Blues – Phil Jamieson sang this slow-paced, bluesy song and absolutely shined. Perfect vocals for this song which did it justice.
Sister Morphine – Tex Perkins performed this one with an incredible stage back drop, emulating blood flowing through the body and featured Christowski on acoustic guitar. This was one of our favourite songs of the evening. Tex’s beautiful, sonorous, baritone voice was the perfect fit for this murky-like song. This song was written by Marianne Faithful, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards. It’s not a song you hear on the radio, but it’s a great song!
Dead Flowers – Adalita sang this country-like song beautifully. Keith Richards says this song was heavily influenced by his close friend Gram Parsons. I’ve seen Adalita perform with Magic Dirt numerous times over the years and in some tribute shows. In my opinion, tonight we saw Adalita at her very best. So much so, I honestly think Adalita should consider doing a Country album.
Moonlight Mile – Adalita was joined by Tex on this song. The richness of Adalita’s voice blended and harmonised so well with Tex’s deep baritone voice and really complimented this song. Apparently the song is about alienation of life on the road which it was reported that Mick Jagger was affected the most by alienation and fatigue of life on the road touring heavily.
The All-Star Band truly did this album justice and highlighted what an incredible and amazing album this is and how it still remains powerful, strong, timeless and current to this day.
Tim and Adalita finished the first set with a song not on Sticky Fingers. You Can’t Always Get What You Want. A crowd favourite which had everyone singing along in a jovial manner and a great end to the first set.
SET 2 – Greatest Hits.
We set sail on a rock ‘n’ roll voyage of The Rolling Stones’ most popular and iconic songs that paved the way to the Stones success and legendary status.
The song choices were a perfect selection to showcase each of the awesome foursome’s unique voices.
Phil Jamieson – Phil opened with Start Me Up featuring a great stage backdrop with The Rolling Stones video clip of this song seeing Jagger strut his stuff. Beast of Burden saw Phil and Adalita performing a beautiful duet of this song. Miss You, recorded during the disco era, had a wonderful stage back drop of a giant disco ball. The backing band were in fine form, funky, great saxopohone sounds and guitar licks and had the crowd up and dancing in the aisles, Saturday Night Fever style. This song highlighted the breadth of the Stones music and how they adapted with the times over the years, but still managed to stay true to their distinctive sound.
Tex Perkins – Tex sang the rollicking Honky Tonk Women, which went down treat with the dancing crowd. Waiting On A Friend saw Tim join Tex on stage and you could see and feel the close mateship of these two being playful on stage and thoroughly enjoying performing this song together. This was another favourite song of ours tonight. During Paint It Black, Tex made the comment: “I don’t know why they gave me all the dark songs to sing!” and laughed. Sympathy for the Devil possessed dramatic stage lighting and the back drop was purely wonderful.
Adalita – Get Out Of My Cloud was a fun song with a wonderful stage back drop that featured the song lyrics and various old pictures of the Stones. Tumbling Dice included a wonderful back drop of giant dice being thrown and tumbling. It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It) had all the crowd standing up and singing along and the crowd remained out of their seats for the rest of the show.
Tim Rogers – Tim jumped, strutted and moved around the stage Jagger-like and made numerous costume changes throughout the evening which saw him wearing some very retro, outlandish, very cool outfits and boots. He also wished Jagger a happy 81st birthday, as coincidentally today was indeed the day he was born. Tim then had the honours of singing Midnight Rambler, which apparently is a loose biography of Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to being the Boston Strangler. Jumpin’ Jack Flash saw Tim make another costume change, coming out in a black hooded outfit.
Gimme Shelter – brought Tex, Tim, Adalita & Phil together and the song really highlighted the beautiful chemistry the four of them shared, as well as their undeniable love for the Stones.
The show concluded with (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. A perfect and fitting song to finish a stellar, slick, professional, well-orchestrated, insanely fun and entertaining show. If you’re a lover of music and enjoy The Rolling Stones, make sure you definitely get along to the Rolling Stones Revue if it’s playing at a town near you. Although it’s only rock ‘n’ roll … you’ll like it, like it. Woo!
Check out remaining tour dates HERE
