The Rollin' Stoned

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Date/Fri 07 March, 2008
Reviewed by/Denis Hill
Photography by/Nic Cooper

Its Only Rock N’ Roll (but I Like It!) - A tribute to Rock n’ Roll’s most enduring disciples The Rolling Stones, by ‘Rollin’ Stoned’. Played Plinston, Letchworth Garden City on 7 March.

Mick Jagger, ‘pop’s prancing prince’ found himself at the centre of an affectionate homage at Plinston in front of a large and appreciative audience last Friday as the halcyon days of the sixties swept through the venue like a two-hour tidal wave. Old rubber lips was looking exquisitely elastic through an opening quartet consisting of Start Me Up, It’s Only Rock n’ Roll, Oh Carol and Route 66 – vinyl favourites dating back to nineteen-hundred-and-frozen-stiff!

Next came the spooky off-stage sounds as Brian Jones (alias Byron Jones) completed his reincarnation by joining the band onstage in angel-winged mockery. I think the rebellious Brian would have approved the irreverent juxtaposition of this piece of theatre and it could have been worse – he might have taken to the stage wearing swimming trunks!

Anyway, of the early offerings I particularly liked Not Fade Away, with Byron’s harmonica giving the track a pleasing edge and Paint It Black, delivered to a bone-crunching beat which suited the oppressive feel of the track.

Chris Farlowe’s Out of Time came next, followed by the bluesy Little Red Rooster – a winner with the crowd, judging by the ovation.

Two of my favourite Stones tracks then came together – Ruby Tuesday was a little gem and Byron plucked his zither beautifully through Lady Jane. The lads had included this one partly at my bidding, explaining that it did not often appear on their set lists. In my view it more than justified itself, giving panache and balance to the first half.

‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ took us into the break in fine style, earning fulsome applause.

The atmosphere of the second set rose quickly to pressure cooker levels with a quite brilliant version of Gimme Shelter – the totality of this number bearing a very convincing Stones hallmark. Satisfaction, predictably, saw the dancers up in their droves and allowed Mick and Keith’s characters to indulge their special rapport and showmanship which we caught on camera.

More classics – Get Off My Cloud (great vocals), The Last Time (authentic lead guitar) and Honky Tonk Women (get those girls off the stage!) lit up the later part of the set. By now, many around me were visibly wondering which Stones faves we hadn’t yet heard – the answer came in the unmistakeable opening strains of Jumping Jack Flash. This track was the best of the night, spiced with the raw vibrancy that so typified their mentors.

With a final flourish, we got Brown Sugar which capped a vintage night of camp and irreverent musical entertainment – and Plinston can always find room for a bit of that!