The Rolling Stones – Strolling On The Boulevards of Paris

The Rolling Stones, U Arena, Paris

Wednesday 25th October

View: Down the front in the Pit on Ronnie’s side (but close enough to see the flamingo pattern on Keith’s shirt…)

This brand new 40,000 capacity arena in central Paris made a fitting setting for the three final gigs of the Stones No Filter European tour. Sympathy For The Devil was an innovative opener and the two blues songs Just Your Fool and Ride’ Em On Down provided an early opportunity for Mick Jagger to demonstrate his harmonica prowess. A faultless She’s A Rainbow – tonight’s web choice – belied its 50 years. Encore Gimme Shelter was a showcase for Sasha Allen, her duet with Jagger featuring less vocal histrionics than was the case with latter-day Lisa Fischer.

The powerhouse at the centre of tonight’s rousing performance was the ever-crisp Charlie Watts on drums and effervescent Ronnie Wood on guitars. Jagger was in a mischievous mood, telling jokes about Theresa May and ending a stunning Street Fighting Man by playing Charlie’s cymbals. Guitarist Keith Richards nonchalantly smoked a joint before a moving Slipping Away featured the evocative line “Oh it’s just another show…” Not for tonight’s highly enthused and very multinational crowd. So until next year…

Review written for Record Collector Magazine

Thanks to Laura Alberti for the photographs