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THE ROLLING STONES : HAVANA MOON |
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Label : Eagle Vision Length : 1 hour 59 mintues Released : November 11, 2016 Venue : Ciudad Deportiva, Havana, Cuba Recording Date : March 25th, 2016 NTSC : 16:9 Review (AllMusic) : Havana Moon is not only a historic concert, but also a satisfying assertion, to fans both old and new, that the Rolling Stones are still the archetypal rock n roll band. This 2016 first-of-its-kind concert in Cuba is of course surrounded by cultural and music-historical significance, but as that is covered in the documentary I won't go into it here. Also this review is for the complete DVD plus CD package, as both complement each other. Whether the Rolling Stones still have it as a live outfit can sometimes seem to be a bit of a divisive topic among fans (and Havana Moon is unlikely to change minds). Personally I love hearing them in the 21st century with the energy of a live setting, though some of their performances can be hit-and-miss. This however is not only a fiercely infectious concert; it is also consistent, losing no steam over the 18 song set. The set list is generally what you'd expect, most of the biggest hits are here (some of them performed better than I've heard for years). There are also fan-favourites, including a couple of tracks from Exile on Main Street, and one of their best obscure songs 'Out of Control' which, stripped of its 1990's production, far surpasses the album version. As for the band, age seems to mean little to them, having surpassed its 50th anniversary, with 3 of them in their 70s. Mick Jagger, voice still strong, seems determined to carry the energy as high as he can, playing around with the dynamics of 'Midnight Rambler' for a good 15 minutes. Charlie Watts is still a tireless powerhouse on the drums, and Keith and Ronnie each take decent solos, between complementing and blending their guitar licks. The band also benefits from the addition of a second keyboardist, who subtly adds strings to a couple of tracks, and fills in some great harmonica on 'Miss You'. However their original saxophonist Bobby Keys is sadly missed, and despite her enthusiasm Sasha Allen doesn't quite live up to the absent Lisa Fischer. At a casual listen Havana Moon is one of the best recent live recordings from the Stones. On a deeper level it is a testament to their staying power over the last 5 decades, a timely opportunity which the band seems to relish (and perhaps could only have been improved by an appearance from Mick Taylor). The sense of liberation and euphoric abandon of the million-strong audience is also a reminder of why their music survives.
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