The Rolling Stones Go Back Into The Vault For ‘Welcome To Shepherd’s Bush’ – A Theater Show From ’99

Just in time for Christmas and all you folks looking for stocking stuffers, The Rolling Stones have gone back into the vault and released another gem of a live show. This time it’s Welcome To Shepherd’s Bush, recorded in June of 1999 at that legendary theater. I don’t know how many of these fabulous shows from smaller/small-ish venues (clubs/theaters) the Stones have, but I’ll take any of these we can get. They’ve previously released (amongst other small venue shows) the legendary Live At The El Mocambo show from which several tracks landed on the underappreciated Love You Live album and earlier this year the fabulous Live At The Wiltern. Shepherd’s Bush comes in a 2 CD, 1 BluRay package, but as usual, I’m just talking about the audio portion of this… although I hear the video is very well produced.

Shepherd’s Bush is taken from the 1999 tour the Stones did in support of their live album, released in November of ’98, No Security. I recall the tour stirring up a touch of controversy as Jagger had always said the Stones would only tour when they had new material – i.e., a new album – to tour behind. This was the first time the Stones had toured behind a live record and didn’t actually have anything new to play. It of course, was not the last time that would happen going forward. I’m one of those guys who dig the Stones’ latter work and like to hear new stuff, although I realize there are many folks who show up to pick up the latest t-shirt and hear “Satisfaction” again.

Typically the Stones play a theater show (or a club show for that matter) as a tune up for whatever tour they’re about to begin. It helps them sort out setlists and break the tunes in. However, this Shepherd’s Bush show was in the middle of the No Security tour, they’d already completed a run through North America. I actually saw the Stones on this tour in April in Kansas City (two months prior to this show), and they were great. They played a bunch of tracks from Some Girls, my first Stones’ album, and they came out to a second stage and played a set of early cuts like “Route 66.” It was the last Stones show I was to see before the Rock Chick (my wife) era began… I met her in 2000.

The Stones took an expanded group out on the road for this tour. Beyond the core band of Mick Jagger (vocals/guitar), Keith Richards (guitar/vocals), Ronnie Wood (guitar) and the late, great, legendary Charlie Watts (drums) they were augmented with bassist Daryl Jones (who has basically replaced Bill Wyman) and keyboardist Chuck Leavell. Beyond that they have the wonderful backing vocals of Bernard Fowler, Blondie Chaplin, and the incomparable Lisa Fischer. Beyond that they brought a 4-piece horn section led by sax legend Bobby Keys. When they’ve got that many horns on stage, you have to guess they’re going to do a rip roaring version of “Bitch,” but no, they actually didn’t play that one.

One of the reasons I love these small venue shows is the setlist is always full of deep tracks. I can say the setlist from this album is vastly different from what I saw in Kansas City, and that’s a very good thing. When I saw them they opened with “Jumping Jack Flash.” Here, they open with one of the best versions of “Shattered” from Some Girls that I’ve ever heard. They just nail that slinky riff. After that they hit us with a rousing version of “It’s Only Rock N Roll.” The Stones sound like they’re having a really good time and they play their asses off in front of their home town crowd. Mick is in particularly good humor.

After those two blistering openers, the Stones launch into the first deep track of the night, “Respectable,” also from Some Girls, which Mick introduces to the audience as, “Something you’ll never be, “Respectable.” So true Mick, so true. They kill it on this song. From there they launch into one of my all time favorite Stones’ deep tracks from Exile On Mainstreet, “All Down The Line.” This track should be on every setlist these guys do. When it does pop up I always feel like we’re getting a special show. I can’t say enough about Chuck’s piano playing throughout this show. That boogie woogie piano is rollicking good fun.

Next up is the song “Some Girls,” with some, shall we say modified lyrics albeit no less indelicate perhaps. When they did this track in KC, Mick was fresh off his divorce from Jerry Hall and let’s just say he put a little more “oomph” into here… I get more humor in this version of the song. At this point, the Stones launch even deeper into the catalog and this is where the money is for me. They do the Black And Blue jazzy chestnut “Melody.” I was blown away they pulled this one out! The horns shine for the great Sticky Fingers track “I Got The Blues.” You’re probably never gonna hear this one again. And then they go deep on Voodoo Lounge tracks with “Brand New Car” (which I think made our Playlist: Songs About Cars) and surprisingly, “Moon Is Up.” Then they launch into a rousing version of “Saint of Me” from Bridges To Babylon that inspires a sing along from the crowd… why those kind of moments don’t push these guys into a deeper setlist for stadium shows, I can only guess?

They bring 90s star Sheryl Crow out to duet on “Honky Tonk Woman.” I have to admit, this was a special show for them and they may have thought they needed a “special guest star” for a duet, but I’m not sure ol’ Sheryl brings much to the track. She certainly sings with quite a big of gusto. It’s an interesting novelty. After a quick introduction of the band, It’s Keef time. He does the wonderful “You’ve Got The Silver,” a track that has only risen in the fan’s estimation since Keith did it on this tour. He follows up with the Some Girls track “Before They Make Me Run,” which was the first Keith song I fell in love with as a teenager. I will admit, the track almost gets subsumed by the horns… almost.

When Mick returns after Keith’s turn at the microphone is usually when they bring the old warhorses out. In this case they lead off with “Route 66” which is a bit of a surprise. Great, ol’ tune… I think Depeche Mode covered that song once upon a time. It’s a personal favorite from the early Stones, Brian Jones era. From there it’s “You Got Me Rocking” from the aforementioned Voodoo Lounge, a great late rocker from the Stones. The three final tracks are standards: “Tumbling Dice,” “Brown Sugar” and finally “Jumping Jack Flash.” Interesting thing, they don’t play “Satisfaction” which might be a first. I could go the rest of my life without another live version of that one, but that’s likely just me…

After that last crowd noise faded from my stereo, I realized I had  big smile on my face. I realize the Stones won’t last forever – despite last year’s wonderful Hackney Diamonds and seeing them in Denver this year on that tour – but as long as they have these choice vault live releases I think they actually last forever. This is another special show with a great setlist to crank up loud. I can’t rave enough about this one!

Happy Holidays from planet Stones… I’m just glad to be here for this one!

Cheers!