Every few months a musical group named “Classic Albums Live” recreates one of music’s greatest albums live at the Hard Rock live. They couldn’t be more different than a cover band – this is less about the act, and more about performing every note as you hear on the album. Studio tracks have overdubs, horn and string sections, and even sound effects – and they cover all of that live. This performance was of The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers.
Sticky Fingers usually tops Stones fans list of one of their best and one of the best albums by any artist so it was great to see it performed live.
The Classic Albums Live group consisted of upwards of 12 musicians (not every person played on every song) to pull it off- including a horn section, two keyboard players, and a string section (that also served as backing vocalists). The opening track – “Brown Sugar” was one of the evening highlights with the guitar sound sounding straight off the album with two electric guitars mixed with a third player on acoustic. Backup singers even added the maracas to complete the sound of the third verse. Another highlight was “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” which allowed the guitarist and sax player to shine on the extended outro.
Following the 45-minute Sticky Fingers set and a quick intermission the group returned for a Stones greatest hits set. Highlights included “Gimme Shelter” which allowed the female backing vocalist to tackle the famous duet part, and the drawn-out bluesy “Midnight Rambler”. They also dug deep into the Stones’ catalog and performed “Out of Time” – it is fun tune allowing the string section to shine. It stumped me as I never heard it – but I enjoyed it so much I had to include a Spotify link:
The group preforms at Hard Rock Live every few months – each time tackling a different album. While it certainly isn’t the same as hearing the real thing – for the price of under $20 (hint: tickets are usually on Groupon, with some seats as low as under $10) and the musicianship, it can’t be beat. Even if it is an artist you enjoy, but don’t care for the album on the bill, the greatest hits set following the album is just as well done.
Setlist:
Sticky Fingers:
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
Intermission
11. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
12. Out of Time
13. She’s A Rainbow
14. Gimme Shelter
15. Miss You
16. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
17. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
18. Sympathy for the Devil
19. Midnight Rambler
20. Honky Tonk Woman
