So, I arrived in Prague a couple of days before the concert and was too exhausted from the crazy road trip to hunt down Keith, who was taking boat rides and strolls just minutes away from the hotel we were staying at.
The venue situation in Letnany was very reminiscent of what we experience in Greece, with a certain promoter who has a sort of market monopoly and holds all gigs at an open field outside Athens - difficult access and huge crowds that fill up the subway trains to the brim. I got there by taxi, it dropped me off about 1 km away and I walked to the Pit B crossing the entire GA area. The queues at the stands were endless, so I chose to get myself a much less popular apple cider and found my way to the pit.
To say it was surreal is an understatement. I've never been so close to the stage, and although I got there at about 8, there was still plenty of room to walk around. Many people from the Stones production (among them one very loud and outspoken American), wives, daughters, and a quite sweet and mellow group of fans. I didn't care much for the final support act (which was quite popular among the Czechs) because there were two older fans in sort of tie-dye t-shirts in front of me, and one of them was checking his phone that showed photos of him embracing ALL the Stones just minutes earlier. My jealousy peaked!
I was standing there and couldn't believe what was happening. I think my last time at a Stones concert was back in 2006. When the boys came on stage, I actually teared up. I was terribly embarassed of myself, but then another fan told me she cried too, so what the heck, it was worth it.
Of course I loved every single moment. I can't be too objective about the actual quality of the concert, although I did notice they were a little bit more slowed down than last time I saw them, which is only natural. However, even so, they were amazing. I had my eyes fixed on Keith in like 97% of the gig, which was funny, because most of the people around me would follow Mick as he walked to the edge of the stage and I was smiling like a kid at Keith's moves, his playing and all. The cameraman got a bit on my nerves, because he kept blocking my view, him and that whole situation with mobile phones held high - I mean, what's the point of going to a concert if you're gonna spend most of the time looking through your screen? Really don't get these guys.
There was a moment in one song, I think it was during Midnight Rambler but I can't be too sure cause it's all a haze now, that Mick was at the other end of the walkway and Keith was in the middle of the stage playing and looking at him. He was all serious and thoughtful and then broke into a huge smile at Mick, such an emotional moment! The Glimmer Twins' love was strong, I tell you, bro-fists and stage-playing and all. EVEN some mic sharing. I was screaming to them in Greek by that time
Mick was his usual hyper-energetic unstoppable self, even though his voice sounded kinda strained towards the end. I'd read he had visited a hospital the previous day in Prague, to check on his throat. No real problem though, he was great. (Or at least I was so happy it all sounded great). He even sang a part of "You gotta move", my eyes almost popped out like a cartoon's when I heard it.
Wasn't lucky enough to catch a pick but Charlie's drum stick did follow a trajectory that would land straight into my forehead or hand, if a crazy Czech hadn't jumped up and grabbed it
I had a small adventure getting back to the hotel, because the taxi I had scheduled for my return ride ditched me and I spent a good hour looking for a way to get back, getting ripped off by a taxi driver that overcharged me and took a ride through some dark, woods area that had me thinking of all sorts of crazy scenarios, but in the end it was ok.
I had tickets for Warsaw too, but my anxiety got the best of me and didn't want to travel anymore, so I gave them away to the girl at the hotel reception (the girl who also cried when the Stones got on stage!), who was a huge fan and at least I was happy that they got to someone who would appreciate them.
All in all, it was perfect and it gave me the usual Stones gig high. Now I'm just keeping all fingers crossed that they get to Europe again soon enough and maybe, just maybe, we get lucky in Greece and we get out third Stones concert at long last. Last time they played here was all the way back in 1998!
Didn't snap any good pictures because I couldn't distract my eyes from Richards
(SO stuck on him, that I wasn't even aware of the fireworks at the end - true story, I was shocked to see them in pictures posted after the gig). So I only got my crappy phone out one time and clicked without looking.
Now, where do I apply for the job of that guy who gets Keith's Malrboro pack on stage and places it there half-open?
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HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! Prague, CZ Letnany Airport Setlist Photos, etc (Read 1,460 times)
