Rolling Stones in Halifax: A Bit of Alright

Stones show last night was amazing. Sound and video were crystal-clear, the lighting was spectacular, and the band seemed to be in great form. We got two solid hours of music, and the reports today say that the crowd was over 50,000 strong.

But the lead-up? Jesus, what a trial of endurance. My parents and uncle ended up arriving yesterday afternoon (a day late), and after having some lunch, we headed out to the show just before 4 pm. None of the buses seemed to be running properly as all the streets around Halifax Common were closed for the show, so we ended up walking the two miles to the concert site. Started to drizzle as we walked. We did go prepared, in rain gear, but we didn’t anticipate that the rain would never stop!

By the time we arrived at 4.30, Sloan were just finishing their set – I must have gotten the times mixed up because I thought the music was due to start then (I was sorry to miss them). We’d brought a tarp with us, but the ground was already wet by that point and we thought we’d stand for a bit. Well, we ended up standing for the next six hours – through the break after Sloan, through Alice Cooper and his usual props (python, woman with whip, etc. *yawn*), through another break. Then Kanye West came on. He wasn’t bad, but I’m not sure that his act translates very well live – I was expecting more from him. At one point, his backing singers and his string section were in different keys, which was a bit painful.

After Kanye finished, it was another hour before the Stones took the stage. By that time, the flannel lining of my raincoat had begun wicking water from the cuffs and hems and was mostly soaked – I was freezing. That, coupled with being very stiff from standing for hours, and the continued driving rain, meant we were a bit of a subdued crowd to say the least. But everything came to life for the main show. Everybody was dancing and had a good time, the cold and wet were forgotten, and the final two hours whizzed by.

Afterwards, we couldn’t wait to get home. No chance of a taxi or bus without a long wait, though, so we walked back. Never was I so glad to get inside, put on dry clothes and sit down! I was in a world of pain – but it was worth it in the end. We all had a great time and the show exceeded my expectations.