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The Rolling Stones kept rocking past 10 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, but apparently were not in danger of being tagged for a curfew violation during its terrific show on Aug. 18.
The band brought its main set to a close at 10:41 p.m., before returning for a two-song encore to wrap up its 19-song, heavy-on-the-classics performance at 10:57. And sources close to the matter told the Bay Area News Group that, thanks to negotiations between the city of Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers football team, the legendary band’s curfew was set at 11 p.m.
There was no word on when then those negotiations took place.
Previously, it was believed the Rolling Stones were supposedly facing a 10 p.m. curfew for the show. That’s the standard weeknight and Sunday curfew for the venue, which is the home of the San Francisco 49ers.
No 10 pm curfew violation? Sources close to negotiations say that City Manager gave permission for @RollingStones to play to 11pm tonight at @LevisStadium.
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) August 19, 2019
The curfew had been an ongoing battle between the City of Santa Clara and the 49ers. The city has backed the 10 p.m. weeknight curfew, which city officials say is needed so neighbors aren’t bothered by the noise and traffic when they have to get up early for work or school the next day. The 49ers argue the curfew unrealistic for operating a concert venue.
Acts that have broken the curfew include include U2 (2017), Coldplay (2017) and Beyonce (2016 and, again, in 2018 with Jay-Z).
The Stones took the stage at 8:52 p.m. following a set by Sacramento’s Vista Kicks, and kicked off with a solid version of “Jumping Jack Flash.” From there the show just kept getting better, as frontman Mick Jagger showed he was no worse for wear following the recent heart surgery that had postponed the band’s North American No Filter Tour.
The four longtime Stones — vocalist Jagger, guitarists Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, and drummer Charlie Watts — quickly continued into “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” while four giant video screens broadcasting the action to the far reaches of the packed football stadium.
“This is the first time we’ve ever played this lovely stadium,” Jagger remarked.
It was the band’s Levi’s debut, but it was also reportedly the 40th Stones show to be held in the Bay Area. The group has been coming around here ever since the mid-1960s. And don’t think that the band members have forgotten about some of those early shows.
“I always remember the smell of the Cow Palace,” Jagger said to the crowd.
The Stones stuck pretty closely to the greatest hits material, rolling through “Tumbling Dice,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Sympathy for the Devil” during the first half of the show.
Yet, the group also touched upon some lesser-known offerings, such as “Rocks Off” and “Sweet Virginia” (both from 1972’s “Exile on Main St.”).
Following a stripped-down, two-song acoustic set at the edge of the catwalk that extended out into the crowd from the stage, Richards took over on lead vocals for “You Got the Silver” and “Before They Make me Run.” The main upside to that segment was it gave Jagger a chance to catch his breath and he’d come back to the stage refreshed and ready to really motor on to the finish line.
The band finished up the main set in true Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fashion, stringing together “Miss You,” “Midnight Rambler,” “Paint it Black,” “Start Me Up” and “Brown Sugar.” The Stones then quickly returned for a uproarious take on “Gimme Shelter” — which turned out to be the best song of the night — and then finally ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
Here’s the set list
1. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
2. “Let’s Spend the Night Together”
3. “Tumbling Dice”
4. “Out of Control”
5. “Rocks Off”
6. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
7. “Sweet Virginia”
8. “Let It Bleed”
9. “Sympathy for the Devil”
10. “Honky Tonk Women”
11. “You Got the Silver”
12. “Before They Make me Run”
13. “Miss You”
14. “Midnight Rambler”
15 “Paint it Black”
16 “Start Me Up”
17 “Brown Sugar”
Encore:
18. “Gimme Shelter”
19. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
