The Specials could well be back in Coventry as headliners for next years fortieth(!) 2-Tone anniversary celebrations. Tonight, however, they are here as special guests to The Rolling Stones and they don’t disappoint the sky blue, sun-drenched hometown crowd. Terry Hall is his usual laconic tuneful self as the band hit their stride from the off with the opening duo of ‘Do The Dog’ and a stunning ‘Gangsters’. ‘Do Nothing’, ‘Friday Night’ and the crowd favourite ‘Message To You Rudy’ are all lapped up by The Stones and Specials faithful. Pockets of wildfire Skanking breaks out during ‘Niteclub’, ‘Rat Race’, ‘Monkey Man’ and the rousing set closer ‘Too Much Too Young’. 2019 is set to be a massive year for 2-Tone, the Midlands and of course The Specials, oh and make sure you check out Coventry’s very own 2-Tone village/museum, it’s excellent. 
Let’s be clear The Rolling Stones are blue-chip corporate Rock ‘N’ Roll at its most profitable. It’s a mobile musical Disneyland for those wanting (and willing to pay the price for) the Stones “experience”, to witness one of the last great Rock ‘N’ Roll wonders of the world. Today my girlfriend and I are here on cheap and very limited “Lucky Dip” tickets. You pay £35 (inc fees) each and are allocated your seats/area on collection at the box office. Our seats were near the rear of the stadium but the view and sound were both superb and the Lucky Dip option is well worth the punt. The sold-out crowd rises as one as the band launch into opener ‘Street Fighting Man’. Jagger’s swagger is still intact as he bounces across the huge stage with the energy of a man half his years. Drummer Charlie Watts looks his age as does Ronnie Wood (both are celebrating birthdays tonight) while Keith Richards resembles a Futurama version of his cartoon self. The sound takes a couple of songs to settle down and at points during the opener, it all seems slightly misaligned. Both ‘It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll’ and ‘Tumbling Dice’ are expertly dispatched before the legendary intro to ‘Paint It Black’ coincides with the baking sun setting overhead.
The numerous bars still do a roaring trade throughout with many showing signs of inebriation and pink pink sunburn. ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ provides a night highlight before ‘Honky Tonk Woman’ and ‘Dead Flowers’ keep the well-polished performance flowing. Keith Richards takes over mid-set vocal duties for the duo of ‘You Got The Silver and ‘Happy’ before Jagger returns decked out in red for a glorious ‘Sympathy For The Devil’. ‘Miss You’ and ‘Midnight Rambler’ give way to the set-closing run through of phones in the air, fan favourites. The everlasting trio of ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Start Me Up’ and ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’ finish the impressive set. The must-play encores of ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Satisfaction’ bring the curtain down and send the fireworks up. Tonight was a night for middle-aged tongues out, horns in the air selfies, merchandise (lots and lots of merchandise), making memories and some top-drawer Blues based Rock ‘N’ Roll. Slick, expensive, and still running hot, ladies and gentlemen The Rolling Stones.