Rolling Stones Open 2024 ‘Hackney Diamonds Tour’: Review
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Mick Jagger during opening night of The Rolling Stones’ “Hackney Diamonds” tour at NRG Stadium, April 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Rolling Stones; used with permission)
The Rolling Stones opened their 2024 tour on April 28, their first U.S. run since Fall 2021. The concert, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Tex., was their first stage performance since they gave an invitation-only seven-song club date in New York City last Oct. 19, in which they previewed four songs from their Hackney Diamonds album. The album, for which this tour is named, is their first studio effort of all-new material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.
On 2024’s opening night, they played three tracks from the new album, as well as songs spanning from their vast catalog. (See the setlist below.)
The Stones‘ last tour—in 2022—was limited to 14 concerts, all in Europe and the U.K. [Our recap of the closing night, Aug. 3, in Berlin.] The 2021 U.S. edition of their “No Filter” tour was their first without Charlie Watts, who died shortly before the tour began.
Unlike their last two tours which began with a video tribute to Watts, Sunday night’s show in Houston, began with a frequent opener, “Start Me Up.”
Early on, they dug deep into their early catalog to perform “Out of Time,” which Jagger said they had never performed in the States before.
Next up was “Angry,” the first track they played from the new album.
Shortly thereafter, “Mess It Up,” also from Hackney Diamonds, made its concert debut.
“Tumbling Dice” came midway through the set.
The Stones’ tour schedule offers the band many days off in between the 19 shows. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards both turned 80 in 2023. Ronnie Wood is a relative youngster, having turned “just” 76 last June 1. The 19 dates span a whopping 11 1/2 weeks; it doesn’t conclude until July 17.
Ronnie Wood during opening night of The Rolling Stones’ “Hackney Diamonds” tour at NRG Stadium, April 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Rolling Stones; used with permission)
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” closed the main set.
The first of two encores was “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” from the new album.
They closed the show with their 1965 classic.
By performing three songs from Hackney Diamonds, it meant that several chestnuts needed to be excluded from the setlist, including “Street Fighting Man,” “Angie,” and “Midnight Rambler.” (It’s been several years since the Stones last played “Brown Sugar.”)
The Rolling Stones, NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, April 28, 2024 Setlist
Start Me Up
Get Off of My Cloud
Rocks Off
Out of Time
Angry
Beast of Burden
Mess It Up
Tumbling Dice
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Little T&A
Sympathy For the Devil
Gimme Shelter
Honky Tonk Women
Miss You
Paint It Black
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Encore
Sweet Sounds of Heaven
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger during opening night of The Rolling Stones’ “Hackney Diamonds” tour at NRG Stadium, April 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Rolling Stones; used with permission)
Thanks to Fake Fan, Gentry Allen, Shonana and Christopher Mogenson for the videos. Tickets for the Stones’ tour are available at Ticketmaster and StubHub.
Related: Links for 100s of classic rock tours
Hackney Diamonds, and other Stones’ albums, books and merchandise, is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationIt was a fantastic concert! Full energy the whole set. Gary Clark Jr was an awesome opener.
The Stones’ should of asked Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman to tour with them. Mick Taylor of course left the Band during their Golden years. He was their lead and best guitarist from 1969 -1974 when the Stones made their best music. Bill Wyman was there from the beginning. With Charlie and Brian gone, Mick & Keith are the only original members.
What are talking about? Bill Wyman is almost 88 years old and looks like he should be in retirement home instead of concert stage. Not sure what is Mick Taylor’s condition in these days. At least he’s 13 years younger than Bill.