18 illinoisentertainer . com february 2025
Continued from page 16 “ It ’ s Only Rock ‘ n ’ Roll ( But I like It ),” trading space with Richards ’ rollicking riffs . Jagger coaxes the crowd into further action for the then-recent single “ Saint of Me ” from 1997 ’ s Bridges to Babylon . The singer duets with guest Sheryl Crow ( dubbed “ Sheryl the Peril ” by Jagger ) while Watts anchors the hip-swaying beat to “ Honky Tonk Women .” The show winds up with a string of surefire crowdpleasers as “ Tumbling Dice ” and saxophonist Bobby Keys ’ showcase “ Brown Sugar ” conclude the main set . Both songs make ample use of background singers Bernard Fowler , Blondie Champlin , and Lisa Fischer . The Rolling Stones return for an encore and rip through a snarling version of “ Jumpin ’ Jack Flash .” While Jagger works the crowd one last time , Richards leans into the familiar guitar riffs and makes them sound dangerous .
This digipak set includes the Welcome to Shepherd ’ s Bush concert film on Blu-ray and includes an audio version of the full 18- song performance across two CDs . Also available are a version featuring a 4K UHD video , an Atmos sound mix , and standalone CD and vinyl LP options .
- Jeff Elbel
7
NICK LOWE Indoor Safari ( Yep Roc )
Indoor Safari could be classified as just another display of well-practiced pop songcraft from the Basher , but a seen-itbefore assessment of this pure pop , for now people would only make your faithful correspondent seem jaded . If such a collection of heartbroken crooners had arrived from a new artist , critics would fall over themselves to praise the work . So , that ’ s what ’ s happening here . No classic pop fan will have a better time wallowing in lovelorn misery than they will when listening to Lowe ’ s “ Different Kind of Blue ” or “ Trombone .” Masquerade “ Crying Inside ” is a thematic cousin to Smokey Robinson & the Miracles chestnut “ The Tears of a Clown .” “ I can ’ t sleep for all the promises that you won ’ t keep ,” sings Lowe during the shimmering psych-pop of “ Blue on Blue ,” dripping with unrequited longing . Having toured together for many years ( and having performed some of these dozen songs , including “ Tokyo Bay ” at local venues including Lincoln Hall and the Old Town School of Folk Music ), Lowe and his luchador-masked pals Los Straitjackets are perfectly sympatico on Indoor Safari . Guitarists Eddie Angel and Greg Townson add retro-modern tone and surf-pop twang to “ Don ’ t Be
Nice to Me ,” in which Lowe can ’ t bear for an ex to treat him like a friend . “ Yes , I need a ride to the station ,” he admits . “ But I ’ d rather walk in the rain .” When the clouds finally part in an interpretation of Sammy Turner ’ s “ Raincoat in the River ” or spirits lift for the merry mood of Lowe ’ s own “ Lay it On Me Baby ,” bassist Pete Curry and drummer Chris Sprague propel the reprieves with a breezy groove and bright snap . Los Straitjackets ’ well-honed interplay is understated but always colorful , with tremulous spy-guitar leads from Angel on songs including the witty “ Went to a Party .” The approach suits Lowe ’ s musical sensibilities , which were defined by the pre-Beatles decade of rock and roll . Chet Atkins and Buddy Holly inform the sound along with the Ventures , Safaris , the Animals , and more . The focus rests on Lowe ’ s unerring ear for melody and wry turns of phrase . A “ very bad case ” of “ Love Starvation ” finds Lowe “ hugging my pillow all alone in a rickety bed .” Soul music trailblazer Garnet Mimms ’ picturesque 1963 single with the Enchanters “ A
Quiet Place ” slots neatly alongside Lowe ’ s vignettes . Accompanied by Angel ’ s tremolo guitar and Townson ’ s R & B rhythm , Lowe laments that he lacks the means to move from a noisy street . The cat outside the window won ’ t stop meowing , the neighbor lady won ’ t stop hollering after her wayward man , and Lowe updates an embedded pop culture reference singing , “ there ’ s a drunk that wakes me in the middle of the night singing ‘ Sweet Caroline .’” Indoor Safari is Lowe ’ s first full-length album in more than a decade . The irrepressible septuagenarian ’ s voice may be a bit more weathered than what we heard on Quality Street or The Old Magic , but he hasn ’ t lost a step . Play Indoor Safari while drowning your sorrows and cheer up .
– Jeff Elbel
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