A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to the Desert Trip in Indio California. It was often referred to as Oldchella, as it had some of the greatest living Rock and Roll artists perform. The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Who, Roger Waters and Paul McCartney. I can’t say I am a huge fan of all of these artists, but if they proved one thing on that stage, it was that age is just a number.
The standouts to me were hands down The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and The Who.
The show opened with Bob Dylan, who, to be perfectly honest, almost put me to sleep. I respect Bob Dylan’s music, but I just can’t say I love it. But he was up there and he did his thing.
Following his set was The Rolling Stones.These guys are in their 70’s and I think they have more energy than I do. Mick Jagger opened up by saying, “welcome to the see them before they croak show”, and he really was not wrong. Leading up for months before the concert, my family and I had an ongoing joke about hoping they would still be alive by the time the show rolled around.
The Rolling Stones really brought it. They still had the shaggy hair, the colorful headbands and the tight pants. They still wore vibrant, odd and out-there clothing. They looked like your classic boy band and like it was 1962 all over again.
The best part of it all was you could tell that they were up there just doing what they do best and were having the time of their lives.
Being surrounded by a bunch of people in their 40s to 60s was like being taken back in time. You could tell that all of these people were on a time machine and found themselves 16 and rocking out in their parents’ basement all over again.
People from all over the world came to see this show. Brazil, Australia, Mexico and more. This concert did not disappoint and was a big enough draw for people all over.
The most amazing part about music is the way it brings people together. As I was lounging in the hotel pool, I overheard a conversation between a boy roughly 12 years old and his mother. They were talking about the concert and how he could not wait to see Paul McCartney. He went on to discuss how the only people he felt like were missing from the show were Elton John (I could not agree more), Eric Clapton and Phil Collins. This kid was no more than 12 years old. Whether you are 12 or 60 you can connect to people through music in all sorts of different ways. Music is a common ground that brings people together.
Paul McCartney left the biggest impact on me. After performing a three-hour set and providing a little background into each song, his playing had to come to an end. By the end of it, all I wished for was to have had the opportunity to see the Beatles live. Paul McCartney has an ability to tell a story like nobody else can. From opening up about his first wife Linda’s passing and then singing ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, to civil rights and playing ‘Blackbird’ and singing 'Let It Be', he left every last one of us longing for more. Eventually, he brought out Rihanna and they performed 'FourFiveSeconds', proving that age is just a number in regard to music.
The last band that really blew me away was The Who. Pete Townshend hit his head on the microphone and started bleeding but it sure did not stop him.
If the Desert Trip did one thing, it proved that even after all of these years, these guys still got it and that they can give us a show we will never forget.
