The Stone Roses

Not to be too harsh on 'Second Coming' here - a record that, for all its faults, still has some very strong moments - but it’s really quite incredible - and a huge testament to the quality of their self-titled debut - that The Stone Roses, upon their reformation in 2012, were able to sell so many tickets off the back of such a sparse back catalogue. Sure, they weren’t the first band to sell out three nights at Manchester’s Heaton Park - their spiritual successors, Oasis, managed it three years earlier - but for the Roses, it was a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that they always seemed like outsiders in their own city. They weren’t signed to Factory Records, and they didn’t have the kind of obsessive fanbase that, say, The Smiths had, with legions of disaffected teenagers hanging off of Morrissey’s every word. What they did have, though, was a genuine band; John Squire’s criminally-underrated, trail-blazing guitar work, Mani’s irresistibly funky bass-playing, and Reni’s unusual style of groove providing the backdrop for Ian Brown to swagger across the stage long before Liam Gallagher ever did. The result was one of the most successful comebacks in live music history; tens of thousands of fans singing along to Squire’s guitar lines, echoing back Brown’s every word, and revelling in the sheer tightness of the band’s live performance, especially when they’d jam out tracks like "Fools Gold" and "I Am the Resurrection;" as endearingly ramshackle as their early shows were, you can’t help but feel that this was how we were meant to hear them.

In 2012 the Stone Roses announced their reunion tour. Aged 19, I was excited by the opportunity to see one of the most influential acts of the early ’90s live. So, when I heard that the Stone Roses were one of the Optimus Alive festival’s headliners, I needed little more persuasion to buy a ticket.
As the crowd gathered to witness the band’s return to the stage, enthusiastic festival-goers pushed towards to barriers. As we waited, cramped together in a heaving mass, apprehension mounted. Reviews about reunion tour so far had been somewhat mixed… In the end we were treated a rendition of the Roses’ greatest hits and a recreation of the band’s heyday: exactly what we came for. Nonchalantly wandering the stage, shaking a tambourine, Ian Brown gave us youngsters a taste of the Madchester scene, and provided those who could remember the late ’80s/ early ’90s with an intense nostalgia trip. Of course, we were also treated, at times, to Ian Brown’s infamously questionable vocals. And some of the guitar solos could be described as excessive. While it was exciting to see John Squire in his element, one did become a little suspicious of time-filling and self-indulgence as ‘Fool’s Gold’ entered its twelfth minute.
Nonetheless, it was a pleasure to see the Stone Roses on stage, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed by their performance of my favourite song of theirs, ‘Waterfall.’

I’d seen the Stone Roses a year earlier at the Ethiad which was a fantastic ‎experience. I was very much looking forward to seeing the legends in an arena ‎environment and the sound just seemed to have more crisp and intimacy to it and it ‎was such a fantastic show. Perhaps my only slight disappointment was that the ‎setlist was identical to the year before and perhaps could have been changed ‎slightly here and there – but they what do I know. ‎

As soon as the intro started to I Wanna Be Adored (is there a better intro?) the hairs ‎stood up on the back of my neck and I like the rest of the arena was hooked. I was ‎standing and looking up at the seats it seemed everyone was stood up all night and ‎it was quite a sight. ‎

There was a fantastic rendition of Waterfall under excellent neon lighting and Fools ‎Gold was faultless and outstanding. Then for me in terms of playlist the tracks kept ‎coming with Love Spreads, Made of Stone, She Bangs the Drums, Breaking into ‎Heaven and This is the One before the set and excellent evening closed with I Am ‎the Resurrection. ‎

As a young man growing up in England The Stone Roaes were our band and their first album the soundtrack to our lives. Many shows back then were dogged with bad sound (spike island) bad performances (many second coming gigs) but still they were a special band. Fast forward a lifetime and now living in NY I was giddy with excitement at seeing them again now with my son who is the age I was when they first banged the drums. It was worth waiting for! From the opening of "adored" to the closing rousing soaring "resurrection" as a regular gig goer i don't remember many better shows. The crowd danced, sang, screamed and roared their appreciation. The Stone Roses just took NYC. Finally.

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Perhaps after the Phoenix Park some people decided that another trip to a field to see the Stone Roses wasn't worth it. They were wrong. The debacle over the sound quality etc was blown out of the water on Saturyday. A crackin' day in Dublin with blue skies and the sun splitting the stones meant that we were in for a treat. Ian Brown's stage presence was confirmed as being back. The crowd craved for more and the lads weren't shy in giving it back.

The boys were awesome!

you can tell they love their fans and love playing all the greatest songs in the reunion tour.

They're super chill on stage and everyone has a great sing-a-long. Ian's voice is suburb and John is still one of the greatest guitarists around.

If I had the cash I would have seen them the 3 nights they played in Sydney.

Great show by the roses IBs vocals a bit wobbly as ever especially on waterfall. Grateful that we were moved from our original seats at the very side of the stage tier 2 to ones lower down at a better angle and unlike those standing didn't get soaked until outside. Public Enemy"...........why?

It's as f*cking class, seeing my favourite band in my hometown at their LAST EVER GIG was just amazing. The atmosphere was insane everyone was together, they sounded class, the night was great. Sad they have split up but I'm glad to have seen them it really was a beautiful thing.

To say we had rubbish seats and couldnt see the stage....the atmosphere the sound and the crowd was absolutely amazing.
They shouldnt sell seats out and up in the gods couldnt see any of the stage show....but i loved it.