Mick Jagger on Saturday Night Live

Mick Jagger did double duty last weekend on Saturday Night Live as both the host and musical guest. Say this for Jagger he is a good sport. He was funny in his skits, most of the characters he played were a bit over the top so it was not a great challenge to a septuagenarian who dances around state in front of tens of thousands of people.

Saturday Night Live has been uneven this year, perhaps it has been many of the last few years, this last episode was one of the stronger ones this year. The skit that has people talking was the sentimental sweet last skit that had Jagger playing a speaker at a Graduation. The Graduation of course of Kristen Whig, the SNL actress who has been the anchor of the show for the last few years. Whig who is leaving the show was seriously affected by the skit as each of her costar came up to high and kiss her or dance with her. She choked up and the show ended on a high note with Jagger at the end of the skit leading the cast in a singalong of Goodbye Ruby Tuesday. This was very sweet.

Of course with Mick Jagger the highlight has to be music and in this he delievered. Rumors had bubbled all week that Jagger might be joined by his band mates and we might actually see The Rolling Stones. This was not to be and to be honest, this was a good thing. Why? Jagger performed magnificently with backing from two of the biggest bands in rock today.

In his first performance Jagger sang the the ancient " The Last Time" backed by Canadian Alternative Rock Supergroup Arcade Fire. Win Butler, his brother, and the rest of the band might well be the biggest thing in music that you have never heard about. Each time I see them perform live I become more enamored of them and resolve to listen to The Suburbs five more times to grow and appreciation for it beyond what I already have. Arcade Fire is fast becoming like Dave Matthews and Phish, a band that can best be appreciated live and backing Mick Jagger was a thrill for them but also seemed to energize Jagger.

Late in the show Jagger was joined by the Foo Fighters for a medley of 19th Nervous Breakdown and It's Only Rock and Roll that shook the building. It is interesting that in the twenty years since Kurt Cobain's death that Dave Grohl has become the go to guy in rock and roll. If there is a rock and roll event that needs someone who has the respect and respects the forefathers of rock and roll you will most likely find Grohl. Playing at a furious, sped up clip on 19th Nervous Breakdown my daughter said " Wow the band is so loud you almost cannot hear the singer." The Foo's certainly did not slow the pace for the old man Jagger.

On top of all the Mick can never be a good boy, his Presidential themed song about Governor Romney gained some controversy and caused some local stations to cut away. I am sure that made Mick happy, he can never be too conventional.

Perhaps Mick has another career ahead of him. One thing is for sure, he has more energy than any of the hosts we have seen earlier this year.

If you missed this the first time around be sure to catch it in reruns later this summer.