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The Rolling Stones at Philips Arena
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just before Saturday night’s sold-out Rolling Stones concert at Philips Arena, reviewers were given special Stones notepads and glow-in-the-dark Stones pens. The pens only let you write positive comments, one reviewer was told.
This turned out to be true. Every time a critic reached for a negative remark, the pen magically transformed the unflattering description into a note of praise, placed in capital letters for extra impact.
Anyway, about the show: Looking as YOUNG as ever, the Rolling Stones played a two hour set led by their HUMBLE leader, Mick Jagger, who took the stage wearing a gold sequined jacket and the tight black pants he was born in.
Much has been written about the Stones combined age, which is approaching 250, but at this point the more interesting statistic is their combined weight. Saturday night, none of these stick figure rock stars — not Jagger, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood or PICTURE OF HEALTH Keith Richards — looked like they could withstand the proverbial stiff breeze.
But they did stand their ground to rock, give them credit for that. They rocked long and, occasionally, hard. The hardest rocking stuff included the apocalyptic “Paint It Black� and a new song, “Oh No, Not You Again.� Softer rocking included “Wild Horses� and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.�
The Brits did not play their much-discussed protest song “Sweet Neo Con.� By now, it seems clear that “Neo Con� was nothing more than a COMPLETELY SINCERE SONG OF CONCERN THAT JUST HAPPENED TO DRUM UP ATTENTION ON THE VERGE OF A MAJOR CONCERT TOUR.
They did, however, pay homage to a Georgian by covering Otis Redding’s “Mr. Pitiful.� It was kind of a sloppy cover, actually, BUT THEY GET POINTS FOR TRYING. The Stones took time out elsewhere to mention our fair state. Jagger introduced keyboardist Chuck Leavell as Macon’s own. He also took time to give somewhat awkward BUT THOUGHTFUL shout-outs to Augusta and Marietta.
Richards, at the onset of leading a bizarre BUT ENDEARING mini-set, actually seemed to say that it was good to be home, then muttered something about “It’s as good as anywhere.� Then he said, “OK, Dixie, this is called ‘The Worst,’� and he proceeded to BEAUTIFULLY croon.
Jagger moves incredibly well for a man of any age, but his voice GAINS CHARACTER from his DISTINCTIVELY BRITISH pronunciations. In his mouth, “thank you� sounded like “thagew� and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash�� came out “Juppy Jag Flask.’�
In the end, though, “Satisfaction� came out nice and clear. The riff is indelible, and the song’s sturdy structure made is strong enough to withstand the pounding, house-rocking arrangement that the band used to finish up the show, complete with a confetti burst.
After all these years, it’s amazing that the Rolling Stones can play this song without sounding like a karaoke act. (THAT’S WHY THEY’RE THE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND.)
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Pop Music
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By Mark Weisz
October 17, 2005 8:21 AM | Link to this
Once again the Stones proved to be an age defying band. I have to say that this one of the Best concerts I have seen. It definitely ranks in my personal top ten. When they came back from Mick’s little break the show shifted into high gear. I hope this is not The Last Time.
Thanks again guys!! You Got Me Rockin’
By filboman
October 17, 2005 9:46 AM | Link to this
This really was a very poor concert, these greedy/grapsing old geezers mostly just went through the motions, much of the concert cyncially was tired filler material and the dreadful “new stuff” which had no zip or passion. The song arrangements (mostly) had little imagination. Keith Richards rarely let rip and his two songs were acutely embarassing. A few songs seemed deliberately long just to fill out stage time. I was actually kind of ashamed to be English for the first 70 mins or so, knowing my fellow countrymen were seriously ripping off so many people. Their last concert at the Braves Stadium (several superlatives deleted) was quite stunning. Then they played for almost three hours - but less than two on Saturday night - yet the exorbitant ticket prices were 2-3 times higher. There was not one tedious lack lustre song played at the stadium - it was a night of perfect blues rock. Gimme Shelter arguably being the best of more than a dozen or so highlights.
It seems to me that (generally speaking) Stones fans, like most other “committed” fans of whatever act will meekly accept whatever their heroes choose to dish out, with little or no criticism. The last part of the Arena concert, after the robotic lifeless version of Miss You was better, but rarely reached the wonderful heights the Stones are capable of, maybe half a dozen songs were reminiscent of the “old Stones”. I hope they never get to rip off folks like this again. Its only rock n roll but I sure did not like it, and the usual $50 for a crappy cheap t-shirt. You’d think that as supposedly this was their final farewell tour they’d want to go out with a much bigger bang and prove they were still the best live rock n roll band. And would make every effort to thank their fans who have made them fabulously wealthy and fed their humgous egos with the very best memory they could muster.
I saw John Fogerty fairly recently with the humdrum John Mellencamp and surpisingly Fogerty was vastly better than the Stones were on Saturday - and the tickets were five times cheaper. Ignoring the rip off ticket prices, even if it had only been $20 I’d have still felt cheated … they really were that bad - compared with their usual level of excellence.
Doubtless some Stones diehards will be outraged by my comments, just reflect on this - is that really the very best they could do? and is that how you want to remember them (presumably forever) - doing little more than going through the motions?
After all the hype not much of an emotional rescue was it - eh? big cynical smirk.
By Paul
October 17, 2005 9:53 AM | Link to this
If you want to know what the Stones show was like, read the review. They are on the same level.
By vicki
October 17, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this
This was my fifth Stones concert. The three times I have seen them outdoors, they were the best of the best. Indoors, they are pitiful. It’s as if their sound system is not set up to play indoors, and the sound is garbled. Or maybe the acoustics are bad. Whatever, after paying $200 apiece for tickets, I and my two friends left early.
By Chris Parrish
October 17, 2005 11:06 AM | Link to this
A most excellent show. Last saw them in LA at the colliseum in 1989 (Steel Wheels). Wife and I loved the show and we were very impressed at the band’s stamina. To the detractors; ask your grandfather if he can sing and dance for over two hours straight. I got tired just watching Mick strut his stuff. Poor Ronnie Wood, however, didn’t look quite as good as the other guys.
The music selection was the usual excellent, and I thought that they played superbly. They are still one of the best acts out there.
By Mark
October 17, 2005 11:26 AM | Link to this
Im 53 and havent seen but a handful of concerts in my life…with the 1984 Jacksons Victory Tour being the best up till Saturday night..all I can say was I was on my feet cheering and singing along most of the time....I just cant imagine a concert bing better.
By Seth
October 17, 2005 12:05 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Marino,
How does a bitter misanthrope like you get a job writing music reviews for a newspaper in Atlanta? So the Rolling Stones are TOO THIN for you? I’d be curious to know what YOU weigh. And they’re too OLD for you? Guess you probably don’t like B.B. King, George Jones or Tony Bennett either. The Rolling Stones put on an amazing show in Atlanta — As they do every night they take the stage. They still love to play, and that energy is contagious. Which explains why all the fans in the Phillips Arena were on their feet for the entire show. Sorry you missed it, Nick, but maybe YOU’RE too old and out of shape to stand up and rock out for two hours.
By LuckyGuy
October 17, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this
To the geriatric cynics who can’t recall what rock and roll was or is, I say get offa my cloud! The Stones were fantastic, and I especially dug the more intimate indoor setting. By sheer good fortune I lucked into club suite passes and even (literally) bumped into the Mouth from the South himself…sometimes the littlest guys are the luckiest, and I thank karma and the Stones for a magical night!
By sexy sally
October 17, 2005 12:08 PM | Link to this
I thought it was a GREAT concert! Wonderful crowd and the Stones were awesome. All the stones were fit and trim… Mick doesn’t have an ounce of body fat and can still move like he did at 17. Worth every penny of the $200 a ticket. The stage moving out into the concert was great as the people in the back were suddenly in the front. Jagger woed the crowd… Wild horses was my favorite.
By Leo
October 17, 2005 12:40 PM | Link to this
Mr. Marino,
Could you include in your next review of a concert THE SONG LIST! I’m a fan who couldn’t get a ticket but would like to know what I missed.
By sally
October 17, 2005 2:29 PM | Link to this
They had the songs written on a piece of glass by the drummer. Looked like 21 total - but i got sidetracked and lost count. Start me up, Mr. Pitiful, probably 4 new songs I wasn’t familiar with, Sympathy for the Devil, Miss You, Paint it black, You can’t always get what you want, satisfaction.. that’s all i can think of but would like to get list also.
By Shanni
October 17, 2005 2:38 PM | Link to this
Was the reviewer even at the same show? And what about these others? This was the 7th time I’ve seen the Stones over the years. And while I have NEVER seen them do a bad show, this had to be one of the very BEST. I said the same thing on the Stones website…my only regret is that, LIKE AN IDIOT, I listened to arena staff and left my cellphone in the hotel. There were at least 100 other people around me on the floor who DID NOT and got great pix. Live and learn. As for the critics, somebody’s always gotta bitch about something. Unlike the old saying, ‘those who can’t do, teach’…….those who can’t do also become paid rock critics or reviewers. Jealousy is an ugly thing.
By chuck
October 17, 2005 2:42 PM | Link to this
This was probably the BEST REVIEW I’ve ever read by a JOURNALIST. I hope you get to write MORE REVIEWS like this one, because I VERY MUCH ENJOYED your WIT and CREATIVITY.
By Jay
October 17, 2005 2:54 PM | Link to this
As a thirty two year old spectator, it was strange listening to musicians older than my parents singing about sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. But with the high voltage energy the stones presented on stage, it was hard for any audience member of any age not to be slowly seduced into the Rolling Stones vision of a perfect life of eternally looking for satisfaction. It must be truly satisfying to sell out the Phillips area at age sixty, with a rock-n-roll show that has my ears still buzzing. I think the most surprising aspect of the show was that Keith Richard only sat down once in front of drummer Charlie Watts, before he got up and rocked his famous satisfaction licks. I would have expected the entire band after the first hour to slow down and play only slow songs for the second half. But the young at heart singing and dancing of Mick Jagger pushed the band and the entire cheerful crown to stand, clap, and scream for two hours. Most surprising to me was the incredible lead guitar playing by Ron Wood. He played lead guitar for at least half of the songs, which included the first song of the concert. Not sure if Keith was letting Ron show off his talent or Keith was excessively fried from the night before to make the two hour show like he did in 2002.
By Jan
October 17, 2005 3:09 PM | Link to this
HEY ROLLING STONES!!!!!!! YOU got me ROCKIN’!. I’m STILL dancing! FABulous show….one of the best times of my life!
By Tom
October 17, 2005 3:33 PM | Link to this
Here is the setlist. I read one comment that he liked ‘Gimme Shelter’, well it wasn’t even played. The show was solid and the crowd rocked all night. ‘Get Off Of My Cloud’ was the biggest hit and the biggest sing along. Mick looked great. Forget the reviewers and negative comments- go see the Worlds Greatest Rock and Roll Band still…..
The Rolling Stones Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Saturday, October 15, 2005 The set list Start Me Up You Got Me Rocking Live With Me Tumbling Dice Rough Justice Wild Horses Rain Fall Down Bitch Mr. Pitiful —- Introductions The Worst (Keith) Infamy (Keith) Miss You (to B-stage) Oh No Not You Again (B-stage) Get Off Of My Cloud (B-stage) Honky Tonk Women (to main stage) Sympathy for the Devil Paint It Black Jumping Jack Flash Brown Sugar You Can’t Always Get What You Want (encore) Satisfaction (encore) Show start : 9:15pm Show end : 11:10pm
By Juan
October 17, 2005 4:11 PM | Link to this
My first time seeing them…I thought the show was great…I did catch slight moments of uncertainty on stage, but overall it was a thrill to see them do the hits I been hearing on classic radio ever since I was young.
By Dan Mixer
October 17, 2005 4:13 PM | Link to this
As a fan from Wisconsin who flew down to spend the time with buddies 30 years after my first Stones show, THEY STILL REWRITE THE BOOK OF ROCK AND ROLL! Great Band! Great Show! Great City!
By dave
October 17, 2005 4:17 PM | Link to this
I thought the set list was a little weak for the first half (much better song selection during the last 2 tours), but the second half made up for it. Keith, we love you, but The Worst was just that. Otherwise, great show Boys!
By Jumping Jack
October 18, 2005 9:06 AM | Link to this
The Stones still kick butt and rock harder than bands half their age. Live With Me, Bitch, ONNYA, GOMC, PIB were all highlights and every song was enjoyable.
The setlist was a nice mix of warhorses, new songs and stuff in between. Yes, some newbies wanted Gimme Shelter AGAIN and the faithful wanted Dear Doctor, Sway, or some other rare nugget, but everyone got what they needed.
As for the few who committed blasphemy and went for a beer during Keef’s set, get a freaking clue and show some respect next time!!!
Shidoobee Y’all!!!
By teresa
October 18, 2005 1:31 PM | Link to this
I had never seen the Stones Live before but I know what they are capable of…I thought the sound system was horrible. They sounded like a garage band. My ears are still ringing! For the money I paid, I expected alot more from the “WORLD’s GREATEST R&R BAND! PITIFUL!
By Eddie
October 18, 2005 5:21 PM | Link to this
As a musician with a more critical ear than most, I can only say the STONES ROCKED and ROCKED HARD! The energy, showmanship, and musicianship put forth by these legends is incredible. Is there any other band on the planet that comes close? Don’t think so! If the sound was “horrible”, you must of been in the cheap seats! Bring ear plugs next time so as to filter out the “slosh” created in any arena. No sound system can take care of the inherent sound “flaws” found in every venue…HEY, HEY YOU, GET OFF OF MY CLOUD…