...I just watched the Austin show on "The Biggest Bang' for the first time on a giant screen with surround sound at a party I gave and had the most unexpected reaction...I burst into tears during "Let's Spend the Night Together" and kept tearing up thoughout the show....especially when Keith sang "Learning The Game." Why? Because in my over forty years of listening to the Rolling Stones I all of the sudden realised that this was the best Rolling Stones show I had ever seen, either on video or in person...better than '65, better than '69, '72, '75, '78, '81,'89, '94,'97, '99, '02, or '05. I was not expecting much from this DVD after 'Forty Licks' but I was
absolutely stunned. Every member of the band--overdubs or not--is at the top of their game. The real hero? Ronnie Wood. OH MY GOD..."Sway"? Unbelievable. On everything else? Better than Brian, better than Taylor.

"Midnight Rambler" on the Rio disc is the best version they've ever done. Ever.

I played this DVD for a bunch of friends at the party tonight and they ALL said that they had never been Rolling Stones fans before seeing this DVD but that they were now...every one said that they were going to by the DVD tomorrow. NO ONE could believe Mick Jagger....unbelievable.

Who knew that the Rolling Stones would be at their greatest in 2007?



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2007-07-06 13:18 by bv.

i agree with you buddy 100%

i am so stunned at how these guys keep on doing it bigger and better every time.

now if they will just get their scrawny asses back to Australia ...

: )

Great review Jack Knife your realy made me curious

__________________________

Well, I'm waiting for the European release and it'll have a lot to lie up now. Best show ever! Wow, I hope you're right. Better than 69/72/73/78? That really is something to live up to.

I was at the Austin show and I just bought the DVD today. It was a killer show and it comes across on the DVD. The only wierd part is during "Get Off Of My Cloud" when they have Chuck's mic louder than Mick's. It just looks wierd. I love the extras on that disc. Keith rehearsing "Learning The Game" and Mick working out "I Ain't Ever Satisfied." Would love to see them break that one out.

Jack Knife Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Every member of the
> band--overdubs or not--is at the top of their
> game. The real hero? Ronnie Wood. OH MY
> GOD..."Sway"? Unbelievable. On everything else?
> Better than Brian, better than Taylor.
>
> "Midnight Rambler" on the Rio disc is the best
> version they've ever done. Ever.


LOL!

If every member of the band was at the "top of their game", why would they need to do overdubs? Overdubs are done for one reason: to fix mistakes. And there's lots of overdubs here.

I noted on another Stones board a comment from someone who was at the Austin show that this DVD demonstrates vastly superior playing than what he heard at Austin.

And the Rio version of "Midnight Rambler" is better than the famous Brussels 10/17/73 recording?

I don't think so.

I'll give these guys credit for turning out a decent show, but I have ears and I have eyes, and I know these guys are not at "the top of their game."

everybody getting high high high high!

*and i'm just like that bird - singing just for you*

sure good to see your excitement and emotions from the work and also sharing it and blowing your friends minds..way cool...wonderful, jack...i can catch your enthusiasm all the way from here...and i'm gonna git down with that show again and again and again no doubt...praise be...

i would gently and respectfully question the absolutism in your theory however...THE show "of ALL time" absolutism...
...i don't expect to change your mind and wouldn't want to...you have something wonderfully exciting in that show...we all do, bless 'em...but, (you just KNEW there'd be a 'but' ...

but i would venture to say one of the shows with five actual rolling stones in the 70's, wyman/watts...and keith at his absolute prime, and totally the stage general with total control and amazing intensity... with taylor in '69 thru '73 & with ronnie (and bill of course) in '78 handsome girls period...
are really extraoridnarily excellent, majorly excellent outstanding world changing shows...nicky, stu, mac, wyman...no hired hands other than a few horns & stu/nicky/mac ...seriouly deep and intrinsic boogie rollin' stompin piano cats...inherently so...that stu boy!! haaa,,,,god bless his soul...

gosh i'd drop the 'of all time' ...and just go with your infectious excitement about the austin show without begging comparisons to the first twenty years or so...jeeze louise...they wouldn't still have a career if they hadn't put down some extremely and uniquely solid shows, and very consistently...all down the line brussels halycon still just kills me...

also, some of the best live stuff from them i've ever heard is route '66 from 1964...it's serious killer...drop dead killer rock and roll music...if it was just charlie and bill without the other 3 it would still be high water mark killer...that's how deep their groove is...imo

...ya-ya's era stuff...sftd with keith and taylor trading leads...oh so much stuff thru such a long career...the hungry intensity of handsome girls period...guitars eating your face...whoa nellie...

so hail austin abb!...couple a good texas shows in '72 were filmed too...
so i just slightly question the "of all time"...but hey, that in no way is intended to diminish the excellence and power of that concert, or your happy missionary work amongst the uninitiated ... i get off on that too...i'm forever buying people banquet who would NEVER go near a stones album...and are usually proud and uppity to say so... i don't splain nothing...i just lay buy 'em a cd and keep my mouth shut...'oh i was thinking of you and i was in borders yesterday....' kinda stuff...
100% of the time
100% of the effin times...NEVER FAILED ONCE!!
they say stuff like 'wow, i never thought....' 'wow, i never knew that they...'
'wow, i would have never imagined that...' 'wow it's so...' etc..etc...and i get such a kick out of that...party on jack!!! here's to austin abb!!

highanddry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LOL!
>
> If every member of the band was at the "top of
> their game", why would they need to do overdubs?
> Overdubs are done for one reason: to fix mistakes.
> And there's lots of overdubs here.
>
> I noted on another Stones board a comment from
> someone who was at the Austin show that this DVD
> demonstrates vastly superior playing than what he
> heard at Austin.
>
> And the Rio version of "Midnight Rambler" is
> better than the famous Brussels 10/17/73
> recording?
>
> I don't think so.
>
> I'll give these guys credit for turning out a
> decent show, but I have ears and I have eyes, and
> I know these guys are not at "the top of their
> game."

Well, I take it you disagree then.

I've not seen it but I do have my doubts about the "of all time" bit.

On the other hand, if it was called the greatest show of the last 15 years, would that be true? I mean, they were still pretty damn hot on the VL tour if you ask me. Is it better than the club shows from that tour?

i favor Saitama much more than Austin

chippy Wrote:
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> i favor Saitama much more than Austin

I agree 100%

.......I would like a double dose of whatever Jack is smoking or ingesting...........please!!

"Best Show Ever" ??????

Must have been one helluva party at Jacks place......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-06-30 17:08 by 1cdog.

My wife gave me the DVD set for my birthday last night. We went to the Austin show and could feel that there was something a bit "different" about the show while it was going on. Going to sit down and watch the DVD shortly!

Hey Dude

Dodger Stadium 2006 was better but Austin is pretty close.

Of course this was all a subjective observation on my part---and I was quite inebriated at the time I will admit---but it just amazed me. They look so "fit and lively" in that film...I know it's partially professional lighting, hair, makeup, etc., but the playing and enthusiasm is just phenomenal. The music and picture is all so crisp, clear and on the spot. Just MY observation after 40 years of seeing them live and on vid. It's why I love them so....just when you think you've seen and felt everything you ever are going to with the Stones--BAM--they hit you again and give you that feeling you initially got listening to them. It was really a transendent experience for me. I liked 'Four Flicks' so much that I just thought 'The Biggest Bang' was just going to be a rehash of it....it turns out to be about 10 times better.

I LOVE the "Superman'-like credits at the beginning of the Austin Disc.
I don't know how the Scorsese movie can possibly top this film.

Keith's "Learning The Game".....wow. Worth the price of admission, says I.

"If every member of the band was at the "top of their game", why would they need to do overdubs? Overdubs are done for one reason: to fix mistakes. And there's lots of overdubs here."

Wasn't there alot of overdubs on Ya's Ya's?

Isn't Viagra kinda like a male overdub....?



ROCKMAN

Rockman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Isn't Viagra kinda like a male overdub....?



whoo whoo

I too was at The Austin, Texas Show in Zilker Park and have seen the DVD. I was front row Keith's side and I am on the dvd and can honestly say it was the very best show I have seen in my life! That was show number 24 for me starting in 1978 and my seventh show this tour. Them boys were on fire all night and with a slight gleem in their eyes, they knew it too! God Bless The Rolling Stones for doing what they continue to do, giving all of us one hell of a show after another. Is it their best performance of all time? It was for me! To each his own! Kris

ablett Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "If every member of the band was at the "top of
> their game", why would they need to do overdubs?
> Overdubs are done for one reason: to fix mistakes.
> And there's lots of overdubs here."
>
> Wasn't there alot of overdubs on Ya's Ya's?


On the vocals, I believe.....which are not necessarily always done due to weak vocal performances, but may also be required due to technical problems with the recording.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-07-02 15:29 by Gazza.

Is the Saitama show on the DVD?
I saw it on bootleg this weekend but i didn't bought it because i didn't know if it was on the dvd...

Cheers,
Wuudy

Jack Knife Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>> Keith's "Learning The Game".....wow. Worth the
> price of admission, says I.


I says you're 100% right. Best thing on the entire DVD. More stuff like this, Stones, please.

Can someone confirm -- what level of overdubs, a lot?

Wasn't Rio basically unvarnished when it was available on AOL? Has anyone compared the DVD to the performance that was on AOL?

Nice reviews, can't wait to clap eyes on this DVD. So if we generally acknowledge that the DVD shows them still pretty much at the top of their game as recently as 2006, then let me asure you that having seen ALL but two of their 2007 shows to date ... for my money they're looking/sounding as good as ever in 2007. Making allowances for the slight variations in the performances of songs they play at EVERY show unfailingly, within each and every show I've seen so far on Europe 2007 I have been able to pick versions of specific songs (some treats that they've only played once so far on this leg of the tour, and some warhorses they do every show) that they have absolutely SOARED on. If you have a chance to see them before they wrap it up on Sunday 26th August at the O2 in London, DO IT. Do not hesitate, seriously. And if you can, make the effort to see them more than once ... you will be rewarded.

The ABB Austin show was definitely incredible, but it pales in comparison to the 72/73 tour. I do realize however, that it's not really 'right' to compare The Stones at their present age to something they did way back in the '70's though.
I'm thinking I'm gonna go home after work tonight and watch the Ladies and Gentlemen DVD. Now that's what the Rolling Stones are all about to me!

They really should have included all of Saitama because it is a lot better than what they included from China, Rambler in particular. The Austin version of Bitch that plays over the credits is far better than the China version where Mick repeatedly f-ups the lyrics. How many version of WH do we need? They should have lost all of the China segment, historic or not.

Glad you loved the Autsin performance but ask 10 peoeple what the 'Greatest Rolling Stones Show of all time is" and your likely to get 10 different answers. It is relative after all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-07-02 18:52 by ChrisM.

drbryant Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can someone confirm -- what level of overdubs, a
> lot?
>

there appear to be quite a few in the second part of the show, from the b-stage onwards

Wuudy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is the Saitama show on the DVD?
> I saw it on bootleg this weekend but i didn't
> bought it because i didn't know if it was on the
> dvd...


Just a few songs from it are on the DVD. Likewise with Buenos Aires and Shanghai. All on Disc 3.