Yes, surely Rolling Stones are playing quite a lot better than the average 89 year old man

MO. Maybe the moments of sloppiness were fewer then, but today the guitar sound has clearly more rawness and i like it.

In addition, i think their current performances are exceling some european gigs from 2003, because Ronnie sometimes seemed "lost in space" then. In any case, to me it's hard to draw comparisons betwwen whole tours. You know, there are always elements you like and elements you dislike, on every tour. For example, some 1978 performances today sound very frivolous and ustable in my ears (from boots). And despite the fact that i like in general the fast versions of 1981-82, sometimes notes have been sacrificed for the high speed. Even the epic JJF 's intro sometimes changed beyond recognition...

In any case, i feel very happy today. They still have the energy, the good "team spirit", the basic elements which have made the Stones a great, distinguished live band. And for sure i don't find out something like "Charlie's decline". Honestly.

I mean, the 1989-90 guitar sound was very "thin" IMO

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GRNRBITW

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The Sicilian
The worst thing about 1989 was Mick's haircut and those black high rise sneaker-shoes.

the best thing about 1989 is that the gawd-awful eighties were almost over...

You know what was better about 1989? Bill @#$%& Wyman was the bass player.

in 89 there were too many keyboards, guitars were too low in the mix, but their chops were better. and yeah, bill was still there.

I am not a big fan of the Steel Wheels Stones but while they are playing better this tour then the ABB tour 2013 Keef and Ronnie can't touch the playing of the 1989/90 Keef and Ronnie. Keef can barely solo these days while back in 89 he could still bring it.

Just got At the Max on Bluray and while I think the boys performance is a little stiff and they are acting for the camera's the level of musicianship blows away todays Stones IMHO. As they should considering they were 24 years younger back then.

89 was not as raw and I prefer raw. Depends on your taste.

Keith solo'd much better in 89. But MJ was still doing a bunch of the songs as a self parody. Depending on how he approaches it songs like HTW or PIB can sound like cheesy vacation resort lounge songs or real rock n roll. This tour he is singing like be really means it.

I think they were scared to take themselves too seriously in 89 and this year they are taking things very seriously.

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sonomastone
89 was not as raw and I prefer raw. Depends on your taste.

Keith solo'd much better in 89. But MJ was still doing a bunch of the songs as a self parody. Depending on how he approaches it songs like HTW or PIB can sound like cheesy vacation resort lounge songs or real rock n roll. This tour he is singing like be really means it.

I think they were scared to take themselves too seriously in 89 and this year they are taking things very seriously.

I think we are on the same page sono. I agree Mick's performance was too stiff and preconceived back in 89 and he looks much more natural this tour to me.

But as much as Keef is playing better this tour, then the ABB tour, he still can't play anywhere near the proficiency he did back in 89. Same with Ronnie IMHO.

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oldschool
But as much as Keef is playing better this tour, then the ABB tour, he still can't play anywhere near the proficiency he did back in 89. Same with Ronnie IMHO.

you can add charlie to this list...

chuck's the only one who improves with age, like fine wine...

Yes, this is evident on Bitch (but it is valid for the whole show) : he plays a lot, and his solo is inspired and aggressive...

yeah - i listened to the san jose bitch last night - ugh. not just keith, but charlie drags the song down something awful. that song used to swing in the tradition of great stones berry-rockers....

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jamesfdouglas
In 1990 Keith could still play/sing like this...

Yeah horrible. Happy belongs to the 70s. Fantastic hit in 1972, cool zonked rock life version in 1975, a bit heavier in 1976, wild in 1978. After that - nothing.

I wish they are better now!!! I am born in 1989...

Benjamin.

2013. ... Much much slower (not a big deal)and hum, question of taste. Off course. 2:43 ?







Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-11 23:14 by roby.

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roby
2013. ... Much much slower (not a big deal)and hum, question of taste. Off course. 2:43 ?

listen to a '72 version...it's not a question of taste....

1972 ? Unattainable !

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GRNRBITW

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roby
2013. ... Much much slower (not a big deal)and hum, question of taste. Off course. 2:43 ?

listen to a '72 version...it's not a question of taste....

Hey! No fair talking about 72 in an 89 vs 13 topic!

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sonomastone

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GRNRBITW

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roby
2013. ... Much much slower (not a big deal)and hum, question of taste. Off course. 2:43 ?

listen to a '72 version...it's not a question of taste....

Hey! No fair talking about 72 in an 89 vs 13 topic!

Thats just bad form...

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Munichhilton

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sonomastone

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GRNRBITW

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roby
2013. ... Much much slower (not a big deal)and hum, question of taste. Off course. 2:43 ?

listen to a '72 version...it's not a question of taste....

Hey! No fair talking about 72 in an 89 vs 13 topic!

Thats just bad form...

ok, then listen to a bitch from winter tour '73. sorry.

Bitch from the last show is not very , uh... good.

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ryanpow
Bitch from the last show is not very , uh... good.

i blame charlie and keith. who do you blame? we NEED to assign blame!

2013 : everything is possible...

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GRNRBITW

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ryanpow
Bitch from the last show is not very , uh... good.

i blame charlie and keith. who do you blame? we NEED to assign blame!

I think were all to blame. We let this happen.

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ryanpow

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GRNRBITW

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ryanpow
Bitch from the last show is not very , uh... good.

i blame charlie and keith. who do you blame? we NEED to assign blame!

I think were all to blame. We let this happen.

and we're not even sorry. we just go on like everything is fine.

The Stones are actually playing well in these 2013 IMHO all things considered.

Anyone expecting them to play as they did even 10 years ago is being unrealistic as the boys are pushing 70.

I have seen every tour since 75 and I just accept them for who they are now and can live with the fact the performances can't live up to the past.

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oldschool
I have seen every tour since 75 and I just accept them for who they are now and can live with the fact the performances can't live up to the past.

well, bully for you. we ingrates will never accept that they grew old, lazy and all-but-incompetent. how dare they.

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GRNRBITW

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ryanpow
Bitch from the last show is not very , uh... good.

i blame charlie and keith. who do you blame? we NEED to assign blame!

Charlie could force up the tempo if he wanted to but he seems to be happy with the slow tempo.

The best version of Bitch has to be from Wiltern Theatre 2003 on the Four Flicks documentary disc, this version is just painful to hear in comparsion.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-12 00:22 by TheBlockbuster.

This is true, but very courageous to say on this board ...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-12 00:22 by roby.

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oldschool
I have seen every tour since 75 and I just accept them for who they are now and can live with the fact the performances can't live up to the past.

And Rolling Stones can probably accept and appreciate the paying audience of the 2013 US tour, so it's all going round and round in a great happy circle



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-12 00:23 by Erik_Snow.

The 89/90 Tour was fantastic and totally fresh and new stuff at that time.
But, after 89/90, every tour sounded the same.
Before that, there was more own character in every tour.

After 89/90 many songs played the same way tour for tour.
I really don't need to here ...Miss you, Start me up, Honky Tonk woman... played the same way over and over for 20+ years again and again:

FOR EXAMPLE:
- "Miss you" should be played like 81/82 with great sax parts or the 12'' version
- HTW could be played as "Country honk"
- Start me up should be done as a totally different fast rockin' monster

So, it was a little bit boooring in the last 20 years.

For this tour it is a shame, if Mick Taylor could not play half of the show...
He is always there - so let's kick ass and let's go!