The loudest I've ever heard them play was in Hannover 2006. I could not recognize the song they were playing until Mick started singing. That wasn't fun anymore. It made me physically uncomfortable and I wasn't alone. Behind the railing a guy puked while he ran. They seemed to ease up on the volume during the show, but I wondered why it was necessary to demonstrate the power of the PA like that. Did anyone else experience such a concert? The shows in 2007 were loud, but nothing insane like that.
The ABB Tour was rather bad on many levels. Frankfurt 2007 was the worst sound I ever witnessed on a professional concert. They tried to blame it on the venue, but most recordings from the second half of the ABB Tour are painful to listen to.
I saw them at Dodger Stadium in L.A. in 2006. (It was a makeup date at the end of the tour for Mick being ill earlier). It was incredibly loud, and the light show was intense. But it wasn't about the music. It was hard to tell if the music was any good. Mick was great, strutting and moving around. He does that on makeup dates. But I left with my ears ringing, wondering what I just experienced. I can't say I didn't enjoy what I just went through, but I can't say it was a Stones concert either.