The Rolling Stones
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Thursday Feb. 6, 2003
The free NRDC concert

1. Start Me Up
2. Street Fighting Man
3. You Got Me Rocking
4. Don't Stop
5. All Down the Line
6. Wild Horses
7. You Can't Always Get What You Want
8. Bitch
9. Tumbling Dice
   -- introductions
10. Slipping Away
11. Happy
12. Sympathy for the Devil (with Remy Kabaka)
13. Gimme Shelter (with Remy Kabaka)
14. Can't You Hear Me Knocking (with Remy Kabaka)
15. Honky Tonk Women (with Remy Kabaka)
16. Satisfaction
17. It's Only Rock'n'Roll (b-stage)
18. Midnight Rambler (b-stage)
19. Brown Sugar (b-stage)
20. Jumpin' Jack Flash (encore)

Show time: 9:40 - 11:55 p.m.

The Stones then spent the first half of the show struggling to whip some enthusiasm. It didn't help that the Staples Center is a horrendous venue. Fans are crammed into seats and you can barely tap your foot without bumping the person next to you. Trying to pass people in your aisle is a nightmare. Also, a 9:40 start time is just too late in ths town.

The show kicked off with "Start Me Up" and moved into "Street Fighting Man," which ended suddenly and caused much hilarity on stage. From my vantage point in the 19th row on the floor, the audience was just standing passively -- too lazy, too tired, too old to get into it. Fortunately for me, I was standing next to a total hottie, Megan, and we spent next two hours screaming and yelling like 12-year-olds at an 'N Sync concert. I'd like to apologize to everyone around us.

The Stones were working hard or their polite applause, but it seemed that few people were familiar with "All Down The Line" or "Bitch." Most people sat down for "Wild Horses," in which Keith provided lovely backing vocals. "Gimme Shelter" in the second half was a major letdown. Lisa didn't even bother going anywhere near the high notes, and the song eventually lumbered tediously to an end.

As for the cause - raising awareness of global warming - comments from Mick were limited to an acknowledgment during the band introductions that some people had paid $5,000 per seat, and most people nothing. "We're putting the spotlight on a very good cause (which he didn't mention), and you can all feel very good about that," he said.

Leave it to Keith to note before starting "Slipping Away" that "... the eskimos are feeling the pinch." While the crew was setting up for "Happy," he added, "We've got one more gig, and then we're going to check out the Orient. I'll send you a postcard."

Highlights for me were "You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," "Satisfaction" and "Midnight Rambler," the latter performed on the small stage, which reached almost to the end of the floor. I don't think a single undergarment was thrown during the set - must be a record. Remy Kabaka helped out on assorted percussion for several songs, beginning with "Sympathy for the Devil," as he did in Anaheim. Mick performed that song wearing a bunch of those hideously overpriced ($10) flashing tongue magnets.

Overall, I hate to say it, but the jaded folks in my adopted hometown didn't put on a good welcome for the Rolling Stones. Two shows at the Staples Center is two too many. Maybe next time, they can return to the Hollywood Bowl or do multiple nights at the Greek, nice outdoor venues in bucolic surroundings.

Just some impressions

Start Me Up: What a riff and what a song. Keith was smiling, when he is smiling that means that it is going to be good.

Street Fighting Man; I closed my eyes and I was back in '68, that crazy Winter of "Beggars Banquet" and they did it letter perfect version, as good San Jose which was awesome.

You Got Me Rocking: Mick's song, Keef and Ronnie doing the weave and the Jag strutting like a rooster. It swung like Tarzan through the trees.

Don't Stop: I have never seen the Jag so animated while he was playing the guitar as was on this song. He doing some of the Berrychuck moves that the other guy does. WOW. Like the song says, I hope that the Stones don't stop.

All Down The Line: So much of "Exile" had that L.A. feel, so it felt right to hear this loud, sloopy and great version of this song. Right now, the Old Men were into fat burning mode.

Wild Horses: Somewhere up in Hillbilly heaven, old Gram was smiling down especially when the mics went dead for a minute and the crowd kept singing.

You Can't Always Get What You Want: Tow slow ones in a row and the people were still standing and they sung along on the cherry soda part. From where I was the the peeps were into it.

Bitch: Evil, positively evil. My heart was beating like a big bass drum.

Tumbling Dice: My favorite Stones song and they nailed it to barrom floor, the Jag came out on the run and the crowd went nuts trying to touch the hem of his garments. Just remember that Stones are just a glorified bar band and that is rock and roll.

2night Keef got the loudest ovation, well L.A. always was sort of his town

Slipping Away: Keef's song and it was simply beautiful, sung like an old gunfigther. The boy's got soul.

Happy: What can be said, this one cooked, false start and all. took me back to the Hollywood Palladium, '72. It rocked then and it rocks more now.

Sympathy For Devil: Menacing, gone are '75 conga lines, this version meant business. It was a keeper. Remi Kabaka joined them just as did many, many moons ago. My homie that I was sitting next too, said that they won't do ...........

Gimme Shelter: But the they did, started off sloppy but mid way through they were hitting that note. Lisa F didn't hit her high notes as usual but she is do damn fine that it didn't matter. No one looks better in a mini skirt that is just about cut up to her religion, than Lisa F. My homie said no more long songs.............

Can't Hear Me Knocking: Ronnie B. Goode ran the ghost of Mick Taylor right out of the building. This was the highlight. The Jag blew some mean harp too.

Honky Tonk Women and Satisifacion: Two monster song, great versions, reminded off the Fab Charts used to be like. This is Rock and 101. The Old Men wrote the book.

It's Only Rock and Roll: Keef's Berrychuck fix, no one plays it better. When he does his version of the duckwalk....... damn.

Midnight Rambler: Lean, clean and bluesy. The Old Men stretched it out tonight.

Brown Sugar: No matter how many times I hear this song, when goes wooooooo with the Jag, it puts a lump in my throat because right then we are one with band, we are all homeboys and homegirls together. It reallly mean version tonight.

Jumping Jack Flash: All I can is Charlie was good last night, Charlie is good everynight and so are the Stones, at least for me. I have been lucky enough to see 4 really good show. Maybe somewhere Chick Hearn, long time Lakers annoucer (Staples is where the Lakers play) was smiling down because last night the Stones put it in refrigarator. They won. To Keef, you promised us postcards we will be expecting them. If you haven't seen......... GO.

Peace and I Will 4ever Be Mean, Moody and Magnificent