Notes

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Review by Tom Atkins
Let's see, to start, the show was very loud. Shaggy opened, his birthday I think. He was ok, did about seven songs and talked alot about 'the ladies'. Is it me or does most opening bands sound distorted when using another bands equipment? He did have a nice beat and was uplifting. Not a bad opening act.
STONES hit the stage at 9:10 with 'Start Me Up', just a great song, I never get tired of this one. Highlights were - If You Can't Rock Me, haven't heard it since '75. Song is great, hope they do it at the stadium shows from now on. 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking', Ronnie tears it up, a slightly different solo than D.C. and you have to admire Bobby Keys solo, just incredible. 'Bitch' was hot, got the crowd going nuts. 'Satisfaction', that new song you know, is played with a new vigor. The crowd really loved it and sang along.

The small stage was a treat, 'Mannish Man,'You Got Me Rockin' and 'Brown Sugar'. several bra's were thrown on stage! Mick grinned and smiled alot, he really lost his mind during'Brown Sugar' dancing and jumping like he was 25. Low points- NO ENCORE), and the crowd here didn't get into 'Love Train' as much as D.C. Overall, the crowd was a little less enthusiastic as normally seen.

A good show, not the greatest. A few nice song selections. Looking forward to Miami tomorrow night...



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Sheilah Robertson, Gainesville, Florida
I just got back from the Ft Lauderdale concert... looong drive and here is my review: The band looked great tonight; I've lost count of how many times I've seen them beginning with my first concert in the late 70's in England. The newer low-key stages are so much better..it's more about the band now than the special effects. AND for me this was a great show (2nd row, Ronnie's side and I got close enough to have Mick throw water over me while on the B-stage). Ronnie is becoming very popular; he is getting better every show and he looks so happy and interacts with the crowd. He and Keith did some great long jam sessions and blew everyone away. Keith came to our side a lot and knelt down and smiled. Mick was in good form, welcoming us to the "romantically named Office Depot... we'll make it romantic for you" he said. All Down the Line, Wild Horses and Dead Flowers were highlights for me but the crown loved Bitch. I think Love Train went over well..I felt the crown liked it at least where I was standing and Don't Stop is certainly gathering momentum. As said in a previous review everyone was disappointed when there was no encore, but the final bows were nice; everyone friendly and happy and Mick giving Kieth's hand a real squeeze... Mick looked whipped at the end... no wonder he gives it everything and he is so in shape right now! Thanks once again to the greatest rock and roll band.


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Review by Romulo Dominguez, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
This is my first EVER Stone concert, so you can imagine how excited I was. I traveled with my wife and other 250 Venezuelan freak like me (thanks very much to Confetti Tours who organized everything). Before concert somebody told me "you came to only for this?. No, I don´t believe it. You are a real fan". Yes sir, it was my dream and its came true. Well, I am not boring you about my personal history so this is my review.
- Start me Up: So loud and clear, it sounded like Steel Wheels Tour version.

- IORR. I like this song very much. No matter how many times the Stones play it, always sounds cool.

- If You can´t Rock Me. Better than 75 versions.

- Don´t Stop. Much better than original version. Mick took his Telecaster and joined to Keef and Woody to play this one.

- All Down The Line. This is one of the high point of the night.

- (Sticky Fingers set). Wild Horses. What more can I say about this song?

- Dead Flowers. Mick took an acoustic guitar for this one. Sounded like Stripped version.

- Bitch. Very nice, but more guitars and less keyboards please!

- Can't You Hear me Knocking?. That blew me away. This is absolutely the hight point of the night. Great solos from Bobby with his sax, Mick with the harmonica and of course Ronnie (what a great solo). The song finished with a standing ovation for Woody. That song make me sweat!!.

- Tumbling Dice. I didn't care about this. I had still thinking about CYHMK.

- Slipping Away. I never take care about this song, but it sounded nice.

- Happy. Yeah that made me happy!

- Love Trains. I never listened this before.

- Live With Me. I like this song very much.

- Street Fighting Man. What a loud guitars!!.

- Honky Tonk Women. The crowd was really connected with this song. Chuck made a great job with this one (with his foot on his piano).

- Satisfaction. Same like HTW, the crowd enjoyed very this one.

- Mannish Boy (B- Stage). Very nice. (A guy near me told me about "Midnight Rider")

- You Got Me Rocking (B-Stage). Powerful. Keith enjoy very much this one.

- Brown Sugar (B-Stage). Like always. Yeah, Yeah, OOOOH!!).

- Jumping Jack Flash. Started very nice, but take off the horns section please.

No encore was the low point. People near to me asked for "Sympathy for the devil", but the Stones didn't return to the stage. The night its over and it was too fast for me, anyway, I am so satisfied with my first Stones concert. Thank for the greatest rock and roll band!!



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Review by John Petersen
The Rolling Stones took the stage at Office Depot Arena on October 22, 2002 at 9:10 PM and took over as usual. I have always been a huge fan of the Rolling Stones but never had the money or opportunity to see them until 1994 in Tampa at the Sombrero. Both my wife and I were left with the impression that these guys put it all out there every night. They do not just go through the motions.
The concert took off with some phenomenal rock and roll songs that you can see on the playlist. Midway through the concert they played "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". This is one of those songs that I have heard many times but only because it was on Sticky Fingers and I played that album for "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses". Neither myself nor anyone I knew would cue up that song because we wanted to hear it.

Their rendition of it completely changed my attitude for the song. It has some far reaching rhythms and sounds that populated some of the great songs of the late sixties and early seventies that musicians are too shy about putting in now. Who would put out "Tommy", "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" or "Roundabout" today? Musicians are just too embarrassed to stretch anymore. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" had great saxophone work that eventually segued into a wonderful guitar solo by Ronnie Wood. At the same time the entire arena was bathed in swirling green light that was both eerie and comforting. Just a phenomenal experience.

Later on Keith fronted two of his songs. I have always been a big Keith fan and there were definitely others in the audience. Besides being one of the greatest guitarists he has a legendary personal constitution. True to form he said, "It is wonderful to be here..." and then tried to remember what city he was in. Then he said, "...wherever it is." He then repeated himself, "It is wonderful to be here, wherever that is." The crowd went nuts. Keith is still the man. What a lovable guy. My wife said that he looked like a very old and very scary monkey. And every time he strummed the guitar there would be some flourish to coax the perfect note out of it.

Mick is in tip top athletic form and stage presence. Perfect choreography. He wore a white pimp overcoat for "Love Train" that was dazzling. He has great mannerisms that are so outlandish that it could be laughable. But because he puts it right out there and holds nothing in reserve for fear of ridicule he is adored by the crowd.

Towards the end of the show it became quite clear to me that these musicians were just regular guys without the aura that they used to have for me. They are rock and roll pure and simple. There are lots of people who play rock and roll and are quite good but these guys really are rock and roll. This particular type of rock and roll was invented by them and they are it. Seeing them out there like that made it clear to me how much they have accomplished.

The encore was "Jumping Jack Flash" accompanied by cannons shooting out red paper circles that looked like rose petals raining down. Top Notch.

On the way home from the concert "Break On Through" by The Doors was playing on the radio. This is a great song from a long time ago. Jimmy Morrison has long since passed away and a unique musician is far gone. But then I realized that The Rolling Stones were already giants before The Doors had even gotten together.



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Review by Dave Holt
The show rocked hard and loud. Very stripped down, not a lot glitz. This was my fifth Stones show and very different from the stadium shows I have seen. The band looked great and Ronnie Wood seems reborn. His playing was intense and he received the loudest ovation. I loved every minute of the concert and wanted them to play all night. I think the Stones have reinvented themselves on this tour and proving night after night that they rule over all other bands. Long live the STONES.