THE ROLLING STONES : LIVE AT THE WILTERN

 

Disc One (55:45)

  1. Jumpin' Jack Flash
  2. Live With Me
  3. Neighbours
  4. Hand Of Fate
  5. No Expectations
  6. Beast Of Burden
  7. Stray Cat Blues
  8. Dance, Part 1
  9. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (with Solomon Burke)
  10. That's How Strong My Love Is
  11. Going To A Go-Go
  12. Band Introductions

Disc Two (50:32)

  1. Thru And Thru
  2. You Don't Have To Mean It
  3. Can't You Hear Me Knocking?
  4. Rock Me Baby
  5. Bitch
  6. Honky Tonk Women
  7. Start Me Up
  8. Brown Sugar
  9. Tumbling Dice

Label : Rolling Stones Records

Venue : The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

Recording Date : November 4, 2002

Release Date : March 8, 2024

Review (The Rolling Stones Shop) : The Rolling Stones embarked on the Licks World Tour in 2002 & 2003 to celebrate their 40th anniversary, featuring the band performing in arenas and stadiums, in addition to the occasional theater. In November 2002, the Stones arrived in Los Angeles to perform at a packed Wiltern Theatre, treating fans to a set heavy on rarities which feel right at home in such an intimate setting. While some of the hits are performed, this night at the Wiltern is for the rarely played classics, including “Stray Cat Blues”, “No Expectations” and a cover of “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” featuring a guest spot by the legendary Solomon Burke, who opened the show that night.

Review (American Highways) : There could be an argument that The Rolling Stones aren’t Americana, but they do dip generously into the American blues, folk & country pot & thus, qualify. However, what makes this small venue special (2,000 seats) is that the band decided to not follow their big arena setlist. Instead, focus more on lesser-performed pieces along with some classics. The Rolling Stones The shows (2002-3) are showcases for the “Licks World Tour,” which was in support of their 40 Licks compilation CD. It also celebrated the band’s 40th Anniversary. The tunes were recorded in L.A. at the Wiltern Theater. The shows are considered some of the best live Stones shows ever. (But if so, why wait so long to release it?). Produced by The Rolling Stones, the 2-CD set contains 20 sparkling tracks for Live at the Wiltern (Drops March 8-Rolling Stones/Mercury/Universal/Promotone BV). Right from the start the performances were recorded pristinely. What’s important since a recording doesn’t put you in the arena it does capture the ambiance & energy of the theater where Mick Jagger’s (guitar/harmonica/percussion) voice resonates with what is a signature rock n’ roll tune in “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The interweaving guitars are hypnotic & Charlie Watt’s steady drums while not as inventive as some progressive rock drummers this comes from a special percussive rock world of perfection that is solely Watts’ signature. And many great drummers will tell you trying to imitate Watts’ style isn’t an easy chore. Maybe because Charlie was an admirer of Art Blakey & Charlie had his secrets. RIP Charlie – you were indeed one of the best. A Charlie workout tune comes on this performance where he shines with incendiary fills on “Live With Me.” The whole band cooks like a midtown madhouse kitchen at lunchtime. Bobby Keys blows with fog horn blasts on his rock n’ roll sax. Wonderful. You don’t have an alarm clock? Wake up to this tune in the morning. “Neighbors,” (while not a favorite of mine) does smoke on this live set. Lots of sparks from the guitars. What’s surprising is that even on the lesser-known tunes the Stones don’t cruise – they don’t get sloppy or rush. Each performance has inspiring moments. The excitement’s evident & consistent. Each follows a careful arrangement to make the songs accessible to an audience. It’s a well-paced show. What makes these veterans special is that they know how to generate power through their lyrics & melodies. Even the slower songs are individualistic & that comes with experience. The flipside of their 1968 mono 45 “Street Fighting Man,” had this hidden gem “No Expectations.” A slow, yet superb rendition with slide guitar. “Stray Cat Blues,” is exceptional. Again, the intertwining guitar play between Richards & Wood creates a unique sound assault & it just builds expertly & expressively. Soulfully, with a brass band backing & Solomon Burke on guest vocals “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” is quite a show-stopper. Like Bob Dylan, I admire Mick Jagger for being able to memorize with accuracy all the lyrics from a vast catalog of varied songs. These shows certainly had luster & even back in 2002-3 the band was decades from the punk/new wave explosion that was supposed to unseat bands like this. But it’s 2024 now & The Stones & The Who still exist. With the soulful volatile magic of “That’s How Strong My Love Is,” Jagger puts on his best Otis Redding suit (think Otis’ Live In Europe’s “I Can’t Turn You Loose”) & you’ll understand. Another superior vocal.

Review (Humo) :Twee weken geleden vroeg een vrouw me op de man af, in een Brusselse bus: ‘Heb je de nieuwe elpee van The Rolling Stones al gehoord?’ Ik knikte en liet in mijn niet onaanzienlijke hoofd de begeesterende intro van ‘Angry’ afspelen, de opener van hun afgelopen herfst bezorgde ‘Hackney Diamonds’, een petit chef-d’oeuvre van heb ik jou daar. ‘Mis poes!’ zei ze met haar hoofd. Wist ik veel dat de Stones-machine intussen voor een nieuwe worp gezorgd had, ter ere van de pas aangebroken lente: een dubbelaar met daarop het audioverslag van een naar het schijnt legendarisch concert in The Wiltern te Los Angeles. Dat was in 2002. Nu, legendarische concerten hebben de diverse bezettingen van de Stones al zes decennia met grote regelmaat gegeven, en de talrijke liveregistraties daarvan zijn voor veel fans the next best thing. Alleen op de zolderkamer met de volumeknop op 9 en een kwart Jack Daniel’s in de ene hand en… iets anders in de andere: fiesta! De Stones die we ontmoeten in The Wiltern zijn een goede lichting. Mick Jagger is in vorm, Charlie Watts mept zich de pleuris, en Keith Richards draait zijn solo’s rond die van new boy Ron Wood alsof ze samen aan een breiwerk van prikkeldraad werken. De Stones waren begin deze eeuw van een rockgroep in een soulorkest veranderd. De uitstekende blazers, de flamboyante back-upzangers en -zangeressen zorgden overal waar die soul train halt hield voor vuur, vreugde en vrolijkheid. In The Wiltern kwamen bovendien niet alleen de verplichte dertig hits aan de beurt, maar gelukkig ook een handvol verloren sloebers als ‘Dance’, ‘Beast of Burden’, ‘No Expectations’ en als gulle hulde aan Otis Redding diens ‘That’s How Strong My Love Is’. The Rolling Stones? Als ik u was, zou ik ze in het oog houden.