The "Why I Wasn't Around Friday" Report

I had to leave for work at 6:30AM. After work, I had to head home, drop a few things off and then leave for my boyfriend's office because we needed to drive (it took 2 hours for 26 miles--ugh!) down to Anaheim because we were going to see The Rolling Stones -- floor seats, VIP hospitality suite for FREE, thanks to a friend of his! Didn't get home until 1:30AM. Took a half hour to get out of the parking lot! Let me tell you all about this amazing evening.

First things first, we were to head to the VIP Ameriquest Club (they sponsored the tour). It was positioned sort of like a sky box but it was an entire bar/seating area with a buffet. There was a coconut crusted salmon, which was delicious and I'm not even a salmon fan, and there was chicken marsala, one of my favorite dishes except not their version. Oh well. Fifty percent isn't bad.

While we were eating, the opening act came on at 7PM on the nose. Toots and the Maytals, the original Ska band, even pre-dating Bob Marley, performed and they were terrific. After we were done eating, we headed to our seats. I've never had floor seats at a stadium concert. Very wild to be that close. When the Stones finally came on, around 9PM, they immediately got the house jumping with "Start Me Up." For a bunch of old men, those guys can really rock out. I always wondered how Mick could remain so lanky and thin. I don't really know any guys over 30, never mind 60, who are like that. After the concert ended, I finally understood. Man does he have energy! But back to a few concert highlights.

Their stage was really impressive. At first, we thought it was simply part of Angels Stadium. Then at one point, I think it was during "Sympathy for the Devil," fire came out the very top of it -- so much that it warmed us there on the floor. The crowd went nuts.


At one point, part of the stage traveled something like 200 feet into the audience. While they were there, they did a couple of songs. When it headed back, there was a huge Stones' mouth/tongue balloon type thing that was green with flowers. Hilarious. They got rid of it quickly and the stage went back to normal position.

For those who know me, I pretty much sit during concerts. It's very rare I stand up and dance. I'm just a sitter. Love sitting. I think I was up and dancing for almost the entire show. Just a great, rip roaring night. By the way, I'm not even a Stones fan. Imagine how much I'd have liked it if I was.

The set list consisted pretty much of the following, as much as I can remember:

Start Me Up
You Got Me Rocking
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
She's So Cold
Tumblin' Dice
Oh No, Not You Again
Night Time (by Ray Charles)
Slipping Away (Keith Richards solo --ugh; there was another but we don't remember what the heck it was)
Miss You
Rough Justice
Bitch
Get Off My Cloud
Honky Tonk Woman
Sympathy For The Devil
Painted Black
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction

Encore:
You Can't Alway Get What You Want
Jumpin' Jack Flash


Simply amazing.