Stones, Staples, age and acoustics

ROBERT Hilburn treads too lightly in his treatment of the Rolling Stones’ Oct. 31 appearance at Staples Center (“It’s the Spirit That Counts,” Nov. 2). It was not my first Stones concert, and it ranks low on the scale. The show was listless, with awkward pauses between songs. Too often, lengthy codas that seemed to be building to something just ended. Lighting and visuals were arbitrary.

Equally disappointing was the conduct of much of the crowd -- also experienced at the recent show by (not quite as) old-timers Rush.

Too many middle-aged men in attendance take these nights out as opportunities to relive their youth. Guys -- you can’t handle beer the way you used to. That’s why you tip over.

David Albrecht

Los Angeles

*

HOWEVER rapturous Hilburn was about the Stones show, it would be nice to hear from one of your reviewers had they been sitting in the upper levels of Staples Center. For our $200 tickets (each bought five months in advance, including the bogus Clear Channel club membership), we got seats three rows from the ceiling. The sound was muddled at best; not a single greeting or statement that Mick made could be understood.

Jim Mullany

Los Angeles

*

EVEN though it was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek piece, in part, I was dismayed by Roy Rivenburg’s barely amusing article on the Rolling Stones rocking into old age (“Turning Their (Hearing Aid) Knobs Up to 11,” Nov. 2). Has any writer at The Times ever dared to poke fun of Robert Altman for making movies well into his 70s? Or perhaps a noted classical, jazz or blues musician for refusing to retire at 65? I think not.

The Rolling Stones are playing music that is normally associated with fans between ages 10 and 25. All those middle-aged folks paying outrageous prices to line the pockets of the already super-wealthy Stones are simply reliving their youth. It’s not terribly different from thirtysomething fans packing Staples Center to see U2, the band that supplied the soundtrack to their teen years.

John Mendez

Temple City