Rolling Stones Tour 2013: Stones Perform Surprise Gig At Echoplex, Ban Smartphones From Event

In a move that echoes art-rockers Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Rolling Stones banned all smartphones from their surprise performance at the Echoplex in Los Angeles on April 27. No word if their move in the tiny (for the Stones) venue will extend to the rest of their 2013 tour, but still its pretty awesome.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs started the tech-bucking trend with a sign outside their performance at Webster Hall that read:

"PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THE SHOW THROUGH A SCREEN ON YOUR SMART DEVICE/CAMERA.

PUT THAT SHIT AWAY as a courtesy to the person behind you and to Nick, Karen and Brian.

MUCH LOVE AND MANY THANKS!

YEAH YEAH YEAHS"

This led Savages to post the a similar note at a Seatlle concert, though the London band was a bit more polite:

"A NOTE FROM SAVAGES

OUR GOAL IS TO DISCOVER BETTER WAYS OF LIVING AND EXPERIENCING MUSIC

WE BELIEVE THAT THE USE OF PHONES TO FILM AND TAKE PICTURES DURING A GIG PREVENTS ALL OF US FROM TOTALLY IMMERSING OURSELVES

LET'S MAKE THIS EVENING SPECIAL

SILENCE YOUR PHONES"

At least one writer at AP seemed to like the Stones decision to ban all smartphones.

"The lack of personal recording devices made the Stones' performance feel even more exclusive and old school, freeing concertgoers' hands of the gizmos that have become commonplace at concerts nowadays, and further bonding the crowd, many of whom built up camaraderie during the confusing ticket lottery earlier in the day." Wrote Derrick J. Lang.

Tickets to the show were $20 and fans lined up for a chance to attend.

"[This is] the first show of the tour, probably the best one," Jagger said at the end of the 90-minute set.

The Rolling Stones tour officially begins May 3.

What do you think of the Stones decision to ban smartphones? Were you lucky enough to grab tickets to their 2013 tour?