WASHINGTON — Sometimes there are downsides to being president: You can’t just go for a walk, says President Obama.

Then there are the times that more than make up for all those frustrations – like Tuesday night, when Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Jeff Beck and other musical giants came by the house to belt out the blues.

“I guess things even out a little bit,” Obama joked at the start of the rollicking White House concert.

Legends and up-and-comers turned the East Room into an intimate blues club for a concert celebrating the rich history of the blues and its lasting impact on American music.

“This music speaks to something universal,” Obama said. “The blues reminds us that we’ve been through tougher times before.

“Their music teaches us that when we find ourselves at a crossroads, we don’t shy away from our problems, we own them, we face up to them, we deal with them, we sing about them,” he said.

King, 86, arrived in a wheelchair but rose tall to kick off the night with a rollicking rendition of “Let the Good Times Roll,” quickly joined by other members of the ensemble. And he followed with “The Thrill is Gone.”

From there, Obama and his wife, Michelle, were swaying in their seats and singing along to an all-hits playlist including “St. James Infirmary” and “Let Me Love You.”

Beck slowed things down with an instrumental “Brush With the Blues,” as anticipation built for the arrival of Jagger, who did not disappoint.

The longtime Rolling Stones frontman delivered on “I Can’t Turn You Loose” and then teamed up with Beck on “Commit a Crime.” Jagger got the president and his wife up out of their seats, swaying and clapping to the music.

Jagger told the crowd he’d been in love with the blues since he was first introduced to the sound when he was about 12 years old. He recalled the first time he played the blues for American greats including King, whom he said must have thought the young Brits “were from Mars or something.” But they were generous, Jagger recalled, and “they passed on their tips and gave us all their help.”

Founder of file-sharing site released

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload was granted bail and released on Wednesday after a New Zealand judge determined that authorities have seized any funds he might have used to flee the country.

Kim Dotcom, who U.S. authorities allege facilitated millions of illegal downloads through his company, has been in custody since his arrest Jan. 20.

Magila Annandale, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice, said the ministry was seeking details on the conditions of Dotcom’s release. District courts in New Zealand typically don’t require a monetary bond when granting bail.

U.S. authorities claim Megaupload cost movie makers and songwriters some half a billion dollars in lost copyright revenue. They are trying to extradite Dotcom, 38, and three of his colleagues on racketeering charges.

New Zealand authorities have seized millions of dollars in investments and assets owned by Dotcom, including luxury cars and artworks. 

North Shore District Court Judge Nevin Dawson found that the German-born Dotcom no longer posed a significant flight risk because, as far as the court was aware, he wasn’t hiding any money or assets that could help him flee the country. New Zealand courts had earlier turned down Dotcom’s bail application and a subsequent appeal, saying he did pose a flight risk, but Dawson said those decisions were made when details about Dotcom’s assets remained unclear.

New Orleans parties for Fat Tuesday

NEW ORLEANS — Bathed in spring-like warmth and showered with trinkets, beads and music, New Orleans reveled in the excesses of Fat Tuesday.

A seemingly endless stream of costumed marching groups and ornately-decorated float parades led by make-believe royalty poured out of the Garden District, while the French Quarter filled up with thrill seekers expecting to see debauchery.

And they did.

Some in the Quarter had a sleepless night after Monday’s Lundi Gras prequel party. The drinking was in full swing again shortly after dawn, and with it came outrageous costumes and flesh-flashing that would continue until police make their annual attempt to break up the merrymaking at midnight, when Lent begins.

Tom White, 46, clad in a pink tutu, bicycled with his wife, Allison, to the French Quarter. “I’m the pink fairy this year,” he said. “Costuming is the real fun of Mardi Gras. I’m not too creative but when you weigh 200 pounds and put on a tutu people still take your picture.”

His wife was not in costume. “He’s disgraced the family enough,” she said.