[civilian_number_two]

So I saw The Police last night at GM Place here in Vancouver. This was the start of their tour; they'd been in town here for a couple of weeks, rehearsing at Lion's Gate Studios in North Van. This post is to let all you folks know, living in other cities, that it's a show worth the money. I had my concerns like all the other old guys that they'd either not be up to speed with their old material (it'd been 25 years), or that they'd play a short show and leave us disappointed.

Not so. They opened with "Message in a Bottle." This is a band favourite, and you could see they were getting a kick out of it. 22000 fans agreed as well. They folloowed with "Synchronicity II," which I thought was the weakest show of the night. Not that I don't think it's a great song; there was something with the sound there that was corrected about halfway into the song and was not an issue ever again. It wasn't major anyway, since noone I've talked to so far referenced it. Something unexpected (by me at least) were all the heavy guitar solos from Andy Sommers. That old fart can really rock out. They expanded several of the songs to allow for some serious musical interludes and the occasional bit of vocal wankery from Sting. Stewart Copeland twice forgot whether he was meant to be sitting at his drumkit or standing among his elaborate set of percussion toys, but he was cool enough to joke about it. I won't joke that it's his age; this is still the start of the tour after all, and apart from the last couple of weeks' rehearsal, he probably hasn't thought much about these tunes in the last 25 years.

In the end, there were very few songs they didn't play that I'd have liked to have heard, and those weren't at the expense of a short show but so that some less obvious titles could make the list. And it felt to me like a concert from a vital band, rather than a nostalgia trip for the old foks (I saw Paul Simon at the Orpheum a while back, and while I had a good time, that's exactly what that was). Not in order, here is what they played:

Next to You
So Lonely
Roxanne
Can't Stand Losing You
Message in a Bottle
Walking on the Moon
The Bed's Too Big Without You
Don't Stand So Close to Me
When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
Driven to Tears
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Spirits in the Material World
Invisible Sun
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Walking in Your Footsteps
Synchronicity II
Every Breath You Take
King of Pain
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Murder By Numbers

Songs I'd have liked: Rehumanize Yourself, Secret Journey, It's Alright For You. Could have done without: Walking in Your Footsteps. Apart from that, I don't think they missed anything. And at 2.5 hours, I think they put on as much show as we should expect.

So: if you're sitting in New York (or elsewhere) wondering whether to spring for tickets at a couple hundred bucks a seat, go for it. It's a good show.

PS: The opening act, Fictionplane, is led by Joe Sumner, Sting's son. It's also a three-piece, with a singer/bassist at the helm, but that's where the comparisons end. Fictionplane is more a generic rock band, without any special sound to signify them. They're fairly talented, and I really enjoyed their show, and bought the album so I could line up and meet the guys. But without the lineage, they probbaly wouldn't have gotten the gig on their own.

[Heccubus]

Holy fucking fuck fuckity fucked fuck fuck shit I love the Police. Easily one of the best bands of the past 50 years, and definitely one of the best of the 80s. "Synchronicity" is a classic, and there's no other way of looking at it. It's in my top 5 of the 80s for sure.
I am insanely jealous of you right now.

This post has been edited by Heccubus: 31 May 2007 - 10:37 PM

[civilian_number_two]

You want to be jealous? I saw them in 1983 as well, on the "Synchronicity" tour. I have the 45 picture single of "Every Breath You Take" b/w "Murder By Numbers," which at the time was the only way you could get that song (it wasn't originally on the Synchronicity album). I still have a t-shirt from the 1983 show.

This post has been edited by civilian_number_two: 01 June 2007 - 11:18 AM

[Sailor Abbey]

Holy fucking fuck fuckity fucked fuck fuck shit I love the Police. Easily one of the best bands of the past 50 years, and definitely one of the best of the 80s. "Synchronicity" is a classic, and there's no other way of looking at it. It's in my top 5 of the 80s for sure.
I am insanely jealous of you right now.

Seconded. I would never spend more than $70 to see a concert however, unless it was to see Jimmy Page and Robert Plant or something. Or one of Tori's old tour - her last few albums havent been my cup of t. Get it? "T" for "Tori" instead of tea? My cup of... aw forget it.

[Despondent]

MBN was on the cassette, I believe. Glad you had a good time.

Maybe it was a setlist thing, the drum kit question. Or maybe Copeland wasn't earning his money. I gather Sting gets most of it anyway.

just kidding. sounds like a great show.

[civilian_number_two]

I know musical taste can't really be questioned, Sailor, but Tori Amos is just a poor man's Kate Bush. She's one big fat derivative rip-off.

But really, if The Police come to your neighbourhood, you should spend whatever it costs and go. Unless you're like dead broke, you'll never remember the money. But you will remember the show.

[Sailor Abbey]

Oh my god - you CANT be serious! 'Y Kant Tori Read' may have been a Kate Bush rip off - but that's why that album flopped. When Little Earthquakes came out, it wasn't anything like the previous record - she completely developed her own style. Sure every artist takes from someone here or there - that's the way its been done for centuries - but she is NOT a rip off of anybody. ESPECIALLY Kate Bush.


Kate Bush... ugh.

This post has been edited by Sailor Abbey: 01 June 2007 - 11:59 AM

[wallabyeyes]

WHat's your beef, Stew?

Too bad Copeland didn't share your enthusiasm, Civ. He really kicked himself for the minor hiccups you pointed out. Remind me never to take the stage with him.

I still wish i had gone though. Oh well. They were playing Police songs on Rock 101 around the clock all week. Can't complain.
I also regret missing the Rolling Stones show. Damn, i neglect a lot of great acts. why!?

[barend]

I love the police.




that is all.

~message end~

[Jordan]

Cool write up civ. I'm a concert junkie so I love to hear these sort of tales. Past few months I've seen Bloc Party, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, and Arcade fire.

If you like the Police what about The Smiths? I think they're better. Both bands are kind of on the same page.

Both bands are sort of new wave and have a mellow delivery.

How soon is now - brilliant fucking guitar work

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=SWwMgBseodc live

http://www.youtube.c...w...ted&search= video

I think Johnny Marr is super unique with his guitar and doesn't get enough credit. Just cause he doesn't shred till his fingers bleed doesn't make him not worth of a top spot on magzine 100 lists.

This post has been edited by Jordan: 05 June 2007 - 07:57 PM

[Despondent]

Johnny Marr has played with Neil Finn a bit in the past 5 or so years. I'm glad to have that appreciation for his work.

the reformed Crowdies will be touring North America soon. I've got Atlanta tickets, for more than I cared to spend. But in comparison, I'm not complaining (nor will I regret the memory come September).

[civilian_number_two]

The Smiths were great. I always thought of The POlice as Ska/Rock at the beginning and pop later on. I suppose there's an affinty with The Smiths, but the two IMO had generally different followings.

[Jordan]

They both have lead vocals with sing-songy voices. They both use melody over catchy riffs. I thought they were kind of similar. Police are bigger stars. They broke through to the states. I'm not sure if the smiths got the same stardom over here as they did in England.

[Despondent]

I thought the Smiths were part of the Clash's genre: black clothes, bleak text. (Yes, that's what I get for thinking, but) the Police were in the rarefied air of Commercial success.

[barend]

i hope they're comming out here... i'm definatley in.