Catching up with The Police
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 02, 2007 
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Somewhere in a storage room that badly needs cleaning out, I have two crates of actual albums. There are probably 100 of them or so and The Police are well represented. Outlandos d’Amour and Regatta de Blanc were big records when I was a kid.
Most of my friends were into AC/DC and Led Zeppelin but I was more into power pop and punk than heavy metal. Elvis Costello, The Clash, Madness, Nick Lowe, that thing of stuff.
But if you grew up in the 1980s, you probably liked The Police to some degree. They were huge for the short time they were around.
I know I saw them a few times in high school and college but the memories are hazy (don’t ask why). So tonight’s show at the Garden was much anticipated.
Sting will be 56 in October. Stewart Copeland is 55 and Andy Summers is 64. How old does that make you feel? But they played for two hours before a packed house and delivered pretty much any song you could have expected.
It’s a tight show. It starts on time, there are two encores, there’s no extended patter, delays or instrument changes. Sting does all the singing, relying on the crowd to fill in the background vocals.
Summers and Copeland are exceedingly talented and back Sting flawlessly.
However, I will say this: It’s a huge money grab. Tickets are pricey and the merchandise is expensive ($40 t-shirts and $125 sweatshirts). But the Baby Boomers love it. I can’t recall seeing such an older crowd at a concert, even for Bruce Springsteen.
It’s ironic hearing Sting sing, “Too many cameras and not enough food” from “Driven To Tears” as thousands of people try and take pictures of him with their cell phones from $400 seats.
Such is life. Maybe it’s best to sit back and be entertained once in a while.
They’re playing the Garden again Friday and Giants Stadium later this month. I’d recommend going. It’s a fun show.
Here’s a set list:
Message In A Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking On The Moon
Voices Inside My Head
When The World Is Running Down (You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around)
Don’t Stand So Close To Me
Driven To Tears
Truth Hits Everybody
The Bed’s Too Big Without You
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking In Your Footsteps
Can’t Stand Losing You
Roxanne
First encore
King Of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Second encore
Next To You
awesome man
oh BTW Joba went 1 inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, and 2 Ks in his AA relief apperance.
Saw them live at Aloha Stadium years ago before they disbanded. I heard many of those same songs. Thanks for the nostalgia, Pete.
Also, thanks for getting rid of the little critters.
Lot’s of rift raft invaded the site tonight…..Humerous to a very slight degree…..Sickening to a greater extent however……
Second song was Synchronicity II, not Synchronicity.
Pete -
I saw them when they played at Wrigley Field back at the beginning of July. I personally thought it was an incredible show, though it got panned by the local music writers here in the next day’s papers! They thought the performance was uneven, mainly because they thought Sting was merely going through the motions while Stewart and Andy were playing their butts off (which I kind of agreed with, actually!)!!! Also, they said the crowd seemed kind of blase about the whole thing…which wasn’t the vibe I got, but whatever!
Did you think the crowd was really into it at the Garden show? Just curious…
BTW – Did anyone notice Proctor got into the game tonight for the Dodgers? He came in with two outs in the seventh, but never actually got anyone out himself because the third out was recorded when the guy on first was caught stealing. They pulled him right after that! Weird…
It may be odd that Andy Summers is 64, but it’s even stranger that he was about 40 when I was listening to The Police for the first time.
No Regatta de Blanc? What a ripoff
you know what’s a great show? the stripped-down thing ryan adams and the cardinals are doing right now. they’ll be back out in september with a more “electric” set and setup, but the thing they’re doing right now with acoustic guitars, pedal steel, piano, bass and drums is gorgeous. ryan’s voice has never sounded better. that’s by far, the best show i’ve seen in a long time.
pete, if you have a chance, catch adams ASAP.
totally legit, pete. i’m glad you like that power pop! pure pop for now people (nick lowe) and the first two costello albums are some of my favorites – and no one can forget the clash.
but seriously – if you’re into power pop, check out big star. no regrets will be had.
I too was a huge fan of the Police (the band, not the uniformed variety). I used to listen to them on my trusty Panasonic AM/FM radio and cassette player, which was about the size of a brick. (I didn’t have the money for a Sony Walkman). I kept it stuffed in my omni-present backpack with just the headphones sticking out and would listen between classes and in the library and on the subway or railroad. Before you scoff, remember, this was before laptops and WiFi and wireless hotzones and Blackberrys and Sidekicks and long before the Nano was a gleam in its father’s and mother’s eyes.
I also have a recollection of being on the infield of Shea Stadium one night watching the Police play. Incredible. But by an inexplicable coincidence, my memory of this event is very hazy, just like Peter’s.
Great info Pete. We’re going Sunday night at Giants Stadium. Wonder how the bigger venue will effect the show? As a child of the 80s, very much looking forward to it.
Invisible Sun
One of my all time fav songs.
I went to see them a couple of weeks ago in Detroit, and everyone seemed into it – almost everyone was on their feet the whole time. I agree about the skewed older crowd – I felt like I was the youngest one there! I don’t normally see shows at big arenas, but I thought this one was pretty good.
Glad you enjoyed it Pete. I got tickets for Sunday night at the Meadowlands. Looking forward to it.
Never really into The Police. Little before my time and not hard rock enough.
Power pop actually involves melodic structure & harmony in the composition. Not to mention real singing. Writers like Sting & Costello had also read some books, because their lyrics required a creative mind to write. Good choices all. Their type are the NYY of music history along w/Beatles, Stones, Springsteen, Eagles and their ‘ daddies ‘ Bob Dylan & Buddy Holly…………
Glad you enjoyed the show, Peter. I’ve seen Sting solo a few times, and actually saw the Police at the Amnesty International show in ’86 I believe. Gave up on Sting a few years ago, though. Check this out–I’m going to see Squeeze and Fountains of Wayne tomorrow night!
What?!? No “Spread a Little Happiness”?
(That comments is for all the 1980s music nerds out there like me.)
Scott Karoly must be my music cousin. Pete, the first two Big Star albums are essential! Can’t go wrong with Graham Parker’s SQUEEZING OUT SPARKS either.
Amazing how Nick Lowe’s new album is really really good, and he’s, like, what–80?
Wow, that is a ton of cash.
I saw Aerosmith and Kiss a few summers ago. Now THAT made me feel young.
I am heading to the MSG show on Friday night and cannot wait. I’m only 22, but my parents were really into the Police and always had their albums on in the car when I was younger and grew to really like them.
I’m loving King of Pain as an encore, awesome song.
The Police were absolutely amazing at MSG last night.
The only gripe: All the songs were just a little slower than they should have been. But otherwise, fantastic.
Everything was excellent — “Walking in Your Footsteps” was an excellent slower choice, “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” stuck with me on the way out, and “Message in a Bottle” and “So Lonely” brought the house down. And how about Stewart Copeland playing xylophone and eclectic percussion at the same time on “Wrapped Around Your Finger”? Sweetness.
Sting solo? Stinks.
Sting with The Police? Great.
Hey pete, do you want to get rid of any of those punk records?
I’m hearing that the show to be at in NYC last night was Chris Cornell at the Beacon. Some terrific reviews are rolling in.
Don’t get me wrong, the Police sound cool too but the ticket price is an issue.
Saw them at Fenway last weekend pretty much played the same set. Great show minus the ballbark.
I’m with Casey. I have a huge 80′s punk record collection. Got any Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Bad Brains?
“$40 t-shirts and $125 sweatshirts”
wow, i’ve seen $40 t-shirts before, but never over $100 for a hoody. i’d have to assume the Police have nothing to do with decisions like these, but what the hell do i know.
haven’t been to a large venued music act in years, and don’t plan to anytime in the near future.
did you get a chance to go to the simpson’s movie yesterday pete? Reviews?
Pete,
Very interesting. We have similar tastes in music it seems. If you have or have access to Sirius radio they have a channel called “First wave”. It’s 80′s English pop and punk. Give it a try if you can, I think you’ll like it.
Pete,
Saw the Police when I was in high school and college as well. Few times at the Garden (once with the Go-Go’s) – also saw them in ’83 down in Philly with a little known opener – I seemed to be the only one in the crowd who knew them and was singing along. That band was R.E.M.
Same musical background as you – was going to see the Clash when I was really too young – saw them at Bond’s!
And from the sound of it, we’re about the same age.
That would would be an awesome DVD!
“Sting solo? Stinks.
Sting with The Police? Great.”
Sting solo = different. It doesn’t stink.
The last time I saw Sting on tour solo he played tons of Police songs along with his solo stuff, he played for over 2 hours and there was no BS yapping in between songs. It was awesome.