You're Under Arrest

It's always kind of a sad point when I've seen the last big show of the year. Sometimes I get surprised and someone else comes along, but it looks like The Police was the last big one this year.

It was good. Not bad, not great... but good. It was cool to hear them play some tunes that I have never heard live before, and some others that I had heard Sting do with his band. Since I'm still a little sleepy, I'm just going to list some observations:

Sting had a lot of room for his bass, relative to when he's with his band, and it was pretty cool to see a different side to his playing... a lot of chording in addition to playing the bass line.

Vocally... well, I thought he was great for the first half. There were some iffy bits in the second part, and one tune where he was really, really flat for quite a bit of it. And, according to a couple guitar-playing friends in the audience, they had transposed quite a few songs down...

Stewart Copeland can still play, but his style is really, really different from mine in almost every way. First off, he plays way more notes (but it wouldn't sound like The Police without that). He feels time ahead of the beat, and I feel it behind, so it always feels to me like he's trying to rush the tunes, but Sting usually plays even further in front. And he's kind of a showman, I guess. Throwing his sticks, making big gestures, getting happy with his gong. Yeah, I know, he's in The Police. But it just seems a little over the top. And the white sweats? I mean, yes, it's a "recapture the 80's" thing, but aren't there some things that we should just leave as memories?

Andy Summer seems to be the one who has really taken advantage of the last 20 years to not touch his instrument. His time was bad, his soloing was atrocious, and his tone... well, it was great on some tunes, but that thin, clean strat just sounds weak and hollow now on a lot of the songs.

The light show was fantastic. I was as close as I could get in the general admission area on the floor, and there was no pushing and shoving, which was a treat. I wasn't close enough to see there faces well, but I could certainly watch them play without the delay of waiting for the image on the screen, and could take in the full light show at the same time. Very cool - somebody has spent a lot of time getting that ready.

The security person in front of me was named Vinda. I know, because the guy next to me started flirting with her as soon as he arrived, and I got to watch as the night went on. At first she was really enjoying it... he was playful and really, really, really attentive. He got her number. Or, at least, a number. But as the evening progressed, I have a crazy little feeling she regretted her decision. He was right in the front - where it is probably at least 5 degrees cooler than it would be 2 metres back, and a lot easier to stand since he had the security rail to hold on to. Vinda had some water there to pass out to people who were dehydrating, but buddy would get her attention every five minutes, look injured and give her some serious puppy-dog eyes, and make drinking motions. She kept getting more for him, but I bet by the end of the night she was dreading getting that phone call. I mean, I was even getting tired of it, and there's no round 2 in sight for me. Sorry, Vinda.

What's the deal with Roxanne? I mean, it's an okay song, but not really one of their best. I seem to be the only one who thinks that, though. It was the same when Sting has played solo... everyone just LOVES to sing along with that one. I really don't get it.

Why are all the best designs on black t-shirts? If I never bought another black t-shirt for the rest of my life I'd have enough to do me. They're killing me with that. Still... what are you going to do?

I learned today that Sting's son was fronting the opening band. Caro remarked (via sms... she was in the golden circle, and area roughly the size of Delaware in front of me, which is why I was in prime shape to see the light show but not-so-good for the faces) that they sounded a bit like the love child of the police and U2, which was about right. I couldn't figure out why they would have a band so similar in sound opening for them, but it kind of makes sense now. That's pretty cool.

Anyways, I have some days off with my little chick this week, and I can't wait. I'm going to teach her "Roxanne" and see what she thinks of it.