Just saw the Police last night. I was in the second row which was AMAZING. The place was filled with celebrities. Peter Buck and Mike Mills from R.E.M walked by. Lawrence Fishburne and Trudie Stlyer were a few rows behind us. I'm sure there were a lot more. The person next to me said Bono was there, too...

The show? Pretty amazing. I've never seen Sting look so happy. He looked almost giddy.

I have to say, however, that the new versions kind of dragged in the beginning. That's just my take, though. I'm sure some people probably preferred the new versions. It was almost like watching solo Sting backed by the Police; they really slowed things down on a lot of songs. Strangely, the Broken Music tour rocked harder than the Police...

The second half, however, was magic. It was vintage Police and they played furiously. Their versions of "Bed's Too Big Without You" and "Next To You" were amazing. At the end of Next To You Sting told Stewart to play faster and it was the punk version. Then Sting did THREE jumps!

The highlight was "So Lonely." It was good to hear it again and this version was MUCH better than the original recorded version... Simply brilliant.

I'm rushing as I write this because I'm typing on a hotel computer...

But this is my initial take. Sorry for spelling and/or grammatical errors!

The Police are back! I can't wait to see them again in Oakland.

great !!! thanks !!!

Wow, cool, thanks yob!! :)

Were any other stingus peeps there?!

THREE jumps :)
Thanks welldone yob!

Look at yob - just a regular fan who sticks around here... then BANG - he's 2 rows in front of the Police, in a place filled with celebrities... Could THAT possibly happen?... Personally, I think all those celebrities and that high-life exists in mp3 players, DVDs and TV... it's not real!... I won't ever believe it!....

GREAT yob!!! I'm so glad for you.... ;D

Do you think all those celebrities belong to the Police Fan Club? !!! lol
How lucky Yob !! Thanks for this report that allows us to share your emotion !!
Listening to the releases and to the extract of "De Do do do" they gave at a French radio station, I had the same sensation as you in the fact that some new versions tend to drag, but it's just maybe a question of habit or as it was just little excerpts, it surely takes another dimension with the entire and live version. And it's just the beginning of the tour, so the songs could evolve with the time and with audience's reactions !!
And what you say about the second half reassures me!!! But as I've said, it's surely a question of habit!!!

you know, when i first heard Joe Cocker cover of With a little help from my friends (back on the glorious Woodstock days....) I thought it was a blasphemy trating a Beatles song that way. Now when I hear the Beatles original one I think... what a stupid silly song.... ;D
Only question of habit, Dymples has totally right!

Thanks for the nice comments! I'll post some pictures in a few days.

Here's my take on the whole show song by song...

1. Message In A Bottle - Tentative but still great. I've heard this song so much lately that I've kind of taken it for granted.
Grade: A-

2. Synchronicity II - See Above... Same comments. Same grade.

3. Don't Stand So Close To Me -One of the low points. Not a good version for a Police reunion. It's a combo of the 2001 version and the 1986 version. They need to rethink this one because you could feel the buzz die as they were playing it. Grade: C-

4. Voices / When The World Is Running Down - Same as the Broken Music tour but not quite as good. I missed Lyle Workman! Grade: B

5. Spirits In The Material World - Good but unmemorable... Grade: B

6. Driven To Tears - Excellent version. The show started to kick into gear at this point. Sting was very playful and even stood on top of a riser and wiggled his butt. Grade: A-

7. Walking On The Moon - Excellent song. Excellent version. Grade: A-

8. Truth Hits Everybody - Although I like this new, slowed down version I would rather hear the faster version. Grade: B

9. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - Interesting version. New intro. Grade: B+

10. Wrapped Around Your Finger - Another clunker for me. Like "Don't Stand So Close To Me" it was way too slow. Almost lethargic. Very sedate. Grade: C

11. Bed's Too Big Without You - Outstanding version. Sting's voice was great. Grade: A+

12. Murder By Numbers - Another great live song. Great choice and a great version. Sting was "sassy" during this song. Grade: A

13. De Do Do Do De Da Da Da - Good version. Almost faithful to the original. Grade: B+

14. Invisible Sun - Similar to the Broken Music version. Well done. Grade: A-

15. Walking In Your Footsteps - Excellent version. For some reason, there was visuals in the background for this song (CGI dinosaur bones). It looked like someone draped a sheet in the background and they projected the dinosaur bones onto it. After the song the sheet went away for the rest of the show. Very odd. For all the millions they're making on this it seems like they could have done a better job. Grade: A (music) C (visuals)

16. Can't Stand Losing You - Same version as the rehearsal footage but Sting's voice is a lot better. Grade: A

17. Roxanne - Even though I'm kind of tired of this song this version was really great. Sting's voice was amazing. Very powerful. Grade: A

18. King Of Pain - Very straightforward version. Grade: A-

19. So Lonely - Best song of the night for me. It was played at a furious pace at the end. When Andy messed up at the end Sting made them play the chorus over. Very fun. Grade: A+

20. Every Breath You Take - I've never been a fan of the live version of this song. It was nice because it was The Police. The fans seemed to like it. Grade: B

21. Next To You - Absolutely brilliant closer. When Sting told Stewart to play it his way (ridiculously fast) the audience went crazy. Maybe Sting should let Stewart play it his way more during this tour! The three jumps in a row made it that much better. Grade: A+


All in all it was a great show. I'm really curious to see how the songs evolve over time. I really hope they work on "Don't Stand..." and "Wrapped..." Those two songs deserve much better. But I have to give them credit for taking such a huge risk by drastically changing the arrangements on a lot of their songs. The critics will slam them, of course, but screw 'em. If they had gone out and played note perfect versions of their hits the critics would have slammed them for that, too.

Oh, and I wore my tshirt with a fish on it in honor of Gonefishing.
I know he'll be at the Seattle show and he's gonna have a great time!

Thanks yob glad to hear they were good even if it isn't exactly what you wanted tp hear. But since this was a practice show I am sure someone will tell them to step it up a bit for the first half of the show. But at least most of the fans that were there seemed to like it and I am glad you gave us your review. You Rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so do The Police.

I was just glad to be there! I felt very lucky. I hope my review doesn't seem harsh! Believe me, I was grinning ear to ear for the whole show!

Wrapped Around Your Finger is the one song I want to hear during this tour. But didn't want to hear that it was a dissapointment. It doesn't suprise me that you said it sounded like Broken Music because Sting played this style over the last year plus and seemed comfortable with it. Otherwise they would still be overhauling the songs.

I'm ready for the tour to start... I'm just not ready for the day after the concert I go to starts... Its going to be sooo hard to get up in the morning to catch a plane to Arizona the next day....

I hope they do more trademark interludes within the songs........

It really is a feat to make it sound better then the Broken Music tour. At some point such attempt might seem almost irrelevant. I mean two guitars and smart arrangements, and the controls are in hands of only one person.
I'm thinking to myself the best way to prepare oneself to go see the concert is to really expect to see the fantabulous Police not the fantabulous Broken Music show.

Thanks Yob!!! :-D

You graded the songs and everything!! he he! :D Great job yobculture!! :)

Im disappointed about Wrapped too, thats one of my favourite Police songs! But isnt that kind of how the song is meant to be anyway?! Like hypnotising almost, its certainly not a fast song!! Im really excited to hear songs like Murder by Numbers and others Sting doesnt usually play at his own concerts!!

mmmmh..... LD check your mail please..... ;)

Micra I love you!!! Well, not like that, but you know what I mean!! :D Thankyou!!

Hey Gonefishing, I want to hear your take on "Wrapped..."
You might have a different opinion than me!

And please, don't get me wrong about the show! It was OUTSTANDING!! I've never seen a band do a better opening show. I was just trying to grade it from a "non-crazed fan" viewpoint!

Everyone who sees this show will be VERY happy! Trust me.
I can't wait to see them again!!!

I'll post the pics when I get back home. I'm still on a borrowed computer.

Sorry but the video I heard of Wrapped sounded great to me. I guess it is a matter of taste. Like who cares how he sings it as long as he sings it all smooth like and sexy. Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The voice of the wisdom..... Franny talks! ;D

Smooth and sexy is good with me!! ;)

Yob, did you see Dom at the gig? Maybe Jase or Kipper?

I'm going to have to wait for the Seattle show to really say what I think. For what little I heard on the youtube bit - It does sound slower, but my speakers still are muddy. Didn't mean to rag on the review because it was good.

The Sun (and surelly also The Moon) just said...They were a success last night
:)(and ...day)!

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=fb278add-7e14-41f4-8c58-d0d7002d69e2&k=57832

ok for what I heard on Youtube its slowed down a little - but a 56 second clip and a 59 second clip doesn't tell the whole story. Its recognizable which is good. I expected some of the stuff to be dropped down a few cords/bars whatever....

I can't wait til the 7th of June but the 8th can hold... oh heck the 9th can be put on anti aging hold as well.

Desert We know the Sun loved it. And a son must have loved opening for it. The moon might be running away from it but loving it... but the big question is what did the stars think of it?

LOL Gonefishing ...hummm if you fish any star will you ask that question?

Ooops my hand dive below waters-level...this i raped from LD cut (poor Stew and Andy)...consider this pic to be in Sting´s physic thread!(I don´t wanna be no fuddy duddy!) :)

YOB ...sorry if hijack your thread...so yob you mingled amoung the stars...now if i see you at the chat room how should i treat you? As Mr Yob ??? :)

Engelberd Yob Esq. more like it....

I'm still expecting my question answered, esquire.

OK now I get to spoil my concert by hearing some of this but they sound good. The bass is bit fat and a slight echo but I'll blame the recording device.

Don't Stand So Close To Me sounds kinda funny. Drumming is good but the rest of the arrangements are off a hair. Yob I'll agree that song needs work. But I havent' heard to many version of this song live that I have ever liked anyways.

Hey...where did you listen to it?
Did I miss something?

Wow is that first verse of Wrapped Around Your Finger ............ slow compared to what your use to. But I like it... its more hypnotic. Its different for sure. I like it a lot. Sorry can't complain. Well I could - crowd noise and the sound level being what it was but.

Kind of sounds funny being placed between Every Little Thing and Beds too Big.... But with the lineup I can't figure out where I'd put it either, so I'll have to think about my dream line up again.... like what they did to Beds to big as well. I should stop listening to this thing. It will go straight to my ears and I will expect this on June 7th I want some sort of suprise.

Johnny we know you were dere... whats your interpretation

OK you guys, I'm changing my mind about "Wrapped Around Your Finger."
Now that I've heard it again I'm starting to really like it. I think I just had the Synchronicity Tour version in my head (which is fantastic). It's a man's perogative to change his mind! : )

But I'm not changing my mind about "Don't Stand So Close To Me." I've listened to it again and just doesn't work in an arena setting. I might actually like it in a different setting. It worked well in 2001 in Italy.

I think the thing that I like so much about the original version of "Don't Stand..." is the dark lyrics with the happy, bouncy music. That conflict is what has worked so well in the past for Sting ("So Lonely," "All This Time," et al).

So... With the exception of "Don't Stand..." it was pretty much a perfect show. This is ony my opinion, of course! I'm sure there are other who will LOVE the new version of "Don't Stand..." and I think that's great! : )

Granted I'm only into the first minute of Every Breath on these cheesey speakers I really like this version. Which is tough for me to say when I really liked one of the versions I heard during the Dream of the Blue Turtles days.

Fan club show was decent but the show last night was MUCH superior.

So if they get MUCH better by every show, I can't imagine how fantastic they'll be in September !!! lol

And in October!!! If they don't kill each others, I mean..... ;)

Hey Johnny, that's good to know that they're getting better. I knew they would. They were still pretty amazing for an opening night gig.
Can't wait to see them in a couple of weeks!

Johnny, were you next to Trudy and Lawrence Fishburne? They were in your area I think. Did you see any other celebs? I was most shocked to see the members of R.E.M. there.

micra, don't worry. They're NOT going to kill each other. Sting has NEVER looked so happy being on stage. The other thing I forgot to mention is that they all looked very right being on stage. No forced happiness. They were loving ever minute of it and they obviously enjoyed playing with each other again.