Dallas II (Jun 27th)

[mknight]

I wish I would've known about this site a long time ago, since people seem to be really up on most of their music knowledge (not just Police stuff). I looked for a post on the Dallas shows and only saw a few for the first night, so i figured I'd throw my 2 cents in for the 2nd ...

I wrote this the day after and submitted it to a few places, but they didn't seem to have any discussion on any people's reviews. Oh well, better late than never:

Based on some cursory glances at reviews for the previous night in Dallas, I'm glad i went to this show instead. To clear up any misconceptions about this night (I've read a few reviews from people who've gone to both shows), let me first state that Sting was hitting all the high notes. The qualifier to that fact, though, is that several songs were played in a lower key (1-3 full steps in some cases, for you musicians). They also, for the most part, did NOT play sloppy (Andy came in late once or twice, but thats being fairly picky) like some people said.

If I had to lay out my complaints, there are probably only one or two of them. The slowing down of the 'punk' songs from the first album (exception - Next to You) and Dont Stand So Close to Me was a major downer for me. Whereas 'So Lonely' was passable as a slower reggae tune, 'Truth Hits Everybody' was hands down horrid. I swear to god that it was played at half-speed (AND lower key) and was the only time they really 'acted' like they were WAY past their prime in their mid-50s. Their slowed down, lower key version of Dont Stand was even worse than the 86 remake, from their failed attempt to keep the band going. The way Sting sang it too, was his worst singing of the night. He seemed to have either smoked an entire joint or taken several Ludes before doing that song. The band also played Every Little Thing slower, but that was an example of how slower isnt always worse or less danceable.

Otherwise, I was quite happy. Walking on the Moon was done well and creatively - I wouldnt mind having a copy of this version. The one that sounded the most like them in their heyday was 'Da Do Do Do' and had probably the most people dancing and singing. All the slower hits (Every Breath, King of Pain etc.) were sung in their original key and pretty close to the original tempo. You have to give Sting props for looking and sounding as good as he does at his age (whatever you think of his ego).Stewart also sounds just as good as he did as well as in shape and constantly 'driving' to speed some of the older songs up (at the end of Synchronicity II, they were starting to jam on it, faster and faster when Sting ended it I believe prematurely).Andy has that unique chorus/echo he always had, with some more layered sounds. One thing he's added, which I dont remember him ever using with The Police, was a lot of jamming on the whammy bar.I bet half the solos were done with him screwing around with it (cool with me, it was different).Additionally, I dont know if this was intentional, but ... Andy seemed to be frequently drowned out by the rest of the band (during both rhythm and lead parts).
They ended with a 2nd Encore, which after Every Breath was Next to You. Finally, they had played a punkish song with almost the same original speed (still a bit slower, but that was ok). It was a small glimpse of what it might've been like way back when ...

Highlight: watching a 15 yr old boy sit down after 4th song and play with his phone the rest of the entire night. Next-seat daddy must've been so proud of his dumbass son ($200+ tickets on the floor - i was 16th row center).

Anyone else go to this and sit near that area/take pics?

[pt1171]

Hey thanks. I wasn't able to go to either show, dammit, so I searched the web for reviews but didn't see much for the 2nd show.

You should've snatched the kids phone right out of his sorry little hands and said, "Pay attention, you little shit!" Right in front of his daddy.

I just searched YouTube and found a few vids from Dallas.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... llas%2C+TX

[mknight]

Heh, his dad was enjoying himself so much, that I didnt see him once mess with the kid. The girl i brought said she felt sorry for the kid - i said i feel sorry for his entire generation, if this is what they do when confronted with great music made before their time. There was actually another kid (sporting a modest mohawk!), probably closer to 18 who was 2 rows in front of me ... he sat down after about 1/2-2/3 of the show was over. If 30-50 yr olds can stand through the whole 2 hours of the concert, whats wrong with his weak ass?

Sorry you missed the show - I'm sure you had a good reason to miss it, as scalpers were quickly dumping tickets cheaply when they started. Thanks for the video links

[secretjourneyranch]

I was at the first night in Dallas, and it was outstanding. The reviewer in the Dallas paper claimed Sting was off and that some songs were "chilly". Still don't know what that means. I had to write him back and say The only thing he got right in his review was that the Police played that night. The rest was rubbish.

I have been waiting and collecting every form of audio and video on this band for 25 years! I went to the show happy to finally be seeing this band and slightly put off by the fact that songs like Wrapped and Dont Stand were so Stingified. Having heard 10 shows from this tour leading up to Dallas I already knew the setlist and was ready to be a critic.

Once Message started and Sting sounded like he was in the middle of the Ghost tour I was absolutely in awe. The show never stopped we never sat and I ended up loving Wrapped's new arrangement. (I still cannot get behind Dont Stand). This was a well rehearsed and well oiled machine putting out top product. I never ever expected to leave satisfied with that ticket price, but I was. I finally saw the Police in Dallas in 2007 and I can't imagine they were any better performers in 1981....having listened to everything out there that is collectable I know I'm right.

Dallas #1 was a nearly perfect performance and an amazing night.

[mknight]

Yeah, the only 'chilly' songs i heard, if that would be a way to describe them would be Don't Stand and Truth Hits. I was also impressed with Wrapped Around's arrangement and especially Stewart's mobility in jumping down from the percussion riser to the drums area so adeptly.

Would I have liked to have seen them on the Ghost tour to compare? Hell yeah! That would be like seeing every great band in their all-time prime ... kinda like seeing Zeppelin in 71-73 or Rush 79-81. I have the Rockpalast show from '80 (I believe) and i frickin LOVE it! I wasn't expecting to see that kind of improvisation and chemistry, but it was a pretty good night for me and definitely worth the $200+ price tag. I need to get a bootleg from both the Ghost and Synchronicty tours ...

[thedaner]

[quote="secretjourneyranch"]I was at the first night in Dallas, and it was outstanding. The reviewer in the Dallas paper claimed Sting was off and that some songs were "chilly". Still don't know what that means. I had to write him back and say The only thing he got right in his review was that the Police played that night. The rest was rubbish.[/quote]

Was that from Thor Christensen's review? Good for you to write him back! If that was him, he used to critique for the Milwaukee Journal when I lived there. I wrote him a scathing letter after he reviewed a Sting concert (where he double billed with Don Henley) because it was way off. I always hated his reviews; he seems like a jackass to me.

As for kids, leave their asses home. When I start having them, I will make damn sure The Police are part of their musical diet. Hell, by then we may have new material...

[mknight]

It seems to me that on many of these high-profile tours, critics start looking at previous reviews on the tour to 'play it safe' and mimic the feel of them. I thought they were supposed to be fairly unbiased, as in, listen for yourself and make your OWN mind up!? Case in point, Roger Waters reviews have been good from the start it seems. I know it probably really IS a good tour, but there has to be a couple mediocre shows and I havent seen one bad review. Apparently, if you start off poorly, you're doomed by the critics. Sad

Kids have to stop being fed by Clear Channel's trough of shit like Nickelback and 'insert unoriginal hip-Hop artist presently'. Without internet radio (which is being threatened by Congress - check up on it, its scary!) and satellite radio, I could only listen to CDs and albums ... i cant stomach the rest on regular radio

[secretjourneyranch]

Here are a few boots from Ghost and Synch to get you going.
I pulled these off TPT site:

Gateshead 1982:
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/1213581 ... eshead.zip

Williamsburg 1984:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TYX1TWA6

Both great shows even in MP3 form.

[secretjourneyranch]

That was Thor! I remember the name.
I don't think that guy was even at the show.
Dallas was perfect in my eyes and I was very ready to have any reason to be grumpy and they never gave it to me.






[quote="thedaner"][quote="secretjourneyranch"]I was at the first night in Dallas, and it was outstanding. The reviewer in the Dallas paper claimed Sting was off and that some songs were "chilly". Still don't know what that means. I had to write him back and say The only thing he got right in his review was that the Police played that night. The rest was rubbish.[/quote]

Was that from Thor Christensen's review? Good for you to write him back! If that was him, he used to critique for the Milwaukee Journal when I lived there. I wrote him a scathing letter after he reviewed a Sting concert (where he double billed with Don Henley) because it was way off. I always hated his reviews; he seems like a jackass to me.

As for kids, leave their asses home. When I start having them, I will make damn sure The Police are part of their musical diet. Hell, by then we may have new material...[/quote]

[mknight]

I'm gonna ask some friends of mine here in Austin, who sometimes give reviews if they know about this Thor guy. That is just pathetic, if it turns out he didn't go or simply didnt stay past the first few songs. This guy was in Milwaukee before?? Too bad he wasn't in Chicago (where I'm from) - they would've beat the shit outta him there for making crap up like this!

Thanks for the boot links! I won't be able to hear them until I go home, though

[mknight]

PT - thanks a bunch man, those are some pretty good shots from halfway back. I can actually spot myself a few times during Synchronicity, as well as Can't Stand. I'm glad they caught Synchronicity, since you can really hear (and see)Stewart start cooking at the end to an early climax in the show

Did you guys see the comments (Youtube) for Every Little Thing? The guy's brother (of who shot it) proposed during the transition of the song!! Frickin cool

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa4pdlSr0e0[/url] Synchronicity

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk4CxPl5eoI[/url] Can't Stand

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLgUtBm0uH0[/url] Every Little