OUR FIRST DISASTER GIG!

[myorkshire]

As I recall, most of the reviews from the end of the Synchronicity Tour said that the band appeared to be sick of the music and each other.

There's a palpable raw energy to shows early in a tour. Mistakes are often made, but I like the authenticity of that dynamic.

At the same time, I have to say - I've listened to most of the boots circulating from the tour, and am REALLY surprised at the sloppiness. It mostly seems to come from Andy ... and Sting doesn't seem to be his usual, stickler-self. Stewart, however, is delivering the goods consistently night after night.

Having said that, I've LOVED every show I've listened to so far.

[English-lion]

myorkshire: So you haven't experienced a live show? hum that explains it!

[garyq]

I am sorry to report this.
Something aint right with our fave police. I saw first three shows and have listened to all the boots and there are two real problems.
awkward arangements and the loss of energy they cause, and Andy.
Andy is having real technical issues almost nightly. these are not good .
they are amazing but flying at 60% at times.

This is the truth but it is not the end of the world.

[English-lion]

garyq:

I have to disagree with you I saw the May 28th show and hell it was good! Dam good How can say a boot is as good as a show?

[David Herbert]

I was at the Vancouver Wednesday show and it was spectacular. It made up for every bad arena/stadium show I have ever seen. Most reuniting bands would try to faithfully reproduce every song, filling the stage with extra musicians to hide the fact they don't have much juice left. The Police didn't use backing tracks or extra musicians. The created new arrangements. They took chances.
Mistakes are a part of live performance. Andy did seem off, but that's life. Sting was solid on bass and vocals, and commanded the room. He is a fantastic frontman. And Stewart...
In my opinion Stewart Copeland is the best drummer in rock music. How do I arrive at this opinion so confidentally? In an odd fashion: I saw him with Oysterhead and thought he was rushing, collapsing the pocket and making it hard for the other guys to express much. He seemed to fall into the same patterns and I was underwhelmed. At the Police show Stewart was magnificent. It was extraordinary how he sat on the groove, metronomic. I wouldn't be surprised if he had some click in his in-ear monitors, that's how ON he sounded. He would get ahead of the beat during some fills yet land perfectly on the one. Regardless of whether or not he DID have click his sense of timing was fabulous. Stewart was throwing down killer fills and kept the energy high. I have seen Sting with Vinnie C. on the drums (Soul Cages tour) and he has NOTHING on Mr. Copeland.
More later,
David

[phaty]

[quote="garyq"]I am sorry to report this.
Something aint right with our fave police. I saw first three shows and have listened to all the boots and there are two real problems.
awkward arangements and the loss of energy they cause, and Andy.
Andy is having real technical issues almost nightly. these are not good .
they are amazing but flying at 60% at times.

This is the truth but it is not the end of the world.[/quote]

You should show a little bit more respect to senior citizens!

[scottsliver]

I love your honesty. (I got a set of your sticks after a show in Cleveland in 1984-85 when the Go Go's opened for you. What a great show! (Sting's voice was a lot better then. Must be why he is changing keys!)

[georgygirl]

[/quote](Sting's voice was a lot better then. Must be why he is changing keys!)[quote]

Sure, is not the same the three musketeers than 23 years after, especially in voice terms...

Anyway I still loving the trio!

[visions]

Just read an aticle in our daily paper and the band is behind Stewart.

It was done in Jest and the press made a mess of it

read Hey Kimmy!!!!

[georgygirl]

After all, funny blog kinetic kid!

You made it again...

Now this site is famous.

[Alison Locke]

Hi Stewart,

I know all about nightmare gigs! The band I sing with had a gig last November and our fold-backs decided to pack up just as we were starting our first number. It was a question of fight or flight - we fought on and everyone said it was fine - people are SO kind! No-one would have even noticed you guys were struggling but I love the way you can laugh about it. I still have panic attacks every time we plug in!

Looking forward to seeing you on the 4th September at the NIA, Birmingham (UK) and I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday for Monday but only registered that day so couldn't post this until today.

[neonhunter]

I saw them at Dodger Stadium and I've been carefully reading reviews and first-hand accounts before and after that show. Seems to me that although the fellas needed to work out some kinks (hmmm...23-year layoff?), they've been coming together amazingly well. People were dogging Andy early but now it seems universally acknowledged that he's TEARING IT UP! Three guys on stage, nowhere to hide.....What these guys are pulling off is just awesome. Hope to hear from Stewart again sometime. He's funny!

[colleydog]

Mr. Stewart:

While you most likely have neither the inclination nor the time to scan -- much less peruse -- fans' posts about certain topics, I nonetheless considered it important to express the sheer entertainment and inspiration I derive from reading and listening to your often hysterical, but always provocative and insightful, comments, opinions, and observations about the reunion tour, your band mates, and life in general. It is both amazing and inspiring to see someone in his mid-fifties (I'm 53) exhibiting the same skills, energy and passion behind the kit that you displayed when the band was at "the top of the ziggurat", and you became -- and remain -- a major influence in my life, both musically and intellectually. Your high-energy, aggressive, enterprising, and spirited persona is quite contagious. You have no bigger fan than my son, Chris, who is currently "paying his dues" playing drums with a band in NYC. He was thrilled to shake your hand last year when your "Does Everyone Stare" tour rolled through town. He and I have "been on the fence" about the band's reunion tour for various reasons, but primarily because of a somewhat skeptical attitude about the band's ability to "recreate" the same music quality and energy some 25 years after the break up. That skepticism and your comments about the band's "lame" performance(s) in Vancouver provided the impetus for this post. Your tounge-lashing of Sting and Summers was classic and no doubt justified. Hopefully the band's future performances have improved exponentially and approached your entirely "reasonable", high standards for the "work product", which, in my view, applies across the board to any undertaking worth doing. With that said, it appears to me -- based on viewing footage of recent performances -- that you're the only one in the band earning a paycheck. [e.g., Live Earth show.] This is disappointing, as it illustrates your frustrations at the Beginning of the reunion tour and, for me, confirms, to whatever extent, my "gut" feeling that I should lower my expectations about the band's reunion tour. You're having fun, though, right? So who cares? At least you can look yourself in the mirror, because you're still kicking ass and taking names!

David
Coppell, TX

[Kalypso]

[quote="David Herbert"]I have seen Sting with Vinnie C. on the drums (Soul Cages tour) and he has NOTHING on Mr. Copeland.[/quote]

Now, you know that Stewart is a piece of my heart. And to me there ain-t no other drummer in the cosmos.
But I have to say here, in defense of VINNIE that it depends a lot on the material he plays. I have seen him in other context than pop and the man is, technically speaking, one of the best I have ever heard.
Stewart, Omar Hakim, Vinnie,Taylor H and Sean Kinney are the ones that sent me gaga live.

I have seen many bad drummers too, but the most famous one that really Sucks with the capital S is Kenny Jones.

[blueboy]

This forum is really starting to scare me.