by cosplusisin on 03 Jun 2007 19:03
i was there... i purposely avoided this forum in the last week so i didn't find out anything about what the show might be like. i looked at the setlist from the first show just now, and i think the only difference is that (as someone said) we didn't get murder or next to you.
my seat was row 15 on the floor (I figured i could spend the extra money since i didn't have to pay for a flight to another city).
being a stadium show, there were 2 opening acts, so the show started at 6:45 (promptly, i presume, because i arrived at 7:00 and fiction plane was already playing - i didn't want to be late, there was just a lot of "people" traffic to get through from the LRT ("subway", i guess) station. i didn't feel too sad that i missed part of fiction plane, because i went to their small-venue show the night before.. it was quite awesome, and i'm glad i saw a bit of them last night too. during their set Joe said something about being in the back by the merch table later if anyone wanted to say hi to them in person, so after their set, i went and met them and said hi. got their signatures. told them their show the previous night was great (and more fun than this stadium one).
next was sloan. i used to live in halifax (where sloan are from), so i've already seen sloan 3 times. i've never been a big fan, but i was disappointed. this was the worst of them all. not to say it was bad, but it just wasn't good! i don't know... sloan's just sloan. they do have a good sense of humour though. when they came out on stage, i noticed that their drummer (Andrew somethingorother) looked a bit like Stewart Copeland.. same sort of grey hair... same tall thin look.. longish face... anyway, about halfway into their set, Chris Murphy (the singer/bassist) said "does anyone think Andrew looks like Stewart Copeland?" it was too funny. i yelled out "yeah i do! i already noticed it!!" i don't think they heard me, but the girl in front of me laughed. alright... that was sloan.
the police. THE POLICE!!!! wow. i didn't fly to vancouver, since they came right to my town (a million thank yous to them for it!)
the show was incredible. they played most songs i wanted to hear, with the big exception of "bring on the night". i would have also loved to have heard one of the awesome Stewart songs like "darkness", "on any other day" or "does everyone stare", but such is life. the concert was outstanding nonetheless. best concert i've seen since radiohead in montreal last year. all the hits. yes, that was great. i wasn't a big fan of the new version of "don't stand so close to me", but everything else.. the new arrangements.. were really cool. especially "wrapped around your finger". .that was a huge highlight for me, as were the new parts in "walking on the moon" and "bed's too big". the show started and i noticed that Stewart and Andy weren't smiling (Sting was). but finally, during "when the world is running down.." Stewart started to shine and he was happy and smiling like a madman. it was cool. Stewart drumming up close.. right in front of me (ok not that close, but at least close enough that the sound was not delayed from what i was seeing - i hate that at big concerts). yes.. Stewart was the big standout. i knew he would be, but this was just such a treat to see him do his thing in person. right there. the magic of this drumming. and (probably at the other shows too) Sting put into "So Lonely" some extra words, including "welcome to the Stewart Copeland show". it was awesome. i cheered as much as i could for Stewart. my throat is now sore. the only other non-highlight was "walking in your footsteps"... hope noone gets mad at me, but i've never liked that particular song too much.
this concert was really special for me. i've known the police almost my whole life. i remember hearing them and singing them when i was 5 (in 1987), and it was unbelievable and truly special to be seeing these songs live. and not just live, but outdoors. there's nothing quite like music outside. it was hot. the breeze came through and it felt like magic. and it sounded like magic. certain times i just closed my eyes enjoying the sounds and the breeze. other times i looked up at the sky. and the sky was pretty cool. there was a thunderstorm on the way, which, fortunately, didn't arrive until AFTER the concert. but it made the sky look awesome. i don't know if there's anything else i wanted to say. just thanks again to the police for coming to edmonton. i was really surprised they put edmonton on their tour. so happy. so thankful. i might even try to get to the november toronto show if i manage to get a job in the fall!