Any Updates from the Fan Show??

[Wait and See]

So they didn't play Bring on the Night? I thought for sure they would.

Aside from the euphoric hardcore, I'm hearing more confirmation of what many expected/feared...too mellow. Apparently the crowd was pretty subdued, and the songs were pretty slow. It's not like they can't do it. The Rolling Stones are fossilized and they still put on a ROCK show. I guess my question is, why would Sting even do it if he's not going to DO IT?

[DirtyMartini]

DM checking in. Mercury, Samburu, Conroy, and the SuperCat are off being tourists, while I try to catch up on lost sleep. (I've had a cold this whole time, so I've been surviving on caffeine, cold meds, and OTC uppers.)

Gina, great info. I wish I could have been so complete last night!

BTW, I don't think anyone remembered to say, but SC was playing the sparkly royal blue drum kit.

SS and I were located too far away for decent stage shots (I was literally the last person in the row), but I (hopefully) got some decent shots of the screens. Of course, my camera battery died only a third of the way thru the show (!! How can batteries last only one day?!?), so I couldn't get as much as I would have liked.

But for tonight (OPENING NIGHT!!!), we're sitting side-stage (stage-left/Andy's side), 10 rows up. So with multiple batteries in pocket, I'll hopefully get some decent shots of SC wailing at the kit.

I don't have any wires with me (my backpack was already bursting), so I'll upload shots when I get home Tuesday night.

GIOVANNI! Are photos of the shows okay to give you for the Police section of the site?

Crowd-wise, it was hit-or-miss -- pockets of people really into it, then others just standing there. (Although that's not unique to this show -- I'm amazed how often recently I see people just stand like zombies at a concert. What is that?) There were 6 or 7 folks who hung out in the space between the last row of floor seats and the soundboard and danced all night long.

Since I didn't have the energy to do so earlier, let me also say how AMAZING many of the folks are whom I have met here in Van. The SC folks truly are an incredible bunch of people full of life and generosity and passion. Even if I had never gotten to see a show, it would have been worth coming here just to meet such fabulous people. Not hyperbole. Thank you to Gio and to Stewart for that.

And it really is true that SC ruled last night, and I'm not just saying that cuz I'm biased. I cannot tell you the number of Sting- and Andy-devotees who commented on how Stewart just totally owned it.

Overall, (now that I think), the energy of the performance was probably a bit subdued at times -- the energy was high but not stratospheric per se. I expect it will multiply 10x tonight when faced with a 10x bigger (and official) audience. This was, after all, the show where you rejoice in the screw-ups rather than try to cover them. Plus, there will be a much larger give-and-take with the larger crowd.

I did notice that the guitar sounded different at times, so I'll have to assume that Dietmar's assessment of using one particular guitar is the cause. I just couldn't put my finger on what it was at the time.

-- oh! Random memory. At one point the screens had a close-up of SC doing his thing and it caught a moment that I thought was really interesting. Stewart dropped one beat -- one single beat -- and for a split second made such a vehement, self-directed "you idiot"-type face. Granted, every one of them had a moment of "oh crap" at some point. But this one shot that the camera happened to catch was really interesting. Stewart's hands had recovered even before his face had had the chance to react, but it was a really interesting snapshot of SC not only doing his thing but also being self-critical at the same time.

[Side kudos to the camera folks. From where I was viewing at least, they seemed to do a great job of being as inconspicuous as possible.]

As the overall arrangements go, reread GSC's comment cuz I think she nailed it. It'll be easier to really form a less hyper/more intelligent thought on them after seeing them again tonight. (First time 'round is such a flurry that it's hard to catch everything you want to catch anyway.) Some changes were better than others; some, like "Footsteps" were really just brilliant. But yeah, like we've speculated many times over, if you're looking for a straight repeat of 1979, that's just not going to happen. Some songs were slower, but not slow. And it was most definitely a rock show. It wasn't a 1980 coke-binge freight train, but it was most definitely a rock show. Plus, the more shows they do, the tighter they're going to get. I think the majority of you folks are going to be extremely well-pleased.

The Police Tour. Sponsored by Depends.

[Midori]

Sweeeeeeeet reports!! Now I cannot find the words what I think exactly...

I'm so impressed that THEY ARE REALLY BACK!!!!!

TO STEWART: KEEP ON ROCKING! SO GLAD YOU ARE 'ANIMAL'!!

[jedsoon]

Thanks for all the great reviews, folks. Almost as good as being there!

Stewart, please watch your step!

[Divemistress of the Dark]

I'm so glad you guys are there. Tickled for you, and it's terrific to keep reading the updates.

I'll second what a great bunch of people this is, too. Although I've met but a small fraction, every time I've met someone new from SC.net, Sting.com or TP.com we just hit it right off...Sincerely, it's nearly the best part of hanging out around here.

(Tickets to The Police: $$...Friends who understand why you're suddenly acting like a teenager: beyond priceless.)

[Wait and See]

OK, I've had a chance to check some other videos that have trickled out, and it's not all that bad. Synch II, Driven, Can't Stand and Message all sound pretty close. Every Little Thing and Wrapped Around Your Finger are both transposed down three half-steps, and Don't Stand is in a different key too. The only reason you do that is to make it easier for the singer to hit the notes. I guess it shouldn't be surprising, although dropping the vocals down like that will tend to take the air out of a song...so it may not just be tempo that makes it sound more mellow, although they're also playing slower, sometimes considerably, on most of the songs. Picking up the tempo is easy, and maybe they will as they get in the groove. If there are certain things Sting just can't do anymore though, there's nothing you can do about that. Stewart and Andy sound like they've got their stuff nailed down, although I'm not sure why Andy's playing the Strat the whole time.

I know there's a whole lot of stuff wound up in this statement, but seriously...if they just let Stewart drive the train, they'd be a lot better off.

[razorboy]

after viewing all the videos, i was left with a feeling of "step on the gas"... maybe they were just running through everything a little laid back... after all, it was a "dress rehearsal". you could just sense people sort of wondering if they were going to play everything that slow. hopefully, the intensity and tempos will pick up as they go.

[georgygirl]

Too much information, but cool information about our lovely trio first performace alive.

Sure they will become better trough each concert.

I am so happy they are playing music together it again.



And thanks for this information DirtyMartiniii:

[quote]SC: black under-armor with red details, black headband, black pants, and black belt with silver studs. Quite flash.
[/quote]

Great Outfit to our Kinetic Kid!

[sockii]

There's 18 pics up on WireImage from the fanclub...mostly Sting but there's a great one of Sting & Stewart backstage.

[bella]

>>>[quote="DirtyMartini"]I've come to the realization that I don't know what constitutes a spoiler in this situation, so please be warned that THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD. So if you don't want to know, best go.

Get comfy. DMartini can talk. And she knows some of you live for the piddling details. (*cough*Dive*cough*)..........................Man, I am so exhausted. Had an unbelievable time.

THANK YOU, STEWART![/quote]<<<<


Excellent review, DirtyM! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this. I can NOT believe this is actually happening. Can you imagine what it would have been like if we had the internet back in the 70's and 80's? Crazy, man. Crazy!

[racerxjj67]

I've obviously missed something, but what was the Fan show? Just an attended rehearsal is what I am guessing. yes, no?

[BongoBoy]

before the first show of the world tour (Monday May 28th) was a Fan show only.

about 4 thousand fanclub members saw a "warm up" concert" so they could test out the stuff in Vancouver.

...and now the World !

Cheers.

[mudspoke]

OK. I've returned from the Great White Northwest, and have had time to settle down. Just a few comments to add to what's been said so far about the FC show.

First, I will not complain about anything. Complaining about something at a Police concert, a concert I've been waiting to see since my last concert 24 years ago is like winning a million dollars in cash and complaining that they gave it to you in 20's. So, I will report my impressions.

My biggest impression some 30 hours out is how relaxed the band seemed to be. I'd seen the Police twice before and saw Sting three times, and never have I seen so relaxed at a concert. Stewart was also very laid back; at one point (I think it was CSLY), he thought the song was over, looked to his side, shrugged his shoulders, laughed, then returned to playing.

In addition, the band also seemed to really get along. Sting referred to Andy as a "legendary guitarist", and Stewart as the "greatest drummer in the world." SERIOUSLY! And yes, they did hug one another at the end of the show, and it was instigated by Sting hugging Stewart. Then, Sting sought out Andy to hug him.

So, the informality of the show, as well as the genuine affection toward one another, remains the most indelible impression I have of the concert.

About the music? In my opinion, Sting and Stewart were at the top of their respective games. To paraphrase Sting at the LA rehearsal, they were indeed better than 25 years ago. Sting's voice is better, and Stewart is just incredible on the drums. Andy's performance, to me, seemed to be a bit more "variable"; he really nailed some solos and other songs, but on some songs I thought he seemed to be experimenting a bit more than Stew and Sting. I'm sure he'll be fine for the tour, but I was also surprised not to see his replica guitar more during the concert.

Finally, a shout out to Conroy. Hey, I was sitting in the 26th row in the middle also. I was in seat 30. Was that you next to me in seat 28 (some woman in seat 29 had two tickets and moved to her other location)?

Bottom line: I am so glad I went to Vancouver to see them. I had tears in my eyes when they took the stage, and thanked God I was alive (and they were alive) to participate in that moment.

[sun]

In the links section I posted a link to a video stream (german news broadcast). They also interviewed fans before (and after?) the show, maybe someone can spot familiar faces.
http://www.stewartcopeland.net/forum/vi ... php?t=2778

[conroy]

/quote Finally, a shout out to Conroy. Hey, I was sitting in the 26th row in the middle also. I was in seat 30. Was that you next to me in seat 28 (some woman in seat 29 had two tickets and moved to her other location)? /quote

Hey Mudspoke. No, I was in seat 18 of row 26, which was the aisle seat facing Sting directly. So if you left at all during the show and got out on the left side of that row, you walked right past me. I did a Klark Kent deal with my stewartcopeland.net t-shirt since it was pretty cold that afternoon and pulled off the outer shirt to expose it when I got to my seat, though i did lift my outer shirt to show my Stewartcopeland.net t-shirt to Stewart's son Jordan who was filming and interviewing me and Dietmar as we waited to get into the pre-show party. I was sitting next to blonde woman and her daughter. It turns out this woman's husband who was sitting separate somewhere else since they couldn't seats together is film composer as well. She said Stewart is his inspiration for being a musician and getting into the film scoring business. He's not well known and does mainly tv movie type stuff. I wish I'd remembered to get their names. Hopefully, he knows about this board now and will come here and introduce himself.

That's cool that we were in the same row. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to meet and greet at some other show. I met so many cool people at this show and wished I'd written down all the names. I even met a few people from the DC area like myself, including a stewardess who works for Southwest. I can't wait to meet more people down in Dallas next month!