Stewart: A Few (humble) Suggestions

[Duke]

I'm going to guess Ibanez, but don't hold me to it<<

found one


http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Ibanez-Musician-Bass-Neck -through-Vintage-Guitar_W0QQitemZ160124808232QQihZ 006QQcategoryZ38080QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZVi ewItem

[Philip]

W&S, Duke, Gina, etc. an all others more interested in the music than in the colour of sting’s slip while on stage (if he’s actually wearing some) : may I do another suggestion?

- what do you think of Sting singing less, and having more instrumental parts?

I explain what I mean = I just listened to Roxanne, and suddenly had this brilliant idea. I think Stewart and Andy have a good sound and Sting’s bass playing is ok. But what I dislike a bit is the new “R&B”, or “Smooth”, “full but not incisive” actual style by Sting’s voice. Perhaps they could do more instrumentals during some shows, before singing again. It could even be an opportunity to play Regatta de Blanc and Andy’s Camel. But even any other song would be great. Listening to police, is listening to music… not to a singer… witch is the more relevant difference with the actual top of musical scene. Go back to essence.
Those who wanted to here Sting singing had between 1984 and 2006 to do so. Now it’s about the Police.

Your thoughts about it?

thanks & sorry for my english

[Duke]

I'm all for it. I loved the old shows where you'd have a few fast and furious songs and then one with a nice long jam in it. Hopefully we'll get lots of improving at Bonnaroo. I still say this is going to be the show of the tour.

I like when sting starts doing some improv singing like he does with the bannana boat song in Can't Stand or the yellow rose of texas man from laramie bit he did in so lonely on the ghost tour (houston show comes to mind).

Oh and you're english is fine. I probably should've been beaten or at least fined for what I've done to the french language.

I used to see bands like the grateful dead and other "jam bands" (fuck I hate that word) so I love jamming songs out and improv.

[Philip]

Hurrah!! That other Roxanne:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qDlPUI1uC0 from Seatle 1st Night (thanks GregMoon and DirtyMartini) is illustrating what I just wrote and goes in the good direction. Waww!

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="Philip"] - what do you think of Sting singing less, and having more instrumental parts? . . . But what I dislike a bit is the new “R&B”, or “Smooth”, “full but not incisive” actual style by Sting’s voice. Perhaps they could do more instrumentals during some shows, before singing again. It could even be an opportunity to play Regatta de Blanc and Andy’s Camel.[/quote]

(I wouldn't hold my breath for "Camel" unless Andy's feeling pretty cheeky one night. Which would be a riot.)

Some of Sting's deliveries these days don't quite fit for me either, so I'm in agreement there. I think as the tour progresses, it will be a balance of the singing and more jam/instrumental stuff on certain songs (such as in that recent Roxanne clip). You can't boot the singing because the majority of the audience hangs onto it (just like the majority of the audience is there for The Hits) -- but as the band gets more comfortable, they seem to be loosening up to more improv.

(After all, back in the day these guys were living in each other's pockets. I can imagine SC was probably able to predict Sting's moves just by instinct. After so long away from each other, that ease and symbiosis takes time to rebuild. Now that they're comfortable with just getting the songs right, they'll probably find more freedom to play around.)

Although, as much as WE would love a 20-minute jam (and Roo IS the place that is most likely to win that -- lucky dogs), I think much of the current (traditional) audience would get restless. So I have a feeling that the bridges will grow and expand, but they'll still need to be tempered to the current audience's tolerances.

(Although if SC.net were in the majority, I think the general concensus would be More Jam! More Speed! More Drums!)

[Jennythenipper]

[quote="DirtyMartini"]

Some of Sting's deliveries these days don't quite fit for me either, so I'm in agreement there. I think as the tour progresses, it will be a balance of the singing and more jam/instrumental stuff on certain songs (such as in that recent Roxanne clip). You can't boot the singing because the majority of the audience hangs onto it (just like the majority of the audience is there for The Hits) -- but as the band gets more comfortable, they seem to be loosening up to more improv.
</quote]

I agree completely. It's a fact of life when singers age, they have to find some other technique to save their voice, especially on a long tour. It is disappointing because you get a much less raw, exciting sound than you hear on the record. As a Bob Dylan fan I've pretty much faced up to the fact that he's only gonna go for it and sing full voice on one or two songs a night, if at all. That's the price of having him out there on the road night after night at his age.

I'm hoping that as the tour progresses as you say they will loosen up. But I wouldn't count on Sting cutting loose on every song, every night. I'd rather hold that memory of hearing the perfect Roxanne, than have him burned out and unable to sing at all by the end of the tour.

[Wait and See]

Was just listening to some of the stuff from recent shows, and noticed something. There's something missing from Bed's Too Big...the snare drum. Weird.

[New Zealand Promoter]

Here are my humble suggestions for Stewart.

1. Eat a big cake whilst playing the drums. A really big, creamy cake dripping with chocolate.

2. Wear pantaloons with bells on them.

3. Bring a bird aviary containing geese to a few shows. Sometimes, alternate this with a pony or a large rabbit.

4. Wear a harmonica around your neck, like Bob Dylan. Don't play it, just let it hang there. It will look cool.

5. Occasionally, whip out some long cotton buds and stick them in your nose, keeping them in there whilst you play. This would work really well during "Every Breath You Take." Sometimes, use coloured pipe cleaners with paper plates attached to the ends.

[georgygirl]

Strange suggestions...

[Wait and See]

Those are good ideas actually...probably a lot easier than getting Sting not to mellow everything out.

[New Zealand Promoter]

that's right. it would actually be easier for stewart to make sandwiches and tap dance as the same time as drumming.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

(likes the pipe cleaners/paper plates image)

[OmegaMan]

We were at row 24 of the Van show and I was impressed, however, I think Sting's idea of 'just 3 guys on-stage' contributed to a show that lacked energy in parts. I'm guessing that if SC had his way, most songs would have been much faster and more energetic, but he had to bow to Sting's jazzy, slower style.

The reality is that the 3 of them don't have the energy of 20-30 year olds anymore and they would have been helped by a more intricate and energetic stage show, either via samples or other help on stage. I mean think of that classic pic of Sting and Andy jumping while pointed their guitars at one another. That's a young man's game.

My guess was that for Next to You Sting controlled the bulk of it, then agreed to let Stewart have his fun at the end. That should have happened on more songs.

However, Stewart clearly enjoyed himself, which I was very glad to see. My 13 yr old daughter came and loved it and is the envy of her teachers!

[Wait and See]

The only thing about the age element is, you don't have to expend much energy to play faster and more aggressively on bass or guitar. Just move your fingers faster. Drums require a lot more exertion. If Stewart can do it, Sting and Andy have no excuse. I think the mellowness is more of "stylistic choice" on Sting's part. He probably feels it's more "mature" and better reflects his current state of mind than thrashing out does. He's been playing mellow pop music for 20+ years, and his most recent project was an album of 16th century lute music. I think he views rock and roll as childish "low art" which is beneath his level of genius.

I don't think it's just the way they're playing, either. I think it's also the set list and some of the changes they've made to songs. Having just the three of them should push them to put more effort and energy into their playing, so I think that part of it is a very good idea. The hope is that as the tour progresses they get warmed up and acclimated and start to pick things up.

[georgygirl]

[quote]- what do you think of Sting singing less, and having more instrumental parts?

[/quote]

To me is a good strategy, cause he has to face (and his partners too) that is not the same Three Musketeers than 30 years after...



But, I can perceive more wisdom on his music, at least for me.