This concert review is way off the mark.........

[tonydrums]

I saw this review of the Oakland show by Jim Harrington and blew my stack. While everyone is entitled to their opinion and dislike a performance, I personally think this critic is off the mark (and not just because I'm a Police fanatic). It is obvious that Jim does not grasp what the Police are about with this reunion and his comments about Stew couldn't be more off the mark.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_6138898

[sockii]

>"Copeland -- a vocal critic of this reunion tour..."

God, would they just LET IT REST with that already.

Basically, any review that plays off of regurgitating that press nonsense is going to get no credence from me.

[george]

Well I think that seeing as how all the critics have been unanimous up to now, it's good to have some negative, harsh criticism.

He's not far off the mark on Don't Stand and reading some of the other reviews, the sound wasn't excellent compared to the arenas..

But I've alreday listened to the Boot and it sounds as tho the crowd were having a whale !!!!

[Rusty James]

[quote="sockii"]>"Copeland -- a vocal critic of this reunion tour..."
God, would they just LET IT REST with that already.

No shit sockii, I like to hear constructive criticism but this is getting tiresome.
I'm waiting for DirtyMartini's review on this one folks.
As for my two cents....they're gonna leave skid marks on the bowl wherever they go

[Dallas]

I agree with Jim Harrington's review in regards to the version of Don't Stand So Close To Me and Spirits, however, I think he completely misses the mark on the rest of his review.

I did not personally care for the versions of those songs, but the rest of the show was fine.

I think everyone's expectations of this tour are not realistic. It is NOT 1983 anymore (sadly). Andy is 65 years old and Sting and Stewart are in their mid-50's.

You are not going to see the same show that you would have seen 25 years ago. I think everyone should adjust their expectations accordingly and just enjoy the ride!

I saw them in Seattle. Was it the best concert I have ever seen. No.

Did I enjoy it and have fun? Hell yes!

[JMRL]

[quote="george"]But I've alreday listened to the Boot and it sounds as tho the crowd were having a whale !!!![/quote]

George, are you talking about the Oakland boot? If so, where did you get it from? Or I am misunderstanding you?

[jeffdaweasel]

The worst part about this review (and others like it) is that for some reason, a certain percentage of rock/pop reviewers have the expectation that a band will act as a karaoke machine, playing their hits at the precise tempo and arrangement as they hear on the records.

If that's what you want, stay home and put on the damn record.

I've spent the last 30+ years of my life as a musician, with over 20 years as a gigging and session guitarist. To me, there's nothing worse than a band who simply tries to replicate their recorded performance onstage. It shows a lack of creativity, and short changes the audience.

As most of us seem to recognize, it's been 20-30 years since these songs were created. I don't want to think of the Police as a nostalgia act. I love the fact that they've screwed around with the songs, QUITE PURPOSEFULLY may I add, and given us a special treat of a show with a new and unique experience.

I will say with no reservations that the POlice show I saw on 6/6/07 in Seattle was a BETTER live show than when I saw them on the Synchronicity tour in 1983. If this reviewer didn't like the new arrangements, fine. Bt that's a personal and subjective opinion, which I guess is what reviewers get paid for. It just didn't at all jibe with my experience, unless the Oakland show was so horrible in compaison to the Seattle show that it's justified (which I really, really doubt).

[phaty]

[quote="jeffdaweasel"]The worst part about this review (and others like it) is that for some reason, a certain percentage of rock/pop reviewers have the expectation that a band will act as a karaoke machine, playing their hits at the precise tempo and arrangement as they hear on the records.[/quote]

That is what some fans do as well ... !

[policefan]

Very well said, jeffdaweasel, I agree with you.

I think some folks are a little bit more critical because of the ticket-$

[policerule]

"vocal critic"... can't anyone say anything without it getting completely distorted?

he has probably just never been a police fan... no police fan would utter any of those words.

the guy's on crack... he doesn't get it. i hear sting's modern influence on the songs and sometimes i feel like i'm hearing a sting concert, but i don't mind the arrangements. i just want to see them for once in my life so that i might die happy.

[batitude]

You can tell hed doesn't care for the band to begin with referring to Dedo do da as "Juvenile Pop"

I'm not worried...this is after all Oakland and the Contra Costa Times which is much like a West Coast NY Post. Striving for the Sensationalistic.

It's always a good idea to check out the chumps other reviews and remember...Those who can DO, those who can't TEACH, those who can't Do OR Teach, Review.

I'd be interested to see what the San Francisco papers have to say.

[zilboy]

Beware, batitude!

I CAN

I DO

and...

I TEACH!

[Wait and See]

I've heard the show in question...they have picked up the pace a bit. It is not remotely as bad as this guy makes it sound, and I doubt most of the people at the show felt that way.

Nevertheless, I think it's fair to admit that they have been away a long time, and they are rusty. Some of the changes they made work, some don't. The set list could probably be improved, both in terms of order and selection.

All things considered, they're doing a good job. Still, there is a degree to which good will only gets you so far, and then you have to deliver. For a lot of people, especially ones who are not die hard Police fans, anything less than being blown away from start to finish is unacceptable. I think they're capable of doing that, but they're not quite there yet.

[Pen L O P]

I think you all have said some great things! And it's nice to know that even as fans, and fanatics, we can still deal with and agree with some of the criticism. The show in Denver was one of the best nights of my life. I never thought that I would actually ever get to be in the same room with those 3, especially the main man himself SC. That alone would have been worth the price of admission. Yes, some of the new renditions didn't work as well, namely on Don't Stand and Spirits, as was pointed out earlier. But on the whole it was great. Driven to Tears and Can't Stand Losin You/ Regatta just blew the house down. Made me forget that almost 25 years had passed. And they did a great take on So lonely too. But the whole vibe and what these shows mean to so many people may be lost to the critics, who in some cases may just be there to find criticism rather than let go and feel the energy.

[Omaha_Perez]

Here's another "rock journalist" making a jack ass out of himself: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... QF22D1.DTL . I'm particularly offended by his statements about Andy. And is he asking where David Bowie is now (a living legend) or Stevie Ray Vaughan (dead)? What an idiot.