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

[Wait and See]

>>>If I only had what I'd seen on YouTube and so on, I might be quick to form a baseless opinion as well. <<<

Like I said, I've heard recordings of several shows in their entirety...

>>>Of course. Keep in mind that "constructive criticism" is meant to be constructive to the person or entity you're addressing with the comments. I have doubts that either a) Stewart rabidly looks at this forum to make sure that he's living up to everyone's expectations, or b) gives a crap. Very Happy

That makes the comments a little less constructive, as I'm sure you understand. And of course, you can say anything you want... it's a free country, or at least a free Internet. Smile <<<

Stewart clearly reads the forums, and certainly takes the fans views (or at least some of them) into account. He's a pretty cool guy that way. I refer you to his last post, where he mentioned it bothering him that Dietmar (a poster here) was not enthusiastic about the first show.

Nevertheless, everything I say is my opinion-- nothing more.

[jeffdaweasel]

Sure, Wait-and-See, that's all understandable.

I'm not some blind follower fo the cult of the Police. If I really felt that the show I saw didn't live up to my expectations, I'd be the first to say so.

Instead, my only regret is that I can't afford to go see another show on the tour. But the money I spent for my lady and I to see them last week was well spent. I don't regret it for a second.

Whether or not they perform at a level you find acceptable is a subjective matter. For me, a Police fan going back to 1981 and a professional musician and audio engineer, I found that the show exceeded my greatest expectations by a mile.

I'm still not sure what Police show you're planning to see on the tour, though. Care to enlighten me?

[Wait and See]

>>>I'm still not sure what Police show you're planning to see on the tour, though. Care to enlighten me?<<<

I'm not sure why it matters, but...I signed up to the "fan club" ($100) with the intent of getting tickets to a show, but there has not yet ended up being one nearby that I could make it to. The closest one is the Virgin Festival in B-more, but I've had my fill of festivals in the past and don't feel like fighting it to see one band, in less than optimal conditions. I was expecting there would be an arena show in D.C., and was surprised that one never showed up. If they add one on a second leg, I'll probably go (provided I can get my hands on tickets). I apologize for not being enough of a fanatic to reschedule my life and travel 1,000+ miles to see them--nothing against people who did, but most of us can't do that.

What would be really cool is if they did one of their shows live on PPV in HD/Dolby 5.1 for everyone who can't get there to see them in person...

[Three over Four]

Sounds like there will be a DVD at some point which I'm sure will be in 5.1...hopefully you'll find a show near you on that 2nd leg....

[Philip]

[quote="jeffdaweasel"]
I'm not some blind follower fo the cult of the Police. [/quote]

I'm glad you enjoyed the show you went to.

W&s says it’s not relevant to know who we are. I’m not sure that as we allow us to criticise some of the best musicians and rock star in the world, our background is neutral.

I will give you my profile, so you can put my commentaries into perspective. Each of us has his own story of the Police:

<< Do I know them from my teenage? Did I sow them before?>>
For me, the Police was a “myth “ until now, a “legend”, a kind of ALL STAR TEAM with a potential come back. I discovered them in 86 and was always frustrated that Sting used to play 50% of police songs during his solo concerts.

<< Sting vs Police?>>
I LIKE STING A LOT. I appreciate his solo material, his sense of music, original ideas and arrangements. He is a damned good composer. For me he has always created good songs.

<<What do I aspect?>>
Now I see the reunion tour as A MOMENT OF REVELATION because the question is: “Is the police really a legend?”.

<<How do I feel today, some weeks after the tour begun?>>
I would say:
1) The BACK CATALOGUE doesn’t sound as good as I sought it would. Most of the Police songs where as good and even better during Sting’s solo career, with musicians like Dominic Miller, Kirkland, Hakim, Katché, Calaiuta, etc. etc….
2) Sting had written so much songs, that I really feel disappointed there is not AT LEAST 1OR 2 new songs.
3) As point 2) became clear, I started to focus more on Andy and Stewart. And I say, they are very good musicians. I’m realising my favourite is STEWART COPELAND. As a musician, regarding the fact the show is about performing well known material (no indigestion please), Steward’s approach, sound and freshness is what I prefer.

<<What do I wish for the rest of the tour?>>
I hope STEWART will get more INFLUENCE over the 2 others. I hope Sting will WAKE UP. I hope Andy will stay well and safe.

_

To W&s:
You know, before they started the tour, there was an existing “police community”. The people often used their real name as pseudo and explained to the others why they liked the police. Discussion was often about music, sound, instruments, and it was of course not common to be a dead’s band fan. No one could have said they will reunite. We knew more about one another.
Lots of this people (including top musicians and simple persons) don’t come to these forums any more. I’m glad Nicole and Dietmar are still here, others of you are really cool. But it’s as a friend Mr Wait and See, that I permitted myself to ask you to tell us more about you. You do what you want.

_

[jeffdaweasel]

>>>I'm not sure why it matters, but...<<<

I only wanted to know when you were going to see them so I could hear about your experience directly. No need to feel your privacy is being invaded or anything like that.

I hope you do get the opportunity to go, and report back to us on whether you felt it was good, bad, or indifferent. In my opinion, it'll be very worthwhile, but that's just me.

Besides, you have to "see" to live up to your moniker. Can't just 'wait".

[Wait and See]

>>>W&s says it’s not relevant to know who we are. I’m not sure that as we allow us to criticise some of the best musicians and rock star in the world, our background is neutral. <<<

Well, as far as music goes...

I've been a guitar player in various bands for about 20 years, since I was 13. I studied audio engineering in college, and a did little of each for a few years until I decided to change course and get a "real" job. I'm currently preparing to take the CPA Exam. I've got a bit of a home studio and still record some stuff occasionally, but it's purely a hobby now.

I was a pretty good guitar player, but not much else. Not much of a songwriter, and not the best team player in a band...not enough patience. I could have probably stuck with engineering and done well...I'm pretty good at it...but recording other people's music didn't really appeal to me.

Over the years I was a rabid consumer of music...had close to 1,000 CDs at one point. Everything from pre-war Delta blues to hip-hop...Bing Crosby to Led Zeppelin. My typical pattern was to buy a CD, listen to it constantly for a few weeks until I had absorbed every note, and then move on to another one.

So yeah...I'm not a hugely successful rock star...very few people on the planet are....but I have a reasonably sound knowledge of what goes into it. IMO, the Police are one of the best rock bands ever, in a very elite group. That's why I have high expectations.

[jayjayaitch]

I saw the Oakland show and made this comment on the paper's web site:

"What a bizarre review!

I don't know what Mr. Harrington was expecting but I got exactly what I wanted: not a nostalgia-fueled attempt to recreate every song as they were recorded 20+ years ago, but a reworking of the band's material that reflected who these three men are now, with space for each of them to express their unique talents. These men, all of whom were not just "Born in the Fifties" but in fact are in their own fifties now, have too much artistic integrity to simply go out on stage and pretend that they're still 25, like some pathetic re-tread band you'd expect to see at a county fair.

It's a shame that Mr. Harrington couldn't see them for who they are now."

I may have been a little harsh on bands on the county fair circuit -- hey, a little nostalgia is fun every once in a while -- but this is the Police! You know, guys who are actually very solid musicians. I don't want to see them crank out a rubber stamp performance any more than I would have wanted to hear Miles Davis & co. perform "Kind of Blue" note-for-note in concert.

Speaking of which, I was amazed at how many of my fellow commenters on the newspaper site were complaining about how the guys weren't performing every song exactly they way the recorded them. I'm a creative person myself and part of what drives me is the desire to do new things, in an effort to express myself more clearly and to communicate what I have to say NOW. I was hoping that the arrangements would change a lot, that they'd stretch out the songs a bit since their bodies are no longer fueled exclusively on high doses of testosterone and adrenaline. I had a great time -- I wish I could have seen them in a smaller venue, but I had a great time.

As for the original newspaper reviewer's comment that the Police can't whip up a frenzy in a stadium the way the Stones can, well, duh! The big sing-along tune at a Police show is a little ditty called "King of Pain," and the songs are frequently about broader philosophical concepts ("Truth Hits Everybody") or the state of humankind ("Driven to Tears," "Walking in Your Footsteps").

Anyway, I hope that Stewart and the guys aren't letting this negative press discourage them too much. They'll never please everyone so they may as well do what they want!

JJH

[DirtyMartini]

Welcome, JJH! Thanks for sharing your comments!