Download the full mix HERE
Wednesday was a night of The Police concert in Oakland (If you read this blog, you already know). J and I met up with our buddy John (C-Lo’s hubby) and got settled into our seats (after getting stuck in a huge traffic jam on the way to the concert). The weather here in Walnut Creek was pretty blazing (101 degrees yesterday) so Oakland was quite pleasant (about 78 degrees).
We were only sitting for about a half hour when the lights went out and the band took the stage and launched into a blistering version of “Message in a Bottle.” What I loved about the concert was that it was just the three of them. They didn’t have any background singers or extra players to add a few layers of heft to the live performance. Nope. It was just Sting, Andy, and Stewart for 2 hours! There were a few pre-recorded background vocal tracks that were played during some of the songs, but I think the vocals were Sting’s, so I guess that’s okay. 🙂 Also, there were a couple of pre-recorded instruments that covered a few transitions during songs, but overall it was just the three of them playing.
After the concert, the three of us were comparing notes about the show, and we were all in agreement that while the concert was very good, it wasn’t great. It didn’t matter what we thought, however, because the thousands of people in attendance were singing, dancing, and having a great time.
I don’t want to be all boo hoo about the show, because we did have our favorites from the set list. What follows are (mostly) live performances of the songs we thought were the powerhouses. These recordings aren’t from the recent tour. Rather they are a combination of performances from 1980, 1981 and 1983. “King of Pain” is the studio version, but all the rest are live recordings.
[Update as of 2:30 pm on 6/15/07: After reading a review of the concert in the Contra Costa Times (Click HERE to enjoy the pummeling The Police got), I emailed the music critic to see if he wanted to be on the morning show on KKDV. He called back too late to be on today, so I pre-recorded two segments with Don that will air on Monday. There are about 5 seconds of silence at the 2:20 mark. That’s there so we can playback the interview in two segments. Just let it play and you’ll hear the rest. 🙂 (Listen HERE) ]
“Message in a Bottle” (Listen HERE) I thought this was the perfect show opener! The crowd was so energized when the opening riff of the song started up. And this one was J’s favorite!
“Synchronicity II” (Listen HERE) At first, I wasn’t too jazzed about this choice, but man, Sting’s voice was in top shape for this song. He just belted it and Stewart and Andy were right there matching the intensity.
“Walking in Your Footsteps” (Listen HERE) I’ve always loved this song, but they reworked it for a three-piece band and the result was nothing short of amazing. Stewart was able to keep the African rhythms going while punctuating the main drum beats with an array of percussion. The band then composed a new section in 4/4 time for the chorus that featured Andy’s guitar work. Overall, this was my favorite song in the set.
“King of Pain” (Listen HERE) I have a live version of this song from the Synchronicity live CD, but I don’t think it’s that great. However, the version they played on Wednesday was simply brilliant.
“So Lonely” (Listen HERE) This one was John’s fav, and I can see why. The band alternates between playing powerfully and “breaking it down” in a cool section before the final build up.
“Roxanne” (Listen HERE) You didn’t think the band would do a half-ass job on this one did you?
And as a final treat, I have some Police B-sides I thought I’d throw in.
–PK
Ml
June 15, 2007 at 6:02 amIt sounds like it was a great night and you enjoyed yourselves! Thanks for the Police mix!
Py Korry
June 15, 2007 at 6:49 amI enjoyed it, but our local newspaper music critic summed up the show with this headline:
“Sting stunk — and so did the rest of the Police.”
You can read it here: http://www.contracostatimes.com/music/ci_6138898
Thinking About… » Impressions from the Police Concert
June 15, 2007 at 7:02 am[…] by the way, just in time for Friday, Py Korry as put together a sweet Mix Six for us, all Police, all the time. Very nice. Pop on over, download, and enjoy! « […]
Lalapunci
June 15, 2007 at 7:27 amSounds like a great evening. Glad you had fun.
John
June 15, 2007 at 7:48 amI have written several hundred of these…and I have attended several thousand concerts, but the two events have never been combined, so I know offer my first attempt at a music review, sort of. We went to the Police show at the Oakland Coliseum June 13th. It took an hour and a half to drive from South of Market, SF..to the show. I was able to defy the laws of parking and find a legal space on the street exactly one city block from the stadium. I cannot reveal how I accomplished this unbelievable feat of parking mastery, but I WILL disclose that I often utilize the George Costanza (from Seinfeld) method: Start at the DREAM SPOT and then continue in concentric circles until a space is seized. Now we’re inside the Coliseum. I was wearing a polo shirt and jeans and Chuck Taylor converse. Ordinary, plain, the blend in kind of concert outfit. Now I look around. The people watching at concerts is among the most fascinating exercises of anthropology imaginable. BAD HAIR, BAD BAD outfits…and a few guys in three piece suits. We are watching a reunion show from a band that first formed in the late 70s, but for chrissakes people, you cannot fit into those 70s pants anymore, I realize you saved them for precisely this moment, but we are all slightly rounder than we used to be. You need a spatula to get that muffin top in those leather pants. Whatever makes you happy. The Police take the stage, the crowd roars., and we’re treated to the big hits, and some different treatments of well known songs. The police were never really a “rock band”, their specialty was guitar simplicity, a great bass line and drumming that was otherworldly. But they were decidedly, well, mellow. A bit ethereal, a few steps slower…a few riffs softer. I imagined thought balloons above the performers heads: Above Sting: ” I think I’ll have a hot stone massage after the show and then watch a French romance film, without subtitles.” Above Andy, the guitar player: ” Remember the money Andrew, remember the money…” And above Stewart, the drummer: “Oh my god oh my god this is so great the band is back together will I ever stop grinning..” I first saw the Police in 1981, when we were all a whole lot younger, and it was INCREDIBLE. Last night, it was a pleasant nostalgia trip, and it left me a bit melancholy: It reminded me that time as passed, things are not like they used to be, and never will be again. That’s not to suggest it was a downer, but to paraphrase Randy Jackson, American Idol Judge, ” It was just aight for me.”
Gina
June 15, 2007 at 8:10 amWow, well, I’m kind of glad we aren’t going, because for the amount of money we would have paid, it would have had to have been AWESOME.
For some reason, I really like “King of Pain.” Thanks for the Mix!
Lalunas
June 15, 2007 at 12:20 pmI loved it. Those are my favorite songs. Great Mix six…
Malchus
June 15, 2007 at 5:09 pmHey Ted,
Do you think the show was a bit of a letdown because of the anticipation or was it that they just weren’t as great as you’d expected?
There is SO much hype for this tour (you’d think they were the freakin’ Beatles) that I imagine they’re going to have a difficult time making everyone happy.
It’s a little disappointing that they’re using the tapes for the show. I watched the web cast way back in January and Stewart asked what that crowd would prefer (back up singers, tapes or just the three of them performing). The crowd seemed adamant that they’d prefer just the three of them singing and the guys seemed to take that to heart at that moment. Alas, Sting is such a perfectionist that I’m sure he convinced the other two to allow the tapes.
Glad you had a good time, my friend. I envy you, as I know I won’t be seeing them this summer, and I’ve always been a huge Stewart Copeland fan.
Scott
Beenzzz
June 15, 2007 at 5:38 pmI’m glad the show was atleast very good. I have heard that some people were disappointed with this tour. I would still go though!
jefitoblog
June 16, 2007 at 11:25 am[…] Py Korry sees the reunited Police; […]
Maya's Granny
June 17, 2007 at 11:38 amHappy Father’s Day, Py. You are the best father a granny could wish for her grandbaby.
Taylor
June 18, 2007 at 1:18 pmI love, love, love “King of Pain.”
Py Korry
June 21, 2007 at 7:42 amScott: I think they just weren’t as great as I expected. I know when you’re in a band you have to achieve a consensus on all the large and small things in a set, but it seems the tempo of the songs really brought the crowd down. Plus, they changed up the arrangements (along with slower tempos) and that made it difficult to dance and sing along with the band.
As far as the hype goes, I think some of it is deserved. The Police was one of the greats (in my opinion) and I had a lot of respect for them for walking away from it all when they were at the top of their game.
And I love Stewart’s drumming as well! 🙂