The Police: Recapturing an Era

The return of The Police was probably the most anticipated rock reunion since The Eagles rejoined a few years ago, and not without good reason: The Police were one of a handful of influential bands (including Journey and U2) in the new wave/rock era of the late 70's and early 80s whose appeal was widespread. I have probably purchased all five Police albums three times apiece.

When the band went into its 25-year hiatus, I doubted it would reform. Sting clearly had creative needs that were not being met within the Police. So the question for me remained: why the reunion?

Aside from the financial windfall, which no doubt be greater than anything earned by Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers in the last ten years, one hoped the motivating factor for the tour was a love for their music and a desire to share it with their fans. After attending their concert last night, I left with the overall feeling that the purpose of the tour was, in large part, a celebration of their music and of their era.

Energy/Attitude of the Band: B

At the outset of the show, the band's energy level of the band was high and they were clearly eager to perform. Stewart and Andy, in particular, seemed almost grateful to the audience for the ovations and reponsiveness. However, the as the set was approximately 100 minutes long, the band started to tire during the second hour of the show. Stewart was drumming his ass off on a festooned drum kit and a nifty percussion stage while Andy kept up with technically difficult guitar parts with aplomb. A dip in energy levels is forgivable, considering their age and low levels of touring stamina after so many years on the shelf.

Sting, in terrific physical condition, was the least obviously tired of the band, yet at times he lacked the humility of his bandmates and I wasn't sure he really wanted to be there. At his best, Sting is melodic, relevant, and a charismatic stage presence. At his worst, Sting can be arrogant, aloof, and a bit of a lyrical and musical snob. In that latter mode, he fails to connect with the audience as deeply as his cohorts -- men who understand that a reunion concert tour is an emotional journey back in time. Sting's comments and exhortations to the audience had a scripted feel, creating further emotional separation from the audience. I suppose I was expecting the Sting that fronted The Police for the opening of the Academy Awards this year.

Performance: B+

The bandmembers' skill level has never been in doubt. At times, though, they were out of synch or simply weren't "tight." Whether due to rust or the newness of the arrangements, from time to time one of the band would look over to his mates for cues on getting back into the song.

The individual performances, however, were wonderful. Stewart was the most prepared and refined of the trio. He was also the most focused; reports of his perfectionist streak were not exaggerating. Andy had a very cool, understated presence on the guitar. He is possibly the least selfish guitarist of any major rock band. And Sting's voice was nearly perfect, though on a few occasions he sang at a lower octave. Still, he tried to reach the notes of his youth and hit them on all but one noticable ocassion. Sting's bass playing was solid and remains the most underrated of his many musical talents.

A few more weeks together on the road will doubtless improve the band's coherence as a unit.

Stage Presentation/Technical : B-

The stage itself was delightfully minimalist: a simple three-piece triangle formation with risers along the side and back. Above the stage (in their arena setup) was a bank of video screens. The stage lighting was simple but state-of-the-art; particularly innovative were column-mounted lights that could be independently raised and lowered.

This (by modern standards) bare presentation was refreshing and effective, were it not marred by poor sound levels (Andy's guitar and the backup vocals were barely audible at times) and the cheesy nature of the video selections played on the screens when the band themselves were not shown. During "Walking in Your Footsteps" giant dinosaur-bone feet "walked" along the screen; on other occasions, iconic images from the band's albums flashed whenever a particular song was played. During "Synchronicity II," for instance, the screen displayed the familiar red, yellow and blue paint slash. These touches were an unwelcome distraction from the otherwise minimalist staging.

Set List: A

The band played nearly all of their notable hits as well as a few interesting arrangements of lesser known gems like "Voices Inside My Head." Kicking off with "Message in a Bottle" got the arena jumping and set an energetic tone for the remainder of the show. "Walking On The Moon," always a personal favorite, was sharp and had a great, call-and-response with Sting.

Notably absent from the list were two hits from Ghost in the Machine: "Demolition Man" and "Spirits in the Material World." While both of those songs would probably have to be reworked to be performed live in a three-piece band, they were solid songs in their day that deserve a fresh life. Either one of those songs would have been better received than "Walking In Your Footsteps," but that's a small quibble.

Overall Grade: B+

A very good show that could be great with additional time playing together, refinements to the set list and technical sound issues, and a touch of heart and humility from Sting.

The Police will only go as far as Sting allows. It's clear now that while Andy and Stewart are having the time of their lives, Sting needs to recapture the mindset of the soulful songwriter of his early 20's and channel that somehow into his live performances.