The Police 2007 Reunion Tour Review
June 20th, 2007 Posted by: Haronandez
On June 18, I went to see The Police perform after 25 years apart. I must say that I was a little anxious and a little nervous about the show. Let me explain. I was so excited to see The Police, one on the greatest bands in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I grew up with their music, I loved the songs, the videos, and was completely bummed when they split up before I could see them live on stage. Now was my chance to do so! I was a litte nervous in seeing this tour with all of the mixed reviews, and critics and even band members sharing a little disapointment of the opening show in Vancouver. But despite the negative feedback, I decided to pay my hard earned money, and check out the show.
As I entered the US Airways Arena in Phoenix, I could feel a familiar vibe. Most of the people at the show were just like me. Many were my age, ready to have a “blast from the past” moment as we listened to our favorite Police songs. You can hear people in the food and t-shirt lines talking about things we would have discussed 25 years ago…the bands, the music, the fashion, so many things that reminded me of my youth. so I knew that people would be really into the show once things get started.
The Police took the stage and opened the show with Message in a Bottle. The arena erupted! Above the stage were three huge screens that showed all three members playing during the show. I was seated in the upper level, so the screens helped out with the whole concert experience. The stage was on the side, but had a platform that went all the way around, so the band could interact with everyone in front and behind the stage. A few of the songs that they performed were a little different though. Songs like Don’t Stand so Close to Me and King of Pain seemed to have a mellow or jazzy feel, kind of reflective to Sting’s style. Though it was a little different, it still sounded amazing and it really helped reflect their talents individually. The Police may not have performed together for 25 years, but there was no evidence of that at all during the show.
The crowd for the most part was into the show, but when the performed Roxanne, the place completely exploded. many would sing along through the show, but during Roxanne it seemed like everyone in the arena was belting out the words. Overall, the show was a huge success, and for anyone who is thinking of getting tickets to the show in their area, I would get them for sure. Who knows if they are going to perform together again after this tour, so having a chance to see The Police perhaps one last time is worth it!
Get out and enjoy the show!
Haronandez
The Police Tickets - Ticketmaster.com
Police News and Schedule - Pollstar.com
Police Tour Tickets - TickCo.com
Filed under: In The News, Ask A Broker, Event Reviews, Cheers and Jeers
6 Comments Add your own
1. tfronky | June 21st, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I was fortunate enough to experince the same show in Phoenix. I was also fortunate enough to see them years ago on the Zenyatta Mendatta tour at the old Compton Terrace by Legend City. How’s that for the wayback machine?
I was pretty apprehensive. They had a solid performanace on the Grammys, but after reading the reviews of the Vancouver show at the beginning of the tour, I was concerned this was another case of a great band getting back together after years being apart, absolutely stinking up the world and destroying all the good memories.
Such was not the case!!!
An impressive set list was only missing one song from their familiar greatest hits package, “Spirits in the Material World”. Every other hit was played and in specatacular fashion. A very brief hiccup occurred during the second song, “Synchronicity II”, during which Sting shook his head in disgust after botching a line of lyrics. Other than that, flawless. Amazing. Spectacular.
What I really enjoyed was inclusion of some songs I was not expecting! “Driven to Tears” sounded just as good as the version from an old concert film, “Urgh! A Music War!” The second encore and the show itself ended with a blistering version of “Next to You” from their first album, Outlandos de Amour.
Personally, the highlight of the show was the last song of the first encore, “So Lonely”, also from the first album. This song has been a critical part of their set for so many years now and they still simply destroy the tune.
They are not young lads today and don’t “punk out” like back in the day, but they make up for that with a smooth polish. All night I had to keep pinching myself to prove to myself I was not dreaming, being witness to a reunion that was never supposed to happen. What next, a Jam reunion?!
2. Luis | June 30th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
lame… so obvious they just care about the money, weak performance, andy summers with a supermarket car could do the same he’s doing with the guitar, “looking like a bum” out of time almost always, missing the beat, Sting remains oblivious and the one and only that still feels the R&R is Stewart Copeland, no wonder why he’s keeping the blog with the sad side of the police
Bollocks!
3. Jay Rusovich | June 30th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
I just caught The Police show in New Orleans and could not have been happier with their tightness, enthusiasm and skill. Though it was obvious from the outset that Stewart Copeland and Sting are the two heavyweights, only highlighted by Andy Summers, the trio played as though they hadn’t missed a beat in a quarter century. Copeland is without peer…and that goes for Sting’s extraordinary vocal strength that hasn’t dimished at all over the years. These guys are consummate musicians and you can still feel the tension that both made and broke them so many years ago.
4. matt | July 20th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
If you really believe what you say in your post, then you saw a COMPLETELY different show than I saw in Philadelphia last night. Far too much of Sting E-OH-OH-OH’ing as if that would save him from not remembering the lyrics or not recognizing changes in the song, way too much indulgence on weird riffs and solos that didn’t give any clue to whether they were continuing the same song or improvising a change to the next song, and a totally UNimpressive job of acoustics…Stewart Copeland’s drums, and often Sting’s bass got lost. I agree that they couldn’t have been less enthusiastic-looking when they were playing, there was no energy or sense of cohesiveness amongst them, and in more than a few cases the songs were changed so dramatically that it was hard to figure out which one they were playing. I’m all for improvisation, for changing it up, and for hearing something a little new live…I can play the studio version of the songs anytime - but much of what I heard leaves me underwhelmed and questioning what they thought they were doing to give us a show.
I saw Rush a few weeks ago, and had a great comparison between two ‘older’ bands and their stage presence, musicality, and their ability to put their finger on the pulse of their audience. Rush floored me, the Police left me annoyed in many ways, and at twice the price.
5. Chris | September 1st, 2007 at 8:21 am
Hey Matt. Interesting to see the Rush allusion. I am to see The Police next week and Rush in October. Saw both eons ago. I hope Sting and co will be worth the 200 dollars or so. Not sure what is going on there with the prices - Rush will cost about 50 dollars and the great Marillion 40 in England last June.
The Police were (are?) a great band but for sheer musical ability you can’t top Rush, especially live - although if anyone is aware of Steve Morse’s Dixie Dregs still touring please let me know. I would pay a month’s wages to see them in concert.
6. Al Cannon | November 16th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
November 15, 2007. The Charlotte setlist was the same as above. Sting was sick with the flu, but managed to perform after postponing the 11/14 show. He struggled with some notes throughout the set, but nothing that really damaged the $200 ticket price; still a great show.
See it if you can.
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