....then came the intermission between the lackluster opener and the main event. The Garden stated they'd take the stage at 8:55 PM. I believe they finally came on stage about 9:25 PM with the rousing background music of "Get Up Stand Up" by Bob Marley and the Melody Makers. This brought everyone to their feet, whootin and hollerin. This was after all, the Police. (I believe the last time they were in NY was in 1979 or 1980. At that time I was $2.00 too poor to be able to purchase a ticket so I could see them at Nassau Coliseum. I'd asked a friend Chris of mine, who had tickets, if he could get me a tee-shirt. Alas, he forgot in all the excitement. I believe at that time that The Police played about 10-14 shows in NY covering both Madison Square Garden and the Coliseum, all sold out. They really should have done a similar tour schedule in NY judging by the reception they received last evening.
First to stage was Stuart Copeland rising out of the floor surrounded by his drum sets and very formidable percussion instruments including huge gong, chimes, glistening bells along with a very solid drum kit. He seemed to go through about a dozen sets of drum sticks. These things were flung left and right. The padded tympani sticks were always flung far back into the rear stage.
Then came Andy Summers waving to the crowd and immediately launching into a guitar riff which brought huge applause from the crowd. About a minute behind Andy, in classic Sting style, he takes the stage.
Stings presence is classic, nonchalant almost, casual, sometimes aloof. He's always carried that heir of overt confidence that some call time tested experience while others call pompous. He certainly has talent for sure, without exception. He'll forever be remembered as one of my generations best musical talents.
The concert itself lasted about 2-1/2 hours, no breaks. Their set list was:
Message in a Bottle”
“Synchronicity II”
“Don’t Stand So Close to Me”
“Voices Inside My Head”/”When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around”
“Spirits in the Material World”
“Driven to Tears”
“Walking on the Moon”
“Truth Hits Everybody”
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
“Wrapped Around Your Finger”
“The Bed’s Too Big Without You”
“Murder by Numbers”
“De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da”
“Invisible Sun”
“Walking in Your Footsteps”
“Can’t Stand Losing You”
“Roxanne”
“King of Pain”
“So Lonely”
“Every Breath You Take”
“Next to You”
They plowed through some songs not providing the audience any time to recuperate. They did drop most of the songs down an octave (as an age consideration.) Sting's voice was a bit off (he may have been fighting laryngitis). This though did not deflect from the palpable excitement of the evening.
In fact, I'd venture to state that they could have just stood on stage and play instrument only, and still have provided a great concert because everyone, to a person, was singing along at the top of their lungs. Sting encouraged and was graciously provided audience participation.
In all, they probably played a technical concert equal to 90% of their former selves from almost 30 years ago. Not bad in my book. As my final impression of the show, hands down, one of the best I've ever seen. I was an excited fan, but I now have a memory to cherish, spent listening to great music with my favorite peeps.
Thanks always to bro'ness for driving, picking up dinner and parking. It made for a very special experience.
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