Playlist

Posted by Kbecq @ 8:01 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

It was a really good show. Elvis was too short but otherwise strong. The sound on his first two songs was horrible, at least out on the lawn. Loads of feedback. The Police were solid as well, hit after hit. The hooks are quite repetitive so the extended versions emphasized that fact but it was really good. I was expecting a "Sting" set but it was all Police. Question Chris - Does the cristal-clear HD jumbo screen behind the band enhance or deminish the concert? I am more engaged when I can see the facial expressions, so I appreciated the video, but found I was watching the video editing (a movie) and not the stage presentation.

Posted by Johnny @ 8:48 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

I thought their first time through was a lot better. The songs this time around seemed a lot more 'Stingified'

Posted by Kat @ 9:24 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

The show was great! The Police sounded great and looked great to boot! The crowd was into it and sang along with most every song. I do have a comment on the jumbo screen behind the band. I liked it as long as they wheren't adding some weird 80's graphics to it. I liked seeing the band close up like that and it was crystal clear! I have to admit, I did cry during a couple songs, just thinking that this is their last go'round as a group. I'm glad they didn't play any "Sting" songs, which I knew they wouldn't because when they announced their tour, they said they would only be doing Police songs. Awesome, just awesome!!!

Posted by Kat @ 9:26 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

The show was great! The Police sounded great and looked great to boot! The crowd was into it and sang along with most every song. I do have a comment on the jumbo screen behind the band. I liked it as long as they wheren't adding some weird 80's graphics to it. I liked seeing the band close up like that and it was crystal clear! I have to admit, I did cry during a couple songs, just thinking that this is their last go'round as a group. I'm glad they didn't play any "Sting" songs, which I knew they wouldn't because when they announced their tour, they said they would only be doing Police songs. Awesome, just awesome!!!

Posted by ian @ 10:18 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

I attended both shows last year at AA Center. For me last night's show was much better in terms of the music and the sound. Andy Summers added some truly scrumptious licks to the old standards. It was a joy to hear him so prominently (with a few missed notes thrown in here and there). Copeland was awesome (as usual). Glad to finally hear "Demolition Man" this time around.

Posted by K-Dub @ 10:32 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

Good show. Sting joining Elvis for a song definitely electrified the crowd. Elvis' sound system wasn't so good, but that's what you expect from an opening act - everything is set up for the headliner. The Police were great, but with a three-piece band, the "sound" can get a bit repetitive. The only diversion was when Stewart Copeland occassionally played an odd assortment of percussion instruments. Sting's voice was in good shape and, yes, they did switch up some notes. Wasn't enough to ruin the songs, though. Great people-watching with 40-somethings from The Police heyday mixing with youngsters. Question: Why do some people have to stand up for EVERY song? Even on the lawn, people were standing throughout the entire show. I can understand standing up for the first few songs, and then a high-energy song now and then, but not every song is worth standing for. Some songs are "sitting" songs, especially the slower stuff. Relax, kids. It's an outdoor show under the stars, not a crowded club where you HAVE to stand to see. Sit back and enjoy the show. Your standing doesn't make the show better for you or anyone around you.

Posted by Karen Casey @ 10:42 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

Is it just me? I thought the show was much worse than at the AAC last year. Seems as if The Police were just playing because they had to and as a result it was mediocre at best. And because Sting can't hit the high notes anymore, he had to lower the tones of the songs to where you couldn't even sing along they were so different. The show was short too so I didn't feel like I got my money's worth. I saw Sting in concert two summers ago in Lisbon, Portugal and that show was amazing. Not sure what's going on now but it had a completely different feel.

Posted by Sandra @ 10:43 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

Loved the show last night...it more than made up for the show at the AAC last June. I was monumentally underwhelmed with the earlier show but last night was what I'd hoped for and then some. The show definitely wasn't "Stingified" but the opening song was a Sting song, not the Police. That threw me for a loop, but I was thrilled when they went straight into Police material after that for the rest of the show.

Posted by Sandra @ 10:44 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

Loved the show last night...it more than made up for the show at the AAC last June. I was monumentally underwhelmed with the earlier show but last night was what I'd hoped for and then some. The show definitely wasn't "Stingified" but the opening song was a Sting song, not the Police. That threw me for a loop, but I was thrilled when they went straight into Police material after that for the rest of the show.

Posted by Thor Christensen @ 10:50 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

As Chris Vognar noted in his dead-on review, the Police tweaked and toned down several tunes last night (notably "When the World Is Running Down"). But compared to the shows I saw last year at AAC and Bonnaroo, this show had far fewer new arrangements and a higher energy level. It wasn't quite as daring, perhaps. But I bet fans weren't griping afterward, like some were after the AAC show.

Posted by glenn @ 10:53 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

It was a good show. Remninded me of how odd The Police were/are with their quirky (but always imaginative) arrangements of fairly straight forward pop songs.

Elvis was in fine form. And he's still cranking out good stuff.

I have mixed feelings about the screens. I catch myself watching what they are focusing on and missing the interaction between the musicians. Then again, these old eyes are starting to miss a lot of things.

Posted by gabz @ 10:59 AM Thu, May 22, 2008

This was my first time to see either artist. As a longtime Police fan, I definitely enjoyed hearing and seeing the evolutions of certain songs you knew one way for years, I felt as if I were hearing it again for the first time. For me, the highlight of the night as "Wrapped Around Your Finger", which sent chills up my spine. I was expecting more from Stewart Copeland on "Driven To Tears", but for the things he didn't do, he made up for in many other ways.

Elvis Costello was fun to see, I would definitely love to see him sometime as a headliner, as, I've never seen him live after all this time, until last night. "Watching The Detectives" was fun to finally see live.

All in all, the show was quite the experience. No hassles, the crowd was into it, the temperature wasn't too hot, great show all around.

Posted by Kate @ 1:50 PM Thu, May 22, 2008

I didn't get to see the show at AAC, so I was thrilled when they came back to Dallas. The smaller venue made the show feel more intimate, and everyone around us was having a great time. I was a huge Police fan in the 80s and enjoyed the variations on the original songs. They kept the same essence but made them fresh. Overall, lots of fun.

Posted by Eric @ 2:07 PM Thu, May 22, 2008

I thought it was an OK show. It was my first time going to a Police concert even though I am a fan of the group. I didn't think the sound & light effects were that great but
Police managed to play their most popular songs which was important to me. I hadn't been to the Old Starplex in a while and think that the AAC is a much
better venue based on all aspects (food, sound system, AC, etc...). Anyway, I was still happy to see Police before they retire....:-) but I'll hae to admit that the U2 concert I went to 3-4 years ago at AAC was 10 times better......

Posted by Jason Janik @ 7:32 PM Thu, May 22, 2008

I only get to stick around for the first few songs of the concerts I shoot, but I enjoyed what I did hear. The comments seem to be split 50/50 as to whether the AAc show or this show were better. I thought the band's enthusiasm was higher at the AAC show, but both seemed worth attending.

Posted by P @ 9:08 PM Thu, May 22, 2008

Their energy picked up as the show progressed, which was a nice surprise. The sound quality was disappointing but the Police did a great job. Another surprise was how "out front" Andy was; I was hoping for more of him and Stewart but overall it was a great thrill and I went away pleased as punch.

Posted by wazup @ 3:28 PM Tue, May 27, 2008

AGAIN, THE REVIEWER DID NOT MENTION THE CROWD SIZE....

Posted by jenksrod @ 5:01 PM Tue, Jun 17, 2008

I wrote this review the day after the concert but could not post at work due to firewall...I also expected a Sting set, even if in a solo acoustic medley. I agree with the DMN review. Overall, I was glad I made the trip down from Tulsa to see the Police for the first time. I was a big fan of the Synchronicity album(casette actually)when it came out. My wife has since become a big fan of Sting. We enjoyed his vocals and the ambience. I personally enjoyed the songs that rocked a bit more like King of Pain. King of Pain was probably my favorite of the night.