Hey, Zipp... (non-BB)

[Ty in Tampa]

...or anyone else...how was The Police show the other night? Tonight's our turn.

[Andyzipp]

Excellent.  I was a bit wary, because in my ute, I remember the last Police Concert I went to (for the Synchronicity tour) was a big Sting fest...

The Houston show (and I assume the current tour) really went to lengths to feature Summers and Stewart, drum & percussion solos, LOTS of Summers riffing.  Sting was his typical self, milking the crowd, mugging for the screens, but the arrangements they did were very respectful to the material and the fans expectations, while still sounding like you were getting something new.

The play list in Houston was:

Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking On the Moon
Voices Inside My Head
When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
Don't Stand So Close To Me
Driven To Tears
The Bed's Too Big Without You
Truth Hits Everybody
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking in Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You
Roaxanne
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next to You

[Ty in Tampa]

Damn! I can't wait.

I saw the Ghost and the Synchronicity tour and there was a big difference in the 'Sting' aspect of the two. I'm glad they decided to spread the love a bit. I am not at all a Sting fan but a huge fan of The Police.

[Andyzipp]

Damn! I can't wait.

I saw the Ghost and the Synchronicity tour and there was a big difference in the 'Sting' aspect of the two. I'm glad they decided to spread the love a bit. I am not at all a Sting fan but a huge fan of The Police.

We sat in the "cheap" seats, and it was still a great show.

Things I loved...
Summers is a VERY underrated guitarist, and he was really given the spotlight to do his thing.  So much so his looking like a chunky Jessica Fletcher these days wasn't at all distracting.
I was no where near the oldest person at the concert.  Median age appeared to be 37 or so.
Sting was booed for his bass solo.

[Phil_in_CS]

Sting was booed for his bass solo.

HA! I'd have gone if I would have known that would happen.

[Outlawscotty]

What, no 'Mother' on the set list?

[astrojo]

We sat in the "cheap" seats, and it was still a great show.

My husband and bro-in-law went to the show.  They bought a pair of tickets off eBay that morning and only paid $145 for both - they were in sec 103 and said the view was great from the side of the stage and that Stewart Copeland played some killer drums.  Thanks for posting the set list - I wanted to know and he couldn't remember all of it.

[strosrays]

Summers is a VERY underrated guitarist, and he was really given the spotlight to do his thing. 

I read a long interview with Summers once, in Musician magazine, where he repeatedly stated his fascination when playing the guitar was as much with the space between the notes, as with the notes themselves.  Ya hear that, Eddie VH and the rest of your ilk?  What you leave out is as important as what you put in, to quote Summers (and Keith Richards, and many others.)

I agree with you about Summers being overlooked; his spare but powerful playing style is as much a signature of the Police sound as Sting's high-end vocals, at least as far as I am concerned.  I have always thought "Walking on the Moon" was a perfect example of Summer's gift of subtlety.

As to his looks, isn't Summers significantly older than Sting and Copeland?  I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that.

[Limey]

I read a long interview with Summers once, in Musician magazine, where he repeatedly stated his fascination when playing the guitar was as much with the space between the notes, as with the notes themselves.  Ya hear that, Eddie VH and the rest of your ilk?  What you leave out is as important as what you put in, to quote Summers (and Keith Richards, and many others.)

I agree with you about Summers being overlooked; his spare but powerful playing style is as much a signature of the Police sound as Sting's high-end vocals, at least as far as I am concerned.  I have always thought "Walking on the Moon" was a perfect example of Summer's gift of subtlety.

As to his looks, isn't Summers significantly older than Sting and Copeland?  I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that.

A buddy of mine is a drummer and he always talks about being careful how you "fill in the spaces".  Similar philosophy, it seems.

[strosrays]

A buddy of mine is a drummer and he always talks about being careful how you "fill in the spaces".  Similar philosophy, it seems.

Yes, absolutely.  I am as big a fan of guitar-driven hard rock and its variations as anyone.  And some of the guys who are held up as guitart wizards can play a whole lot of notes in a short period of time, yes.  Which is technically admirable.  It just doesn't have a whole lot to do with making music.

To turn it all back in this direction (sort of), a guy like McCarver wouldn't be worth a shit in a band.  Some people appreciate the small silences; but, like nature, Tim McCarver abhors a vacuum.

[Ty in Tampa]

Summers is 10 years older than the other 2.

[Andyzipp]

As to his looks, isn't Summers significantly older than Sting and Copeland?  I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that.

He is.  As to actuallys, I have no idea how old he is, but he was in the Animals at one point in his mid 20's...

[Ty in Tampa]

He is.  As to actuallys, I have no idea how old he is, but he was in the Animals at one point in his mid 20's...

He's 64.

[Limey]

To turn it all back in this direction (sort of), a guy like McCarver wouldn't be worth a shit in a band.  Some people appreciate the small silences; but, like nature, Tim McCarver abhors a vacuum.

I think I posted about this a few weeks ago...the Astros were the Saturday game on Big Fox, so I watched the hi-def feed.  For almost the entire game, with just a few momentary annoyances, the booth audio feed was off.  All the ambient sounds and game sounds were there, just no yammerin' ninnies.  It was a wonderful way to watch a ball game on TV, and just reinforced how much the commentary teams invade the game.

[Shameless plug] My buddy's band is Big Daddy Project.  There's some audio clips on their website and they're available on Amazon and iTunes. [/Shameless plug]

[toddthebod]

Andy.  Some of the reviews of the earlier shows said that the band really changed the pace and timing of some of the songs and that the fans were booing.  Did this happen in the show that you saw or did they stay essentially true to the originally versions?

[Duman]

To turn it all back in this direction (sort of), a guy like McCarver wouldn't be worth a shit in a band.  Some people appreciate the small silences; but, like nature, Tim McCarver abhors a vacuum.

I thought McCarver was a vacuum because he sucks so much.

ETA: Hince he abhors himself.  Welcome to the club Tim.

[Limey]

I thought McCarver was a vacuum because he sucks so much.

[Golf Clap]

[Andyzipp]

Andy.  Some of the reviews of the earlier shows said that the band really changed the pace and timing of some of the songs and that the fans were booing.  Did this happen in the show that you saw or did they stay essentially true to the originally versions?

Outside of When the World is Running You Down, and Walking In Your Footsteps, not really. The arrangements were different but not annoyingly so.  More like really well done "concert stuff".   ie, extended solos, extended instrumentals, lots of letting the audience do the singing crap (btw, the audience was REALLY into the show.)

[Noe]

I read a long interview with Summers once, in Musician magazine, where he repeatedly stated his fascination when playing the guitar was as much with the space between the notes, as with the notes themselves.  Ya hear that, Eddie VH and the rest of your ilk?  What you leave out is as important as what you put in, to quote Summers (and Keith Richards, and many others.)

"Screw that!" - signed Neil Schon

[toddthebod]

"Screw that!" - signed Neil Schon

"Tony LaRussa is a twat" -- signed Al Di Meola

"Sorry . . . Screw those confounded spaces"  -- signed Al Di Meola

[Noe]

"Tony LaRussa is a twat" -- signed Al Di Meola

"Sorry . . . Screw those confounded spaces"  -- signed Al Di Meola

*sigh* - Carlos Santana

[Rebel Jew]

I read a long interview with Summers once, in Musician magazine, where he repeatedly stated his fascination when playing the guitar was as much with the space between the notes, as with the notes themselves.  Ya hear that, Eddie VH and the rest of your ilk?  What you leave out is as important as what you put in, to quote Summers (and Keith Richards, and many others.)

any good guitarist, or musician for that matter, knows that playing an instrument effectively is about a combination of everything musical (rhythm, notes, etc.).  eddie van halen may sometimes put more notes into a given space than andy summers, but he is one of the most thoughtful guitar players i can imagine, and has revolutionized the instrument through his careful and creative playing.  for somebody who just plays a lot of notes in crazy ways without as much of a plan, try this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rutyA12z3Ok

also, listen to old recordings by bob wills band from their tommy duncan heyday when they had guitarists like eldon shamblin-- they all put in a lot of notes, but they're very decisive and at the same time economical with the notes they choose.  there's nothing worse than a guitar player who doesn't really have a plan, and just sits on certain notes for too long or breaks rhythm by waiting too long to play something.

two great rock guitar players:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4CQSox9ii0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdMDcG3zAEI&mode=related&search=

[toddthebod]

Dude.  Everybody knows that this guy is the best guitar player . . . ever.  And he's an Astros fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTbKin_ih-g&mode=related&search=

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Yes, absolutely.  I am as big a fan of guitar-driven hard rock and its variations as anyone.  And some of the guys who are held up as guitart wizards can play a whole lot of notes in a short period of time, yes.  Which is technically admirable.  It just doesn't have a whole lot to do with making music.

To turn it all back in this direction (sort of), a guy like McCarver wouldn't be worth a shit in a band.  Some people appreciate the small silences; but, like nature, Tim McCarver abhors a vacuum.

This is so ture and something many technically gifted musicians fail to realize. Without the space it cacaphonic, with the spaces you have rhythm and melody.

There is absolutly nothing wrong with what I like to call "note-packing" (Or "strum-fury" but that's more a folk rock hang-up). Sometimes it's great to see how many notes you can pack in a measure but mostly it's just not proper in the context of music. Any musician who really likes to jam free-style with others understands the notion of "laying out" and "finding your space." If not you don't get invited back.

Even the most avant garde free style spontaneous aleatorical music needs communication and trust between the players. It just doesn't work or make artistic sense otherwise.

Here's a couple of examples of composistions with lots of notes and spaces, they're old so you young guys might not like them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT0nvTSWnYo

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrT2jEv_Yws

Stuart Copeland has long been considered a drummer's drummer. Andy Summers a guitarist's guitarist. Sing is a pop star's pop star, and a pretty damn good song writer.

[Ty in Tampa]

Great show! Most certainly designed to please just about everybody. If I have any complaint, it would be that they seemed to mail in a couple of songs but for the most part, high energy and not at all 'Sting-centric'. Maybe because it's Florida but I thought the median age was a bit higher than 37. Lot's of beer guts and salt and pepper, including mine.

Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking on the Moon
Voices Inside My Head/When The World is Running Down...
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Driven To Tears
Truth Hits Everybody
Bed's Too Big Without You
Every Little Thing...
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Da Doo...
Invisible Sun (glad they did this one)
Walking In Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You/Regatta de Blanc
Roxanne
---
King of Pain
So Lonely
---
Every Breath You Take
---
Next To You