Synchronicity: 1983/84

Police performance proves group has breadth, depth...

The Police, undisputed leaders on today's rock charts, took charge in an arresting performance before a jam-packed Scope Monday night.

Blasting away with a fresh arsenal from this year's enormously successful 'Synchronicity' album, this English group, dismissed as "bottle blonds," showed it has both breadth and depth.

With chief songwriter Sting leading vocals, the band started with title-cut 'Synchronicity', which refers to connections between things that have no logical link. Billows of red, blue and gold smoke colours of the album flooded the stage in dreamy, insidious light.

Next, Sting's clear, strong tenor rose in undistorted crescendo through 'Synchronicity II', chronicling the personal anxiety of a man. As his suffering grows, a monster takes shape in a nearby Scottish lake.

'Walking in Your Footsteps' expanded the theme, with the message that man verges on the brink of extinction through nuclear holocaust. It combines a sinuous, rocking, Jamaican beat blending guitarist Andy Summers' syncopated licks, former Tidewater resident Stewart Copeland's staccato drumbeat and haunting vocals from Sting.

Before the hall could fall into quiet remorse, the group launched into 'Message in a Bottle', an old song of hope and good news.

Though it's hard to single out any one member of this talented trio, Copeland continually drives the music forward, keeping the group on center - especially Sting, whose somewhat unpredictable personality could take him off on tangents.

Television wizardry treated the audience to close-ups of Sting and his mates via a screen over the stage. The temptation, however, was to linger over the screen's image, which competed with the live act for the audience's attention.

A reggae interlude followed 'Message in a Bottle', with 'Walking on the Moon'. Sting, who pranced and jigged much of the night, illustrated this song with the exaggerated footsteps of one walking without gravity.

An old hit single, 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da', a song about political double-talk, featured the charismatic Sting persuading the audience to howl with him.

A well-dressed, largely college-age crowd showed up, with many women wearing mini- skirts in what is becoming standard fashion at rock concerts.

Fans spilled onto the floor of the arena, taking advantage of festival seating and creating a sweaty crush down front that caused some people to faint.

Those who stayed further back from the stage danced and sang enthusiastically. Even those seated in the seats above kept rocking and moving in time with the contagious beat.

Some groups sound worse live than on their albums, but on the next songs from 'Synchronicity', The Police sounded better. 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' chugged along with a reggae beat, followed by 'Tea in the Sahara', my choice as best song of the night. Copeland showed himself a master of versatility and range as he juggled the syncopated, chopping reggae, pop and jazz arrangements of this song.

Before taking a three-minute tea break, shown on the television screen, they sang 'Spirits in the Material World', 'Hole in My Life', and ended their first set with 'King of Pain'.

The Police then gave a breezy version of 'Every Breath You Take', the No. 1 hit, followed by 'Don't Stand So Close to Me'. The set ended with 'Roxanne', and as the house lights flooded the audience itself, fans broke into mania, wildly applauding for an encore 'Can't Stand Losing'.

There was no chance of that, however, as The Police proved again they're the winners.

(c) The Daily Press by David Tarrant

British Rock Group: The Police Stage Explosive Norfolk Concert...

Two rock groups, show opener R.E.M. and headliner The Police, electrified a big crowd packed into The Scope, an indoor stadium here, last week, creating an uproar that almost blew the roof off.

Indeed, Sting, bassist, lead singer and song writer for The Police, challenged the uproarious audience late in the show to help them warp the dome of the stadium with sound.

If the explosive sound level of the response was any indication, they may have achieved it..

Promptly at 8 p.m., R.E.M: appeared on stage. The stadium was packed to capacity, and the audience responded enthusiastically as R.E.M. played such hits as 'Talk About the Passion' and 'Radio Free Europe'.

During one number, a firecracker was let off in the audience, and the lead singer paused to say," Yes, I saw that!" R.E.M. remained on stage for half an hour and played several other cuts from their recently-released 'Murmers' LP. When they left the stage the audience seemed restless and eager for the arrival of The Police.

Martha Quinn, a performer often seen on MTV, appeared on a large screen which had been set up for those sitting far back in the stadium. Several videos were played as the road crew set up new equipment.

At 9 p.m. the lights dimmed and, amid the loud screams and whistles, The Police bounded on stage. The English trio, comprised of Sting (Gordon Matthew Sumner), drummer Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers on guitar, is on tour to promote their latest album, 'Synchronicity'.

Sting, was dressed in red baggy pants, black combat boots, a white T-shirt and jacket; Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers were dressed entirely in white. After a few lines of 'Voices Inside My Head', Sting greeted the audience.

The applause was deafening and the band swung into "Synchronicity" and followed it up with "Synchronicity II." All the fans arose, screaming and singing along. Then Sting remarked "It's good to be back in Norfolk!" And again the response was overwhelming as the audience greeted the band with more screams and whistles.

The Police played a haunting song, 'Walking in Your Footsteps', and the audience became subdued for a time. Then The Police moved to a much more lively number, playing their old hit, 'Message in a Bottle'. The crowd roared again.

Near the end of the song Sting danced around on stage, and Stewart Copeland played the drums with style, throwing up his drum sticks and catching them to the beat of the music. 

After this performance, Sting introduced the next song. "This is an old song." He added, "No, it's not the national anthem, but it well should be!". The band then played 'Hole in My Life', a track from their first album. The crowd showed its approval and after the cheers died away, Sting pulled out his bass and said," I'll bring on my old friend!"

The crowds cheered as he set the bass up. "It's a nice place here," he continued, "it'll be nice when it's finished!" The crowd roared. He stood behind the bass, a remainder from his jazz musician days, and introduced the next number. "This is called 'Walking on the Moon'."

After a lengthy version of this song. Sting peered at the audience and seeing that they had obviously worked themselves up into a sweat, he asked." Are you hot down there?" Loud screams of "Yes!" answered his question, and he replied. "Well, you're not as hot as I am!"

The Police then played another cut from their Synchronicity album, entitled "Oh My God" and followed it up with an old favourite, "Da Do Do Do, Da Da Da Da."

Halfway through the song. Sting invited the audience to sing, and their first feeble attempts had him shaking his head, but soon the stadium reverberated as thousands of voices sang in unison.

After this number. Sting triggered more screams form the already frenzied audience as he said again. "It's good to be back in Norfolk you know Stewart's from Virginia." 

The crowd showed their approval and he continued, "He's back - he's in the back!" The shrieks and whistles assured Stewart Copeland that he was not going unnoticed behind the drums.

The Police then sang two tracks from their 'Synchronicity' album, 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' and the surreal 'Tea in the Sahara', as well as three tracks from their Ghost in the Machine LP: 'Spirits in the Material World', 'Invisible Sun' and 'Rehumanize Yourself'.

As Sting sang "There has to be an invisible sun, it lends its heat to everyone," the lights on stage dimmed until he alone was in the spotlight.

After 'Rehumanize Yourself' Sting silenced the enthusiastic crowd by saying, "Hey you down there, listen!" There was more screaming.

"Listen to me!" he demanded, and the crowd silenced itself. "Because tonight's show is rather long," he continued, "as Englishmen we demand the right to have a tea break!"

He paused, "It's in the union rules! After this next song we're going off to have a spot of tea, as its known in England. You don't mind, do you?"

The audience screamed wildly.

"It's only for three minutes," he shouted above the din, "meanwhile this song is called 'King of Pain'."

As The Police went off to have their "spot of tea," the camera followed them into the dressing room and the audience watched on the screen as they took their short break.

When they returned, Stewart had changed into a pair of shorts and the band immediately swung into 'Every Breath You Take', their current Number One single. They followed it up with a song entitled 'Murder By Numbers', which can be found on the flip side of the single, but not on the 'Synchronicity' album.

Sting then said, "There was a young teacher..." and the crowds screamed as The Police played one of their most famous hits, 'Don't Stand So Close To Me'. The audience was delighted as Sting pranced about onstage. A Frisbee thrown on stage accidentally hit him in the head, after which he picked it up and tossed back to the crowd..

Sting began a few familiar strums on his guitar and the audience shrieked as they recognized the beginning of 'Roxanne'. The Police's very first hit song. As Sting sang "Roxanne, you don't have to put out the red light," the stage was illuminated entirely by red floodlights, and when he began the chorus, the entire stadium was illuminated, revealing thousands of screaming fans.

After an extended version of this song, the lights dimmed and The Police left the stage. The screams became deafening, and the stadium became illuminated by thousands of lighters as fans called for an encore.

The Police returned onstage and began to sing," 'Can't Stand Losing You', another song off their first album. During the chorus, floodlights swept over the audience.

Before the last verse, Sting spoke to the crowd, "Well Norfolk," he said, "this is Norfolk isn't it?"

He was greeted by more whistles and continued, "This building was designed for making a lot of noise." He paused, "Let's use noise in its widest sense and try to stretch the architecture. You know what I mean? If we sing loud enough we might make a dent in this dome!"

The response was overwhelming and his voice rose. "We could change the shape of this building just by the power of our voices. Can you imagine it? - Rock and roll crowd distorts sports stadium! Sting is guilty. Poor me!"

Sting then led the audience in a series of loud wails, encouraging them to sing louder by saying, "Try again, I think it's moving."

After the crowd had exhausted itself, The Police finished the interrupted 'Can't Stand Losing You' and then took their bows before leaving the stage.

They did not appear again and the stadium lights came on, indicating that the concert was truly over.

(c) The Sentinel by Selina Nomeir