Police show arresting, but group had its flaws...
Everyone I know who saw The Police show last Monday at the Sunrise Musical Theater was pretty much wiped out by it.
That puts me in the minority, I guess, because I was left feeling deeply ambivalent. In other words, I'm going to have to waffle on this issue. I'm not saying The Police weren't good. But for every admirable element of their 75-minute set, there seemed to be a disturbing element to match.
For instance, this trio's powerful sound was impressive, an absolute steamroller. But to achieve that effect, the band gave up some of the supple subtleties that make their records so great.
They had their set timed just right; it was the perfect length for the intensity they were playing with. But the internal pacing was often a little irritating, as too many songs dragged on and on. One of The Police's greatest on-record strengths is their reliance on short, well constructed songs. Why they chose to waste valuable time Monday by stretching their songs out is hard to understand. It isn't like they don't have the material to sustain a solid 75-minute show.
Which brings up another galling factor: such great songs as 'Born In The Fifties' and 'Hole In My Life' were left out, while some rather dreary numbers, 'Shadows in the Rain' and 'Bring On The Night' to be specific, went on endlessly. It was great that The Police didn't save 'Roxanne' for an all-too-obvious encore, but it was a real shame that they didn't keep it short and sharp and sweet, turning it instead into a long singalong.
But then, one can only complain so much, and a good deal of the show was stunning. When The Police are at their peak - as on 'Don't Stand So Close To Me', 'Walking On The Moon' or 'Can't Stand Losing You' their brand of hard pop is as refreshing as it is powerful. They're about the fullest sounding three-piece I've ever heard (not to mention getting the loudest sounds probably ever churned out at Sunrise), fleshing out their standard guitar-bass-drums with foot-activated synthesizers played by bassist Sting and guitarist Andy Summers.
I think if these guys would just fine-tune their show, they could get real close to be a near-perfect live act.
Local band Tar And The Nicotines got the opening slot, and were decidedly not bad. Their songs could use more melodic variety, but instrumentally, the group was solid. Lead singer Ezra Pike showed off a rather ingratiating presence and a fine, smoky, Eddie Money-like voice. For a band making its big-venue debut, Tar And The Nicotines came across pretty well.
(c) The Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel by Cameron Cohick
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