Just cast away like the line in one of their most famous songs, the world renowned and reunited Police commanded New Jersey's Giants Stadium Sunday night after a 23 year hiatus it felt as if the band never stopped playing. It is this summers most anticipated tour and on the last stop of the first leg of the Police's global trek, for many fans (young and old) it was worth the wait. Opening with "Message in a Bottle," then stammering into "Synchronicity II," the crowd of 55 thousand were singing and clapping and not worrying that all of them had to report to work the next morning. It was a bittersweet moment in time as The Police did what they do best, Sting projected his voice for nearly two hours, yet towards the end of the blistering set, you could tell age was taking a toll on his pipes. Guitarist Andy Summers showed off that his age, nor years of not playing with his fellow band mates would not stop him from shredding through his classic hits. Yet, the star of the show was not the main man himself, it was drummer Stewart Copeland, who by far blew the crowd away. Copeland is without a doubt one of the best drummers I have EVER seen, the man is a machine, constantly switching tempo changes mid songs, getting up and banging on a home made percussion kit he assembled and singing along to every word, it is something Phil Collins would have envied. It maybe Sting everyone pays to see, but its Copeland who is worth the price of admission. The highlight of the concert came as the musicians reworked, rearranged and remixed "Wrapped Around Your Finger," for the normal ear it is a mid tempo jam, yet last night on Copeland's home made kit and Co., pulled a fast one and created an eight minuted beautiful monster of a song. Most of the Police classics, "Roxanne," "Every Breathe You Take," "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," were all reworked and reinvented as if they were new songs. Opening the concert was another trio, the Glasgow outfit and a personal favorite The Fratellis. The Fratellis played to a half empty venue and at times were swallowed by the mass of Giants Stadium, yet it didn't seem to bother them. They made new fans and entertained the old ones (like myself) and were the perfect suit to open the night. New Jersey could not have asked for a better night to spend with the Hot Fuzz and the Police couldn't have asked for a better way to end it in North America.
The Police Setlist 8/5/07:
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 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
Roxanne
ENCORE #1
King Of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
ENCORE #2
Next To You