Thanks to Bill Bredice for the Ticket Stub
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Thanks to Bill Bredice for the Ticket Stub |
Still in Sting afterglow mode...offerings of the Shoreline concert experience--
Set unchanged, same lighting, same background images that many of you have witnessed...instead of a review, here's a few (some might say gossipy) items that may have been distinctive...
Opening act: Geggy Tah--Quirky (not unexpected given that they record for David Byrne's label) with interesting vocal, rhythmic and instrumental textures. Dominic joined them for a "folk tale-based tune that refers to square dancing".
While sitting in a rocking lawn chair (a low one at that--his knees were at mid-chest level), Dominic thrust a lighter in the air (ala concert encore request) and, well, literally rocked--in tempo with the song and rather forcefully at times. (that shock of hair was in full motion, Holly!) Dominic's causal presence was a contrast from his cool stage persona. In light colors, denim jacket, hiking boots and MF laminate, he strode off stage with a somewhat gangly gait--an aura reminiscent of Ed, the Native American film maker from "Northern Exposure".
Best of set: (IMHO) went to WTWIRD...Although some would call it an absurd anthropomorphism, I'm sure Kenny's keyboard was ecstatic. And so was the audience. His solo at Concord seemed extended...oh the bliss! Knowing that Nate's "electronic device" was only 1 foot away, I summoned every last shred of restraint in order to hold in the primal shriek that my body was screaming to release.
(note: Afterwards, Nate graciously told me that I could've made as much noise as I wanted to--it wouldn't have messed things up. That was generous, but somehow, I can't see how a big "AAAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEE" emitted 12" away wouldn't have ruined the song.) And BTW, Nate votes for IYLSSTF for Shoreline.
ISHICSC audience participation: Daniel. Daniel's response to the divorce inquiry, "no...but I was temporarily engaged once."
When asked to elaborate, he boldly announced with utter composure and great deliberateness "INFIDELITY...ON MY PART!!!"
Sting: "during the verse, just stand there and look sexy..."
Daniel: (with yet more composure and deliberateness)"I could never look as sexy as you Sting."
Daniel sang admirably and gave Sting a big hug and kiss before leaving the stage.
Volume of Sting's bass: the bass was not only audible, it was palpable. Every note throbbed against my throat and chest.
List meeting: Hilary, Chris Ryan, Nate, and I gathered round the Sting NLTS photo. Topics of discussion included Hilary's 2 Sting autographs and her seat at "Three Penny Opera" (Trudie and "the babies" were one row behind her) and the Sting autograph Nate received for Beta testing "All This Time".
Misc spoken words from Mr. Sumner: Before Fragile, a quote from "Sgt Pepper", "you're such a lovely audience, we'd love to..." ah, if only it could be!
Sting briefly complained about the cold and was wearing layers of black and deep purple to shield him from the 65 degree (19 deg C) weather.
In general, the enthrallment factor was high, extremely high. Hearing that soulful voice live...But my only misgiving, however minute, is that the shows seemed to fit a theater paradigm more than a concert paradigm. It was very polished, very professional--but missing the edge of a less programmed set. Yes, a performance of something scripted can still be dynamic--with subtle variations in interpretation, but...
Over the weekend, a state of "Stung-ness" manifested in an ongoing soundtrack of boots, B-sides and favored tracks. Hearing one of the Dead opening shows from '93 (thank you again, Wendy & Dave) left me a bit wistful. A greater propensity for improv seemed in evidence...(perhaps stemming from the unknown-ness of the situation) Still--Our Hero is a mesmerizing presence and a master songsmith. I'd fly off to Vegas next weekend (or to London in December for that matter!) if I could!
This will be a long review - my favorite kind. Just in case you like short ones, here’s the condensed version: Just like most of the rest of the people reporting in, I had a great time, the set list was just as advertised, Sting's still in great voice, and I wish he'd hurry up and finish the tour so that he can put out another album.
And now for the gory details...
This is the first time I ever got to actually go to a Sting concert, and my expectations were high. I bought my tickets early - only a few months before the concert. Since all the good seats sold out before the general public got a chance at them, I only got good seats (ten rows back, left of center), by brute force, which is to say dealing with ticket agents. (IMHO, most of those guys only got into the business because they couldn't make the high ethical standards required of used car salesmen.) Since then, I've been reading the posts around the country with an anxious eye, hoping that Sting's voice would hold out and that the final set list would in fact include at least some favorites. I watched the set list and the backup group get smaller as he hit the US, read the various raves and reservations, and waited...about as patiently as the rest of us on the west coast. By the time the concert was actually due, I knew several things for sure: the set list, who would do (about) what on stage, the probable wardrobe, the possible goatee. But knowing all that is not really being there...
The opening set was a trio group called Geggy Tah - the infamous steel drum band I saw posted elsewhere. Frankly, since none of the advertisements, billboards, announcements or anything mentioned an opening group, I almost expected that there might not BE an opening group. Either they really weren't too bad, or else we were in such a good mood that Rush Limbaugh could have been up there reading my mother's address book and we would have clapped, but in the end, the moment arrived when the lights went down - and the real music started.
When Sting appeared, he was totally bundled up in boots, tight black leather pants, a blue-purple knee length tunic (no kilt) and a black coat. He complained about the San Francisco cold - but I notice that according to a picture in the paper, the next day in Concord (across the bay from us) he wore a loose knitted vest, no shirt and the combat pants, which definitely displayed more Sting skin than WE were treated to. (Come on, the weather there isn't THAT much warmer...I mean, just 20 degrees or so.)
The set was THE set. No changes, no Huey Lewis joining in on I'll Be Watching You (he's local here - my personal fantasy for something novel and unexpected for the concert), no surprises. You read Daniel Ferrante' s comment - yes, indeed, he was the lucky one that got to sing along. No problems with Security - he just vaulted over the barrier, and there he was. A brief salaam from Daniel - the usual question about divorce - no, but he had been unfaithful - which I think took Sting back slightly - but Daniel did know the words, all right, and the song went well.
General comments and impressions otherwise: geriatric or not, most of the crowd spent most of the concert on their feet, clapping, singing, dancing and generally having a Sting time. The goatee is definitely there, and I personally am not a fan of that facial outburst. (What is the derivation of goatee? Something a goat did?) We brought binoculars, and I can tell you that when Sting happened to look our way getting eye contact with the crowd when I had the binoculars, it was - worth lugging the binoculars to see! I had been afraid that Sting and the group would be tired and bored with the set - how can they do the same thing every night, almost, and still get up for it? - but I thought there was a lot of real joy in the performance. There certainly was in the audience.
The light show was a bit hokey at first, with abstract geometric designs, but it got better as the show went on - my favorite part was during Englishman in New York, where I swear the backdrop was fragments of a Rupe Paul cosmetic ad, leather G sting, hip boots and all. Anyhow, the backdrop wasn't why I was there, so who cared, just as long as the music kept coming. The brass section is exactly as described before - good musicians, moves slightly overstaged, but the moves were fun, in a slightly campy way. Everybody was having a good time, and the campiness was part of the general joke. The rap section in EINY I thought was potentially good, but rather spoiled, because I couldn't really hear the words...Dominic Miller had a Dead Head sticker on his guitar, don't know if that's always there, or it was just a graceful complement to San Francisco's own. I was amazed by one thing - everybody did seem to be able to clap along with I Hung My Head, with no signs of wrist dislocation. (Is this a tribute to San Francisco, or what?) At the end, the lucky few at extreme stage left and front row, got to shake Sting's hand, or one of the band's.
The only bad part about knowing the set list was - I knew when we were halfway done, three quarters of the way done, into the encore set, and over. I admit I'm greedy, just a couple of more songs would have been nice. OK, let's get real. What I really would have liked would have been about six hours of music, but with a few of those concerts, Sting and his voice would have been trashed, and those of you who haven't gotten to hear him yet would have rightfully complained. He's still in great voice, though, so far. (However, when I am the Sultan of Brunei, or have a million or so extra to command my own performance, Sting won't get off so lightly.)
I don't know how the Concord show the next night really went, but our local paper didn't give it good reviews, because they said it didn't have much energy, and there was the oft repeated complaint about the brevity of the set list. They did give rave reviews to the I'm So Happy singalong, though! Judging from the reviewer, a clearly observant and knowledgeable person, not only did Sting's outfit change for the performance, but so did the set (Hounds of Winter at the end, just before Fragile), and the guy at the keyboard was named Sancious! (Why do I not believe this?) All I can say was that the Shoreline show was terrific, well worth the cost, the wait, the planning, and the getting out of the place onto the freeway - a real measure of a great concert. If you haven't seen it yet, GO!
One other comment - the program. Grossly overpriced at $15 for 24 glossy prints (note - none of these artsy compositions included a goatee, but one shot did include the black zipup pants). The only nugget I got from it I hadn't somehow heard before is that Valparasio was written for the movie "White Squall"...
Exerpts from the hallowed pages of the 8/21/96 Palo Alto Weekly...
Shoreline Amphitheater violates 1993 noise pact two nights in a row by Diane Sussman When it comes to violating nosie ordinanaces, there are concerts and then there are concerts. The one that will most likely be remembered as the Earache of '96 was the Aug. 15 AC/DC concert at Shoreline Amphitheater. The Palo Alto Police Department received more than 200 complaints from residents bothered by the concert Thursday. ...According to a 1993 agreement, Shoreline is allowed four concerts in which the number of complaints exceeds 45. Any more than than that, and Shoreline must sit down with the city to examine solutions. Previous offenders (included)...Ozzie Osbourne, and the H.O.R.D.E. festival. There was no getting away from it the next night, either. While not nearly at the level of the AC/DC concert, the Friday night *Sting* concert generated 180 complaints.
I am so lucky! I just got back from the Shoreline show and I got to sing with Sting! He pulled me up on stage and I sang the chorus of "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying!" I can't belive it! Anyway... it was an incredible show! If anyone has a recording of tonight's show, PLEASE let me know! I want to have a copy.
Thank you...
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