Finally managed to see Andy play at the Pizza Express in London on Friday night. Having seen him play last with Jon Etheridge you can imagine the thrill to see a band with so much energy.
Myself and two friends turned up at the venue at about 10:15pm and were amazed with the queue of people outside. There appeared to be a lot of people who had turned up on speculation. One guy in front of us was told he could not get in because he hadn't booked. As there were only three of us we invited him to join our table - turned out he was an American Video producer who was looking for artists to do instructional music videos. He was a bit dissapointed when we told him about the Hotlicks Video.
We managed to get a prime seat about three feet from the stage. The only downside to this was that we could see the wrinkles (and there are some despite the youthful appearance from a distance). The show started off a little weak with a blues number that sounded more like three musicians tuning up, but the natural flow soon kicked in. Andy was on good form - a number of bizzare jokes that I think went over the heads of most in the audience.
I think he played about six tracks from Mr X and really gave it some. He even did a short Jimmy Hendrix, Purple Haze, rendition. They played for about 1+1/2 hours and the audience loved it. They attempted to leave the stage a couple of times but the crowd insisted on more. They then left the stage to a standing ovation (instigated by our table) and we thought this was the end despite the fact there had been no message in a bottle or murder by numbers. I had actually spoken to Dennis (tour manager & webmaster) earlier in the evening and he said that there was no guarantee that Andy would come out to play Murder By Numbers. There was no way we were going without hearing them so after about two minutes we started up the chanting again and we saw Dennis talking to Andy, perhaps convincing him to come back out. Then they came back out (maybe they would have done anyway but it made us feel good that we may have instigated it).
Andy got up on stage and said "so what is it you want" to which I shouted "Murder by Numbers". "I think I know that one, I should do I wrote it" he replied. It started up and it was absolutely awesome. I have waited over 15 years to hear that live and we did our best to sing along. Murder by numbers ran straight into Message in a Bottle and we went crazy. The first time since the end of the Police that I've actually heard MIAB with the energy it was originally played. They left the stage to another standing ovation.
Within minutes Andy was out in the audience signing CDs and chatting to the fans. We spoke to the whole band and they said how much they appreciated the support they had been given on the whole tour. They said that Italy was crazy, they had literally been mobbed. They were all very easy to chat to. I made a point of telling all of them that I thought MIAB was the best version I'd heard in over 10 years of seeing Sting live (I think Andy was pleased).
I asked Andy a few questions about his U.K plans - he says he may be back later in the year but he did not say what for. My friend insisted on asking about a Police reunion. Andy was actually quite open about it, he said that he was just waiting for a phonecall and Sting is the one that isn't keen. I guess we all know this but there it is straight from one of the horses mouths.
I also had the opportunity to thank Andy for his influence on me as a musician - I genuinely believe that if it were not for the Police I may never have picked up a guitar let alone fallen in love with the Added 9th chord.
There is no doubt, Friday night was the best high in music I've had since getting to the front of the Albert Hall to see Sting on TST tour. Better than MF tour in my opinion.
For all of you who have the opportunity, go and see him you will not be dissapointed.
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