Just had to add my 2 cents and say Sting was awesome in Portland! This was the first time I've seen him and he puts on a great show. I really enjoyed the backdrops and the lighting effects too. Would have been nice to have more backup singers, though. Oh well. I should have offered to go up there for free! Ha-ha.
I liked KD Lang. Everybody else seemed to also. Nobody booed her off the stage. Didn't like paying $13 to park. That was ridiculous. Also got to run into his band outside of the arena. That was a surprise!
Unfortunately, the guest of honor wasn't with them, darnit. I'll tell you, when his band isn't on stage, they are real sloppy dressers!
Anybody else there on the 29th?
Ross and I attended the 3 Sting shows this weekend in Vancouver, Portland, and the Gorge. That meant over 1000 miles on the car, hotels, sleep on couches, lots of trips to Starbucks, and one very weary CD player.
Portland was incredible. We were in the second row, on Dominic's side. The band was excellent, and Sting had fun introducing Chris Botti to the Portland crowd, as he is apparently from Portland. There didn't seem to be any Compaq people in sight, and everyone near the front stood for most of the show. It is really, really special being so close. You never really believe that 20,000 people are behind you. If you have never experienced the up-close seat at a Sting concert, find a way to do it. It is like attending ten concerts in seats further back. It just brings new life to the show and energizes an otherwise predictable show.
The best part of Portland for me was toying with Dominic all night. Early on I raised my arms and got him to notice me (I was wearing a Synchronicity shirt with the three stripes), and he made eye contact and smiled. Every other song or so from then on I would catch his eyes and get him to smile and nod. At one point I motioned with my fingers that I would like his guitar pick. Sure enough, after his awesome solo in Fields of Gold, he looked at me, pointed, and threw his pick to me. I missed it and it fell on the floor in front of the guy next to me. After a minute or so of searching he found it and was nice enough to give it to me. I held it up for Dominic to see and he approved. Ross and I agreed that he is one nice guy. Real quality. After Every Breath, he pointed to someone behind me and threw his pick to him or her. For some reason it floated right into my hands that were on my chest. I'm just now getting over the guilt of not offering it to whoever it was intended for. If you are on Dominic's side at a show, by all means bond with the guy.
Ross will have to tell you about his interaction with security over his camera (seems to happen to every show I attend with him). After the show, I went to the edge of the stage with the intent of shaking Sting's hand. Unfortunately, his "attitude" was in full force that night, and he ignored my pleas for a handshake. However, Chris was more than happy to have a happy fan such as myself shake his hand, and when Kipper came to the edge of the stage, he was not bending down to shake hands. I yelled "Kipper" to him, and told him he did a great job. He was really, really pleased that I knew his name and acknowledged his performance, he bent down and he really pumped my hand. What a great guy!
Portland's show added "I'm So Happy" to the setlist...otherwise it was identical to Vancouver. However, Sting did screw up the last verse to I'm So Happy, forgetting the words.
It was great to be at these shows, particularly with Ross. If he writes a review to the list, perhaps he'll include his thoughts on the roses that were intended for Sting at the Portland show.
It was after the Northwest shows in 1996 that I met Jeremy and Ross through this mailing list. There's something about seeing Sting in your own backyard.
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