Blogging the Unbloggable

Festival Trailer

For the recent Chicago Short Comedy Video and Film Festival, I whipped up a quick trailer...to get things started. Check it out:

The Police: Concert Wrap-up

I got to see the Police in St. Louis (July 2nd.) I'm a pretty big fan (I actually saw them back in '86) so maybe I'm a little biased...but I really dug it.

The opened with a driving, energetic "Message In A Bottle" which was everything I could have hoped for. Just chill-enducing. They took some chances tinkered with some songs ...which was interesting but I thought they had the most success with a more direct approach ("Can't Stand Losing You," "Synchronicity II," "Next To You.")

I thought Sting was in fine voice...although some high notes were a little out of his reach. We had behind the stage seats which was weird at first but then turned out great since we were so close. We got to see over Stewart Copeland's shoulder--which was especallly interesting when he played on his crazy extra percussion battery (tympani, xylophone, chimes, and a big old gong) behind his normal drumkit. Overall, He was a maniac (one of my favorite drummers) and the nattily-attired Andy Summers did his usual solid job-- in addition to some great solos.

Some of the songs didn't quite hit, (I thought "Don't Stand So Close to Me" was a bit too slow and their "Voices Inside My Head"/"When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" medley didn't quite gell) but I was never really bored.

I was almost pissed that they didn't play "So Lonely" until they busted into it immediately after "King of Pain" in the second encore. That was the highlight for me...that song is great, and even better live. I was surprised by a third encore.

They need to add "Demolition Man" and "Synchronicity I" to the set -- but otherwise, I'd say I was very satisfied...

The Police Set List, Scottrade Center, July 2, 2007
"Message in a Bottle"
"Synchronicity II"
"Walking on the Moon"
"Voices Inside My Head"/"When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around"
"Don't Stand So Close to Me"
"Driven to Tears"
"The Bed's Too Big Without You"
"Truth Hits Everybody"
"Eve
ry 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"

Encore 1:
"Roxanne"
Encore 2:
"King of Pain"
"So Lonely"
"Every Breath You Take"
Encore 3:
"Next to You"