The Police Concert

On Saturday, the husband and I went to the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington to see The Police and Elvis Costello. We had seen The Police once before at their third concert on this tour. While it was awesome, I was really looking forward to this venue and hearing them toward tour’s end.

Georgous Gorge

This part of Washington is very different from Seattle. Seattle is lush, green, and known as “The Emerald City.” This part is desert, and I felt like I was in California. But what a naturally beautiful concert venue. Beautiful rock formations, water, lavender lining the walkways.

We sat on the lawn.

At one point, someone parachuted in. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a ticket and the guards escorted him away. The husband (E) thought that he was deserving of staying with such an entrance.

People brought kids and infants. You mean life doesn’t completely end after babies? They can be brought to rock concerts!? Slightly before I reached 30, a 33-yr old commented on how young I was because I still went to rock concerts. Now I’m 33. And there were plenty of people older and younger. Apparently, there are many more people just as, if not more, immature than me.

My drink of choice was the Rockin’ Rita. Eric’s was Jack Daniels & Lemonade.

“What’s that?” Some lady on the blanket next to us interrupted as E and I were talking to each other. I pretended not to hear her. ‘You’ve never been to the Land of Manners, have you?’ I didn’t say that.

Shhh! I Can’t Hear Myself Write on my Moleskine

Elvis Costello and the Imposters appeared. I was really looking forward to them, too!

Before any real sound emitted from the stage, E wanted to move a few yards over to be directly under the loudspeaker. “You’re the sound guy.” (He majored in audio engineering.) I was looking at the stage speakers. I only noticed the one directly above our heads after EC & the Imposters took the stage. It was loud.

Eventually, more people arrived to absorb the sound and our ears got used to the loudness.

A funk version of “Everyday I write the book” was followed by “American Gangster Child.”

E said that they were boring. So after each song, I enthusiastically W00t-ed and exclaimed “Elvis Costello Rawks!” E simply gave me a look.

The crowd got very excited during the chorus of “Alison.” Hey, that is a good song. But the extra enthusiasm was a result of Sting joining Elvis.

I think E liked this song. Both of us mused over Sting’s new beard. “Sting has a beard!” “Omygod, he does!”

After Sting left the stage, EC and the Imposters finished with “Peace, Love, and Understanding.”

We Mean It: Get Up, and Stand Up

As with every concert, “Get up, Stand Up” played just before The Police took stage. I had put my Moleskine notebook down by this time.

Even though I’ve heard these songs a whole bunch of times throughout my life and I saw The Police not too long ago, the music still sounded fresh, energetic, and incredible.

Not Your Typical American Idol
At one point Sting announced: “I discovered talent!” He said “I have people sing for me during sound check” and invited a woman with bright red hair onto the stage. “I feel like Ryan Seacrest!” He introduced her to the audience. “You’re not nervous, are you?”

“She’d better not suck.” E said. It’s one thing when a famous person comes on stage to guest-sing, but it’s another when a virtually unknown does it. “Oh, she won’t suck!” I enthusiastically replied, hoping that was true. There was this shared sense that we all wanted her to do well. They sang “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” which is funny because they were standing close. (This might not have been funny to the hot chicks in tight tank tops who made out with the security guards to get closer to Sting, according to the Marty Reemer radio show.)

She was poised, and sang in an extraordinary rich alto voice. It was sweet how Sting admired his discovery. You can see a non-professional video and read her take on her MySpace page.

“Isn’t she great?” The crowd cheered its approval.

Andy Summers was thrilled too. You can’t tell by this picture, but he did smile and applaud her. Here, he is focusing on some awesome riff.

We were amused to see that he still wears the guitar strap with a picture of Kenny and the words, “You killed Kenny, you bastard!”

Back on the Lawn
At least three smiley-faced beach balls bounced around the lawn.

Sometimes people were encroaching in on us. Just think, if I were to bring someone’s baby to a concert, people would sit far, far away. Some guy took his mandals off and practically threw them on our blanket. “Hey make yourself at home.” He quickly apologized and moved the mandals away.

Back to Rock
Stewart Copeland dresses like the retired neighbor going for a light jog. When he was much younger, he wore these little running shorts. But who cares because he sits behind the drums. Also, he sort of does erupt into light jogs, like in the song, “Walking on the Moon.” He is one incredible drummer. I realize that I never really notice drums and percussion,* but his style is particularly interesting. I love “Walking on the Moon.” And it’s fun to watch Copeland work with all the different instruments on this song.

*I tried to play drums on Rock Band the other night, but E had to grab a stick and help me finish the song.

Now I’m sad that I’ll never get to see The Police again.

It was a truly magnificent day and night.

The next day, I turned my Rockin’ Rita container into a rockin’ flower vase.

More Police Pics Here.