The set-list changed with the addition of "Sunshine of Your Love" at the
beginning and "Purple Haze" after the first encore. The highlights were
the NYPD drum-corps after "Sunshine" kicking off "Message in a Bottle"
and Sting's numerous daughters (and a few sons later?) dancing during
"Everything She Does is Magic".
The trio made a few minor tweaks and changes, the comedic end with a
roadie dressed up as the "fat lady opera singer" and Looney Toones'
"That's All Folks" was funny, but left this fan wanting just a bit
more. Instead of two extra songs from other bands, I wish we could have
heard some of the gems in the catalog. Synchronicity, Murder By
Numbers, Spirits in the Material, Walking in Your Footsteps, Bring on
the Night. They know how to play them, in fact, they played them this
tour. Just not all in one place. Doesn't the "final" gig justify that?
A couple decades ago, I watched "The Church" play what seemed like an
infinite show. It was almost 3 1/2 hours long and most of the crowd had
left by the end. Inexplicably, they just kept playing and playing to a
small Utah audience. I wondered how long The Police could play before I
left. If by some superhuman ability, they could play days, weeks,
months, how long would the fans hold out? When would it become
obnoxious and numbing? How much is too much? When would I be forced to
get back to reality and my life? In many ways this tour was that. 18
year-old Pete pushing 41-year-old Pete back into the fan-seat for a band
that in some years I had forgotten completely. A band whom I spent most
of my savings on buying singles and rarities during my first trip to New
York in 1985 yet left me conservatively hesitant about how much to spend
($10K for a meet & greet?) for this trip. Whether intentional or not,
the band consistently gave off the aura of, "Yes this is fun, but we'd
really rather be doing something else."
I was at the premier of Stewart's documentary at Sundance, I saw them at
the beginning and end of the reunion tour and four times in between, yet
I never met any of them except for weird, uncomfortable run-ins with
Stewart in 1985 and once on this tour. I don't know what I'd say if I
did meet all three of them. Thanks? That is about it.
I'm glad I was there for the end. Reading others wishing makes me
realize how fortunate I am. When Sting said "This is the last time
we'll ever do this," before the "Can't Stand Losing You" "deeeyaaaayoh"
sing-along, I really felt it and sang it with 19,000 other lucky fans at
the top of my lungs. It was great to be there.
Sunshine of Your Love
Message in a Bottle (with NYPD Drum Corps)
Walking on the Moon
Demolition Man
Voices / When the World is Running Down
Don't Stand So Close To Me
Demolition Man
Driven To Tears
Hole in My Life
Everything She Does is Magic (with Sting's daughters and other family
members)
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da (with "There She Was Just A Walking Down the
Street" intro)
Invisible Sun
Can't Stand Losing You
Purple Haze
(Sting sings a bit of Younger Than Springtime)
Roxanne
King of Pain
So Lonely (Been Down So Long finish)
Every Breath You Take
Next To You
(The Fat Lady Sings)
(Looney Toones "That's All Folks")
