The Police Review at Wrigley Field

Midway through their North American tour, Thesay something , the group was tight and provided
Police made a stop in the city of Chicago for twoan enjoyable background sound to my
nights on July 5th and 6th. Most concerts thatconversations. At about 8:15, the moment came.
have come through the windy city have usuallyWith most fans in their seats, a large roar from
played at the likes of places such as the Unitedthe crowd applauded, as Stewart Copeland, Andy
Center, First Midwest Amphitheatre, or SoldiersSummers, and Sting finally took the stage
Field. With the exception of Jimmy Buffett intogether. For being in their 50's the trio looked
2006, Wrigley Field has had limited if any othergreat as they waved and smiled out to the
concerts performed there, so it was intriguing tocrowd that so anxiously awaited their reunion. The
hear that this 80's super group chose to play ingroup opened up with "Message in a Bottle", and
the friendly confines. The combo of growing up aseveryone was on there feet. More songs followed
a teenage Police fan in the 80's and being an avidsuch as "Synchronicity II", "Walking on the Moon",
Wrigley Field fan as well, made this show a must"Voices Inside My Head", and "Every Little Thing
to see! The show started around 7PM and myShe Does Is Magic". Overall most of the songs
seats were located in terrace section 220 aboutwere played perfectly, but there were a couple
halfway up. Even though it seemed that I was farthat seemed flat. In the 80's, The Police put out
away, the seats were perfect, in that they weretwo versions of "Down Stand so Close to Me",
dead center behind home plate, with noneither of which did they emulate. Sting never hit
obstructions! The stage was straight away inthe high notes in the chorus that defined both
centerfield, and had a collage of big screens andversions, which made the song seem out of key.
lights behind and around. The club and field boxesIn "Wrapped Around Your Finger", Sting alone,
directly below us were appropriately roped offsang the chorus. Over the last 25 years, listening
due to possible obstructions from variousto that song a thousand times, it was almost the
structures on the field. Like Chicago Cubs games,equivalent of Sting the teacher, standing in his
there were the familiar sounds of beer vendorsclassroom and running his finger nails down the
walking around and advertising what they had tochalkboard. Again except for a couple of hiccups,
sell. At first I was worried that these vendorsthe band was great. Summers guitar rifts were
might be a distraction, but they did vanish onceright on, Copeland's beats were forceful and
the music began. The opening act was calledexplanatory as always, and Sting worked the
"Fiction Plane", and as they played I noticed thatcrowd with plenty of ohh-ee-ohhs. The big
the lead singer sounded a lot like Police front man,screens added to a great visual effect and the
Sting. Low and behold I found out later that thesound was excellent. The combo of seeing The
singer was actually Sting's son. I never heard ofPolice at Wrigley Field was definitely an enjoyable
this group so just as most in the crowd, I gabbedexperience!
away with fellow Police fans as I listened. Just to