You know how I reacted to the news that The Police were getting ready to tour again? I took a long nap.
Let me just say that I grew up with The Police, loved them and still think that they put out of some of the finest records of our generation, but at this point in my life I have no real desire to shell out over $200 for a decent seat to hear Sting, Andy and Stewart bang out their greatest hits. I’d rather shell out $8 to see a band at The Empty Bottle. Why you may ask? Well, the main difference between The Police and said band at The Empty Bottle is simple. Hunger.
I’m sure The Police will put on a great show, but there’s something special about seeing a commercially unknown band in a crowded bar giving it everything they have and leaving it all on stage. I remember seeing Phish for the first time at The Wetlands, or My Morning Jacket at The Metro, or the Drive-by Truckers at The Abbey. The one constant thing in all these shows and countless more like them is that the artists were pouring their souls into their performace. It’s an electric feeling. One that can keep me going for days on end through the some of life’s more mundane times.
So if you offer me a chance to see Erika Wennerstrom or Will Sheff performing like their life depended on it, or watching Mick Jagger parade around in tights singing “Satisfaction” for the umpteenth million time; I think the decision is fairly easy. And if someone came up to me on Friday night and said they had a ticket to see The Police tonight, I would politely decline and tell them, “I’m going to see some kids at The Subterranean called The Record Low. Hopefully they’ll knock it out of the park and it will be memorable. If not, there’s always the next night… and the night after.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
First of all, that picture is incredible. It inspired me to feather my hair. I completely agree with you though. When I saw the Black Keys for the first time at a 3/4 full Metro, I’d never seen so much energy. They looked like two kids amazed that they were actually playing a show in the Chi. Went back to a sold out show at the same venue with friends and the Keys seemed to just go through the motions and plow through their set list.
hi woody
Maybe The Police don’t have the same hunger as the band(s) you mentioned because they don’t really have anything to prove. History will show (even a 100 years from now) that they were the best band in the early 1980’s, the greatest of their generation, and if not the best; one of the best bands of all time. After all, they did come up with a new sound - different to anything else before or since, (blending punk, reggae, rock, new wave, sca into a strange but accesible new hybrid form). Most new bands today are part of the same rock and roll bandwagon - energy, attitude, the works.
Question is though - are they really revolutionary? Do they stand out - in terms of technique or style - from all the others? Or - are they all energy, hunger, but just the same old same old…
To be passionate is one thing - Unique - that is another story.
Leave a Comment