Tennessee — a Police state?

In 1984, when the Police finally called it quits, I was 13. As an aficionado of all their records (many of which I acquired on cassette, in my adolescence) I was always disappointed that Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers seemed to be at such loggerheads that a reformation of the band was impossible. In fact, when the three patched things up, then made plans to play Bonnaroo, that’s actually when I decided to come here. (I might’ve skipped it otherwise.)

So the show could’ve been a major disappointment, after the 20+ years of mental buildup. But despite the much-circulated Stewart Copeland blog entry about a disastrous show, the band had its A game tonight. (Evidence below—at least I hope so.)

Given that my brain is resisting structure at the moment, I’ll just scribble down the set list with my notes and insert pics/vids in the appropriate spots:

Message In A Bottle

Synchronicity II
(all filthy journos, clear the photo pit!)
Walking On The Moon
Driven To Tears
Voices In My Head (straight into) When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around
The Truth Hits Everybody

Sting: “Try to play guess the tune.” They flipped around some arrangements and jammed out a lot of these songs, and the next was no exception.
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Where Copeland demonstrated why he had the elaborate percussion kit behind his drums, with what must have been 25 small cymbals of varying sizes.

The Bed’s Too Big Without You
Mentally dedicated to my wife, who’s been away for two weeks and returns tomorrow. Ye gods.
De Doo Doo Doo, De Da Da Da
Walking In Your Footsteps
Then Sting: “I think some of you may know this song—I can barely remember it.”
Can’t Stand Losing You
With call-and-response section.
Roxanne
Crowd almost drowned out Sting.

ENCORE

King of Pain
Copeland again demonstrates the textural possibilities of the percussion kit, then, presumably because he “has people for this,” he just tosses the mallets away as he moves back to the drums.

So Lonely
As Sting changes the lyric each time through the verse: “Wecome to the Andy Summers (or Stewart Copeland) show.” I got the sense of Sting really going out of his way to publicly appreciate his bandmates.

SECOND ENCORE

Copeland and Sting emerge, as Copeland takes the mic: “People of Bonnaroo! Sting is going to take off his clothes and dance among you! And if he doesn’t, I will!” Sure enough, Sting removes his shirt as Copeland noodles on the bass. “Feels good to be naked,” he says. Then, WHAM...
Every Breath You Take
Next To You

The three clasp hands and bow in unison, now an expected tradition. Show’s over!