DARREN DEVIVO - We were under arrest!

This past Sunday, August 5, I caught the Police live at Giants Stadium. As you know, Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland buried the hatchet and reunited this year for a full blown tour, celebrating their 30th anniversary. They played two nights at Madison Square Garden on August 1 and 3 and Sunday's Giants Stadium show ended this stretch of shows that started in late May. They will return to the area for another show at Madison Square Garden on October 31 and play Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on November 3. The tour will continue into early 2008.

First the negative - - my seats were barely adequate...on the side of the stage, towards the back of the first tier. Despite being on the first tier, the stage seemed a mile away. I am not really a fan of watching video screens at a concert, but, thank goodness they were there! I was well underneath the level above, which would have been fine at a football game in the winter, but on a very warm, stuffy night, it was quite sweaty. These seats were not worth $269 (with fees) apiece. Plus, no surprise, the traffic getting out of the parking lot was abysmal. It took me approximately two hours to get home. To add insult to injury, I couldn't find route 3 east!!
Now a positive - - despite the very mediocre seats, the sound was outstanding. The sound for this outside stadium show was better than some of the indoor shows (arena and theater) I have seen recently.

Opening for the Police were two bands: Fiction Plane and the Fratellis. I missed Fiction Plane's set. I was enjoying alcoholic beverages in the parking lot! Fiction Plane is a trio from England featuring Sting's son Joe Sumner. Like his dad, Joe Sumner plays bass and is the band's lead singer. They have two albums under their belt - 2003's Everything Will Never Be OK (produced by David Kahne) and Left Side Of The Brain, which came out earlier this year. I walked in the stadium about halfway through the Fratellis' set. The Fratellis are another trio, but they are from Scotland. They released their debut album earlier this year. It's called Costello Music, and it got some airplay on WFUV. They were very passable, if not mildly interesting. Their lead singer is a dead ringer for T. Rex' Marc Bolan (with a little Syd Barrett thrown in)!

Now, the Police - -
They were outstanding. They delivered exactly what you would expect...rock solid musicianship, a lot of energy and non stop hits. You really couldn't tell that it's been over 20 years since these guys were a regularly active, functioning band. There was no sign of the animosity that has existed over the years between the members. You also would never know that Sting and Stewart Copeland are in their mid 50s and Andy Summers is in his mid 60s! They were inspired and vital. This is clearly a band that means business and have reunited for the right reason - music and not money. Occasionally, they tinkered with the arrangements of the songs, but most of the time, they played it fairly straightforward. Sting's voice was perfect, sounding like it was the late 70s. Stewart Copeland was a dynamo behind the drum kit. He has always been an athletic player and a rock solid timekeeper. Sting and Stewart are a killer rhythm section. I have always known Andy Summers was a monster guitarist, but seeing him live gave me a new found respect.

Here is the set list (with the albums the songs originally came from):
"Message In A Bottle" (Reggatta De Blanc, 1979)
"Synchronicity II" (Synchronicity, 1983)
"Walking On The Moon" (Reggatta De Blanc, 1979)
"Voices Inside My Head" / "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of
What's Still Around" (both from Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980)
"Don't Stand So Close To Me" (Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980)
"Driven To Tears" (Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980)
"Truth Hits Everybody" (Outlandos D'Amour, 1978)
"The Bed's Too Big Without You" (Reggatta De Blanc, 1979)
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (Ghost In The Machine, 1981)
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" (Synchronicity, 1983)
"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" (Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980)
"Invisible Sun" (Ghost In The Machine, 1980)
"Walking In Your Footsteps" (Synchronicity, 1983)
"Can't Stand Losing You" (Outlandos D'Amour, 1978)
"Roxanne" (Outlandos D'Amour, 1978)
----
"King Of Pain" (Synchronicity, 1983)
"So Lonely" (Outlandos D'Amour, 1978)
"Every Breath You Take" (Synchronicity, 1983)
----
"Next To You" (Outlandos D'Amour, 1978)

Most of these songs are on the new compilation album The Police.

Here's hoping this reunion is more than just a one off celebration of their 30th anniversary!

WE MOVED THIS BLOG

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White Stripes in NYC today!

They are here @ Irving Plaza - Tonight!

I didn't get tickets but it woulda been a lot cooler if I did. I just went on craigs list and it looks like the tickets are going for waaaaay more than face. So glad that they lifted the ban on scalpers being able to sell tickets over face. Those poor ticket scalpers just werent making enough money were they? Ughhhhh! So frustrating.

Oh and I just saw that some dude is offering stock tips as an additional incentive to money for tickets. The White Stripes are inciting Insider Trading now. How bizarre. This is such a weird place sometimes.

But anyway on a more positive note...

I love that they are celebrating the release of their Fantastic new album, Icky Thump, here in NYC. That is DYNOMITE! Just wish I could go.

If you got tickets, let us know if it was an ordeal getting them, because I gotta believe that it was. I'm curious about your story. AND how was the show? Did they play any new songs? What did you think of Meg's drumming? And will you take me with you to MSG?

-Alisa

Police Activity at Bonnaroo

Ok so, the Police reunited for this show. But you know what...It didn’t feel that good. (Peaches and Herb - I will reference you for the rest of my life- Thank You!)

So yeah, the Police headlined Saturday. Now as the headliner, NOTHING else is scheduled for that set time. Of course every other set time is a constant battle of choices of what you should go see because your favorite bands are always playing at the same time... at opposite stages. but this doesnt happen with the big cheese. So everyone goes to see the headliner.

But I gotta tell you, The Police were not moving me. And they didn’t really seem to be getting through to most of the crowd either. The only people that were really getting into them were the kids with the glow sticks - you know what I'm saying? & They would have been just as amped for Peaches and Herb - If not MORE!

But so back the the Police debacle - it was weird because you knew almost every song - because who doesn’t know the Police, right? They are a legend. But it sounded very...uh...classic rock. Almost like they were a bad cover band of themselves. And listen, I don’t like to say these kinds of things...really. But it was true. I mean the show was so low energy. No connection between band members - not even a sparring of words between Copeland and Sting. No new versions of old classics... No soul or feeling, it seemed very auto pilot. I don't know. It was just sad to me. Because I love the Police, & I didn’t need to see them that way. It’s kind of like seeing someone in the hospital. and now thats how you remember them. sick. instead of how they used to be. But anyway so yeah, I had to mosey on along to the next show which was the Lips. They were going to be playing right next door at the Which Tent a 1/2 after the Police finished. Oh yeah and by the way - the Police played a very short set. Like an hour and a half. I know because I could still hear them from the "Which Stage" as they call the second stage.

So I get to the Which stage early so I could get a good spot for the Flaming Lips and the field was already packed. So while the Police were playing - people were just camped out at an empty field waiting for the Flaming Lips. AND...at one point the Lips came on and did one song as a sound check and the crowd was more psyched for that one Flips song than they were for any of the Police songs.

The Police situation also became a little bit of a joke too, because while Wayne from the Flips was up on stage he was telling the crowd a story about John Paul Jones. (From Led Zeppelin! He was there playing in the Super Jam ) His guitar was stolen and Wayne was saying that there was rumor going around that Sting stung the guitar. Believe what you will folks, I’m just telling you what I heard.

So any who, in the end I really regret that Police situation turned into what it did. Now I’ve got Tainted Love for them.

I love you though you hurt me so.
now I’m gonna pack my things and go.

BlogaROOOO...recap

Hey there Pals. Alisa Ali checkin in on ya. Just got back from the Roo and I have to say it was another stellar year.

I had such a good time. As always. Honestly I cant see how you could not have a good time... and this is coming from someone who almost passed out from the heat. Yes the heat was intense - but so were the good times, man.

I imagine that most people wanna know what the best show was. Good question. For me it was the White Stripes. No surprise there - I know. But listen you know that the White Stripes are supreme. You know this. So Im not gonna try and pretend that it was this really tiny obscure band that no one knows about. No. It was just as you imagined. The Stripes blowing your mind! Which by the way was bizarre to me that they actually did not headline. Instead Widespread Panic headlined that night. What kind of sense does that make?

Anyway, After the White Stripes another fave was The Flaming Lips. They are so great for the Roo. & Oh man, I have to tell you about this kind of sad situation with the Lips and the Police later. I'll post about that separately though. Stay Tuned.

After those guys, I liked Hot Chip. I danced my blank off at that show! Oh and also On my way over to Gogol Bordello, I heard this band playing and I was like whoa! WHAT is THAT? so I went over and I am so glad I did because they could be my next favorite. They were so good. Funky Rock. A little Screamy. Great southern guitar sound. They remind me of a mix between Kings of Leon and MMJ - whom I ADORE and was so sad that they didnt play this year. But anyway this band I saw was called and probably still is called, Cage the Elephant. I need to find out more information about these guys. So let me know what you know world wide web.

Alright well I could really go on and on about bands at the Roo, but I also want to say that the Bonnaroo experience is actually much more than then bands. One of the main reasons that Bonnaroo is so much fun is that you ALWAYS meet really cool people. The folks are just so open there its like they shed all their shyness and inhibitions - This is clear from the random naked people you see walking around. FYI - yes, you are still naked even though you have glitter all over your body. And even though there was your random naked person walking around, people werent perverted about it, you know. It wasnt skeevy. But apparently I have a high tolerance for this. Ehem. Moving on.

One of the best experiences that I think almost everyone shares @ the Roo is when you randomly find your friend on a crowd of about 20,000 people. That is such a great feeling, isnt it? Its chaos & fate with a great soundtrack.

-A-Roo, signing off for now.

Rita Report: Bonnaroo Friday

Ryan Shaw was the musical kickoff for me at Bonnaroo, and a great start it was! He's such a natural, strong performer who gets the crowd right away. And he def Bonnaroo-IZED his set adding extended bass, drum AND guitar solos! Pretty cool.

He opened with "A Change Gonna Come" and closed with a very Sam Cooke-like version of "If I Had a Hammer." At first that seemed like a hokey choice but in the end he made it work into a big folklike singalong. It reminded me of Odetta. I wonder if Ryan Shaw has ever seen Odetta. I'll have to ask him one day.

Here's the video - a golf cart ride and a bit of Ryan:
- Ryan Shaw at Bonnaroo

Plus there's a new (air conditioned) jazz tent I can give you a peek at, and some of the Rodrigo & Gabriela set from late late last nite:
- Jazz set & RodGab

I tried to eat at Holsten's, but it was mobbed

The little neighborhood restaurant where the last scene of The Sopranos was filmed -- near the corner of Watchung and Broad in Montclair, NJ -- has seen a dramatic spike in popularity. T-shirts with a picture of the place and 'The Final Episode' are for sale at the 'homemade ice cream' counter. I love New Jersey.

- fuvwebgirl

Holsten's at chowhound.com

Bonnaroo - We're Here

About 90 something sunny hot degrees here in Manchester Tennesee--it was very nice to wake up here this morning at a quiet Bonnaroo! I have a video camera with me which is probably bad news for you--as i'm the WORST with a camera. However, I will do my best to deliver some of the flavor of the sights and sounds and not bore you toooo much like it's some wedding video. Like i said, I'll try. My first offering is up now at You Tube.
Bonnaroo Backstage 1
look out Demme....

check it

Sunblock, check.
Floppy Hat, check.
Crocs, check.
Laptop, check.

OK, i'm set...off to bonnaroo!
morelater
Rita Houston
WFUV Road Trip/Bonnaroo!

Prine Time

Ollabelle first came together as a group through Sunday night jams at the Lower East Side club 9C, now known as Banjo Jim's. Last night 4/5's of Ollabelle was back there for a tribute to John Prine, curated by Tony Leone, the drummer of the band. In addition to Tony, Byron Isaacs, the bass player, and Glen Patscha, the keyboard player, formed the rhythm section of the house band for the evening. Fiona McBain was also there, only Amy Helm (who was reportedly in Woodstock helping dad Levon with his new CD) was missing.

The proceedings got off to a "pretty good" start, with Tony singing that Prine song. Fiona did a sweet version of "Hello in There," and Byron tackled a more obscure tune, "Far from Me." Some of the guest artists included members of the Brooklyn roots band Yarn doing "Illegal Smile" and a couple of the Demolition String Band doing "Flag Decal" and "In Spite of Ourselves." (Didn't realize Elana Skye was originally from Chicago, where she quite rightly says John Prine is a hero!)

Also dug hearing old pal Heather Eatman do "That's the Way the the World Goes Round." She's got the distinction of once being on John's Old Boy Records label, and she told a funny story of a fan requesting that "happy enchilada" song...meaning in reality "half a drink of water" from "That's the Way..." Surprise highlight for me was the version of "Sweet Revenge" by a guy I didn't recognize, Chris Berson (?).

It being a "school night" and all with a busy Friday on tap for me, I didn't hang around for the second set, so I missed Glenn doing "Sam Stone," Laura Cantrell doing "Unwed Fathers with Larry Campbell, and the whole gang doing "Angel from Montgomery" and "Paradise."

I knew John Prine back in the day in Chicago when he was just giving up his gig as a mailman in Maywood, IL and releasing that unforgettable first CD. He and Steve Goodman always had a mutual admiration society...Steve admired John's songwriting genius, and John admire Steve's overall musicianship. They made a great team. John's great gift is writing songs that are deceptively simple, but they really stand the test of time, so it was great to hear them in the hands of some of NY's finest. And considering how packed Banjo Jim's was with fans, it would be cool if they did it again - or, as the owner suggested, maybe do a Steve Goodman night next.
Thanks to Tony Leone for pulling it together and to Rich Rothenberg for hipping me to it (and the complete song list).