bub@ames-lm.UUCP (Bubbette McLeod) (02/24/84)
Actually, I like the Police on records, but they were terrible when
I saw them in concert last fall at the Oakland Collesium.
I usually wouldn't shell out the bucks to see them, but it had been
a dry summer for live music and I needed a fix. They were
technically ok, but obviously bored with performing (but out to make
the bucks). They butchered a couple of their big hits,
seemingly intentionally. It was nice of Sting to take his
shirt off for the crowd (-: (though I have found him attractive since
I saw the movie Quadraphenia - he was such a contrast to all those poor
English lads with bad complexions and worse teeth), but there has to
be more to a show than that. The situation was made worse by the crowd being
mostly composed of young teenage "typical California types" who actually got on
our case for dancing too much. I was so pissed by the whole thing I couldn't
stand listening to any of their music for at least a month.
On the good side, I saw UB40 at the Civic in Santa Cruz on Feb. 21.
They were hot. This is the third time I've seen this band in about
four years. Their sound is getting slicker (and I mean that in a positive
sense). The group is quite tight sounding and the vocals are better then ever.
They opened with "Cherry-o" and "Red Red Wine", but played their own
older stuff about 3/4 of the time - rather than just concentrating on
the new oldies album that has been such a big hit. They were great!
Go see them. I think they're playing the East Coast starting next week.
-bub
{hao,menlo70}!ames-lm!bub