I’ve just been invited to a concert by the Police. Should I go? What if Sting has a pot belly? Why can’t the 80s just go away?
I would check those tickets closely. It might be more of a police sting than a concert! 
Anstapa
It’s probably just more solicitation from the Police Benevolent Association.
People used to like to attend the Policemen’s Ball. I’m not sure they have 'em as often now.
I passed up front row tickets to the Stones a few years ago. Wasn’t my thing. Still isn’t. No regrets. If I want to see wrinkled geezers I can go the sauna at the Y on a weekday afternoon.
There is a mathematical possiblity that you could actually be entertained, however. I just don’t know if you’re a gambling man and you’ll find the hustle of actually making it to the concert worth your while.
The other Weekender and I went to the Fillmore recently to see some new phenom, Rodrigo and Gabriela, who, by the way, suck. It was the first time I had been body-searched in so many years that I can’t even remember. The guy actually felt my pocket knife in my right front pants pocket, but then looked at me and saw how square and old I am and let me through. A sad triumph of sorts. I like that knife.
Rock concerts are for the kids, for the most part.
djm
My wife and I saw Duran Duran a few years ago. There comes
an age in a man’s life whereupon tight leather pants are a no-no.
Simon Le Bon has reached just such an age.
I would have like to have seen the big Pink Floyd shows they did for Delicate Sound of Thunder and Pulse. They too have now progressed to the fossil stage and seem to have wisely stepped aside (say it ain’t so!). 
djm
The problem, beyond what I already stated, for me is that Sting is so over-exposed that I have already had enough of his ego-aroma for a lifetime.
This discussion has been timely for me. As it happens, I’m not usually as old as this. In fact, I don’t ever remember being this old before. It can get scary.
This past weekend I sold off about 100 of my vinyl albums to a guy who advertised on Craig’s List. Out went the Grateful Dead, Moby Grape and even lots of my Howlin’ Wolf, Clifton Chenier and Barney Kessel records. I mean all kinds of stuff. 
I had a brief moment of melancholy, then took my $250 and went shopping for new sounds. Forward and away!
I would go just to watch Stewart Copeland play drums.
That’s one.
djm
Indeed! The guy is a machine.
I saw them on the Live Earth concert this past weekend. No pot bellies there.
The music was very tight and sounded pretty good. The only thing I might say as a slight criticism is that they tended to riff too much - take a 3.5 minute song and turn it in to 10 minutes. But maybe that was just because of the venue. Each group did 3-4 of their songs so maybe they felt they had to make it worth the concert-goers’ money.
I heard a radio recording of a recent Police gig. The music was tight. Copeland’s drumming was outstanding and would be worth the trip to a gig all on its own.
I used to like The Police back when they were first around. I remember getting a cassette stereo installed at Matthews ‘Top of the Hill Daly City’ and then listening to Zenyata Mondata album all the way home and for months after and their second album Regatta de Blanc is also a great one. The other night though even though overall the nbc overview of the concerts was not bad I didn’t really think their rendition of Message in a Bottle was that good. It may be that they’ve just done those songs too many times and it lacked the delivery it once had when they get to the ‘100 million bottles washed upon the shore’ line. I remember reading an interview with Elvis Costello back around 1981 or so and he said something like ‘someone should give Sting a clip in the ear and tell him to stop talking in that phoney Jamaican accent.’ (Of course he’s doing Lexus and Visa ads now so maybe someone should give him a clip in the ear.)
Here’s why I say you should go…
Several years ago I got invited to go see Elton John. My daughter had two tickets and her then husband wouldn’t go. I have never been an Elton John fan and really didn’t want to go, but what’s a mom to do? I went.
I doubt I will ever see a musician of that caliber perform again in my lifetime!
He was truly amazing and I feel very fortunate to have seen that concert.
So maybe you will be pleasantly surprised if you decide to go.
I have a low threshhold for irritation caused by large crowds, parking difficulties, rude youngsters (and oldsters), etc. I personally wouldn’t go, but I’m too old to be a real Sting fan anyway. However, Bloo, if you want to invite me to the concert too, we could make out in the back seat of the car while the others fight the crowds.
(Crookedtune…I’m now thinking about selling my old vinyls (got tons of Beatles, 60s stuff)…what kind of shape do they have to be in to get any decent $ for them? You had a 100 and got $250, right? hm…)
Susan
Who needs the others? And why not forget the concert. Parking is a lot cheaper (free, in fact) on this old road I know… I’ll bring candy corn.
The Police were great but I liked Wang Chung better.