The Police Live

I will begin with my admittedly melodramatic statement: I never thought I would see it happen. The Police, reunited, live - and me in the audience. As they opened the show (with "Message in a Bottle"), all the significance of what this band meant to me as I was growing up struck me at once and, I'll admit, I actually got a little bit misty-eyed. I shook it off, of course, just in time for them to launch into Synchronicity II.

My friends, it was everything I'd hoped it would be. They sound fantastic: Sting sounding as strong vocally as he has in years, Stewart beating the life out of the set, and Andy's chiming tone sailing over the top. Although my seats were notso hotso (see the photo), I was thrilled to be there and had a great time.

Surprisingly, they played five tunes from Outlandos; "Roxanne" and "So Lonely" were to be expected, and "Can't Stand Losing You" was not a shocking choice, but "Truth Hits Everybody" and "Next to You" were very surprising. From Regatta, they did "Message in a Bottle", "Reggatta de Blanc" (as the bridge to "Can't Stand Losing You"), "Walking on the Moon", and "The Bed's Too Big Without You". Songs from Zenyatta were "Don't Stand So Close to Me", "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da'", and "Voices Inside My Head". Ghost had "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" and "Invisible Sun" and Synchronicity had "Synchronicity II", "Walking in Your Footsteps", "Every Breath You Take", "King of Pain", and "Wrapped Around Your Finger". I may be forgetting one or two, but that's pretty accurate as best I recall.

Staples Center was great. Sound in the upper deck was a bit muddled, but I've certainly heard worse in my life. The only way it could have been more fun would have been for me to catch the Dodger Stadium show, as Foo Fighters will be opening.

Cash out your retirement savings, sell the car, whatever it takes. Go see The Police live.