A spot in the crowd
Monday, May 12, 2008
When I was younger, I used to have a fantasy that either Sting, Elvis Costello, or Bruce Springsteen would spot me in the crowd at a concert, be smitten upon sight and I'd then become their muse and we'd live happily ever after. I have to admit I got the idea from the Springsteen "Dancing in the Dark" video where he extends his hand to a then relatively unknown Courteney Cox and they dance together on stage.
Of course I later realized I would never be spotted in the nosebleed seats (if anything, I would just be a spot in the crowd, never spotted.)
But last night, two of the three objects of my affection shared the stage here in Grand Rapids. Elvis Costello and The Police stopped at the Van Andel Arena on their current tour and gave an amazing performance.
I'd seen Elvis before, at a very disappointing performance at was then the New World Theatre outside of Chicago. I'd been an Elvis fan since "My Aim is True" and had viewed this concert as THE event of my early 90s summer. But this night, Elvis was alone, acoustic, bored, and seemed depressed. Opening act The BoDeans, on the other hand, brought the crowd to their feet with their infectious bar band sound. I left feeling betrayed. But I stuck with Elvis (even through the opera explorations, even through Burt Bacharach.)
The Elvis Costello I saw last night was the one I've dreamed of for decades. Touring with backup band The Imposters, Elvis brought his witty lyrics, blinding guitar work and manic energy to a very tight set. He played a few songs from the brand new "Momofuko" (named for the noodle cup inventor), and featuring the standout "Go Away," but lots of old favorites, like "Pump it Up", "Watching the Detectives," "Radio, Radio," and "Peace, Love, and Understanding." During "Alison" a cardigan and hat wearing Sting joined him for the refrains and that alone was worth the price of admission. Only the addition of "Red Shoes" would have made the set perfect.
I had to wait 15 years to see Elvis at his geek-punk best, but it was worth it.
The Police were surprisingly tight and energetic. While I admit being distracted during the first few songs by my husband's comment that drummer Stewart Copeland is 64, I was then dazzled by the musicianship and, of course, by Sting's vocals. I didn't care for the "Don't stand so close to me" slowed down version and would have liked to have heard Synchronicity I or II, but everything else was stellar -- especially the encore with a angst-ridden "Roxanne," driving "So Lonely," and beautiful "Every Breath You Take."
And the best thing about seeing a band that broke up decades ago? You know all the songs because there's no new material!
One sour note to the concert experience. There was a young woman nearby more intent on talking to her identical blonde buddies than watching the show. She had a tinny, nasally voice that could have shattered glass and amazingly cut through the music for at least 10 feet all around her, to the dismay of all within earshot. She was self-absorbed and clueless to the annoyance she created around her -- and was clearly at the show more for the date than the acts. I hope there's a wailing baby next to her on her next flight.