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The much-ballyhooed Police reunion tour rolls into Grand Rapids today with the legendary Elvis Costello and his band, The Imposters, in tow. A fine double bill, right? (It better be, considering tickets range from $52.50 to $252.50 apiece.)
There are those who might rightly question who actually deserves top billing on this tour. Hey, if not for the fact The Police got back together again last year after 23 years in a super-hyped reunion, some would suggest Costello has as much claim to headliner status as The Police. Check out my column in today's Press, then chime in on the debate — The Police or Elvis — by posting your comments below.
In researching this show, I ran across a listing in my old Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock that was written by music critic Dave Marsh. At that time (early '80s), Marsh described Costello as "a burning and committed, if ultimately limited, guitarist and singer" who had assembled "a marginal, but never uninteresting, career." Limited? Marginal? I'd say Marsh has had to eat his words, eh?
By the way, as of late Friday when I checked, tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show at Van Andel Arena still were available at all price levels, so procrastinators have no excuse.
And here's a historical note: It's the first time The Police have ever played Grand Rapids and it's the first time Costello has played here since a 1984 DeVos Hall concert, a show I mightily enjoyed (even if I was stuck upstairs in the back).
Nick Lowe, with Paul Carrack in tow, opened that concert, which I can still scarcely believe. Ah, yet another dynamite double bill...
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