Like Father, Like Son

My wife took me to see The Police at Phillips Arena two Sundays ago, as a birthday gift. The show was great! The band hasn’t skipped a beat. Individually, as well as a band, they all have been, and continue to be excellent musicians, and performers. Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland blew the roof off the place. They engaged the crowd, 12,000 on the second night, no matter where you were sitting.

That brings me to the real story.

We arrived in downtown Atlanta early for a dinner. We had stopped by the arena and found out that the doors would open at 6:00pm for the 7:30pm start. We arrived after a great dinner to find a small line at the entrance. My wife, to my shagrin, is a cigarette smoker. At one point, she asked me if I thought it would be okay to smoke. I looked around, shrugged my shoulders and told her I didn’t know. The gentleman in front of us worked security for Phillips and remarked that she really shouldn’t, but that there would be designated areas to smoke, once inside. Then, for no particular reason he makes this statement. “I really can’t figure out why everybody is so early, the opening act doesn’t come on until 7:30, or so.” We did not know that there was an opening act. So I reply, “Really, whose the opening act?” He says the name of the band and when he really gets no reaction from either of us he repeats himself and adds, “Fiction Plane. Sting’s son is in the band.” We both are surprised by this and we go into the show.

The seats that we had were stage left. My wife was embarrased by them, she also knew that I wouldn’t have wanted her to spend $550.00 for the alternative seating that was available. I was happy to be there, and also to pleasure in the fact that we were on Sting’s side. We could see fine, just not from the front.

The lights go down at 7:30 and a three-piece band called Fiction Plane took the stage. They were very good. Knowing who the bass player was(Joe Sumner), we could see and here the similarities. It actually was eerie. If anybody else in the crowd knew who these guys were, they didn’t indicate it. They reminded me of a modern version of Rush. I was impressed. Of course I kept thinking two things. I am not surprised, and, it’s interesting that he is not riding the “old man’s” coattails. After a blistering forty minute set, they take their bows, and exit, stage left.

I am able to see what I am about to describe, up close and personal. When they hit the bottom of the stairs, Sting appears from behind the backdrop, steps in front of his son, smiles and gives him a big hug. They both disappear from sight. It happened so fast, my wife only saw Sting disappear from view. I told her what had happened. The price of admission was worth that moment.