The Police and Oingo Boingo...

The Police is a smart band. On the cutting edge between adventurous rock, it has amassed a large traditional following to play three shows at the 17,000 seat Forum. Their spare, yet complex rhythms, breathless hooks and towheaded good looks have turned merchandising into an art form.

Still, it's hard to knock the trio as there is real heart and passion behind the calculation. While the show Feb. 9 may have been low key in comparison to other Police shows - the group here rarely acknowledged the audience's existence - it still was a masterful blend of pop's best elements.

Though the trio, augmented by a three-piece horn section and an additional bassist at some points, has had only a handful of hit singles, nearly every one of the 18 songs performed is well-known. Message In A Bottle, One World, Hungry For You, When The World Is Running Down and So Lonely had the audience cheering and singing along as much as the major hits in the 90-minute set.

While vocalist/bassist/keyboard player Sting is the focal point, it is drummer Stewart Copeland who is the muscle of the band. His drumming, combining reggae, rock and jazz, is what propels the Police without resorting to mindless flash.

Los Angeles' own Oingo Boingo opened with a rough-hewn yet well received 13-song one-hour set. In a large arena, it is difficult for the nine-piece band's quirky persona to shine through. This, combined with the reliance on new material and rough sound did not, however, dampen audience enthusiasm. Of the new songs, only the oriental ringe of Grey Matter seems to be as noteworthy as such current L.A. radio favourites as On The Outside, Little Girls and Only A Lad.

(c) Unknown Newspaper by Cary Darling