"What can I do..." Improve! What a difference a week makes! I left the Oakland show last week with mixed emotions. Friends asked me after the concert, "Was it awesome?" I really couldn't say it was awesome. As I said last week, it felt more like a Sting solo performance. After tonight's performance, I can say they are getting closer to awesome. The set began as usual. And the rest of the set was the same as previous shows, minus Spirits and some changes to the order of the songs (Sorry, I didn't write them down). For example, The Bed's Too Big was much early in the set then last week. When the first few notes of Every Little Thing, a large portion of the crowd that was sitting rose to their feet in a triumphant cheer. I immediately thought to myself, "Don't get too excited! They won't play the song they way you expect them." Boy, was I wrong! Sting, Stewart, and Andy ripped through the track, with a near perfect tempo as the studio recording. Everyone rocked out and sang their hearts out. At the culmination, they received one of the largest ovations of the evening. They seem to be a bit more playful with improvisation at the end of some of the songs. At times Stewart didn't quite know when to end a song. Of course, he quickly recovered without anyone knowing he flubbed it (Those were good flubs). Overall, there was much more energy from the crowd, as well as appreciation of the crowd by the band. I left the Staples Center singing Next To You over and over again. I didn't sing any songs when I left at last week's show. Their performances will continue to improve, as evident by tonight's show. Some of the songs will continue to evolve, or devolve as is the case with Every Little Thing. By the time the tour returns to North America, Stewart's prediction of them raping and pillaging the world may come true. Good for them and good for the fans. We've waited a long time for this! Two down, two more to go! See you tomorrow night! Take Care, Matt