After driving 200 miles to Metz for this concert and searching one and an half hour for the concert-hall (Thanks to the young man in the CD-shop at the railway station for his detailed help!!!) I was very happy to find the Galaxie Theater just in time.
At 20.40 Paul Carrack (vocal and synthesizer) came on stage with a friend (acoustic guitar; the name I didn't understand) and played five or six songs (e.g. "Over my shoulder" he performed with Mike Rutherford/Mike and the Mechanics). It was incredible for me what these two brought through the loudspeakers only by guitar, synth and one voice. It sounded great and the audience was very excited. Then both left stage and the technicians began to arrange and test the instruments. It was a terrific break. At no concert I found the pause so terrible and unsensibel as there. Isn't there any way to continue the concert directly without the break?
After the hole show five persons asked me for the name of Paul Carrack. So I believe many others were inspired about that support act like I was.
After waiting a lot of time Sting's band came on stage, Vinnie (with beard, if I've seen right) starts rolling his drums, Sting came out and ....
First the soundmix wasn't too good: the bass, drums and Sting's vocals were too dominant. Later the sound got much better and more detailed. Sting's voice seemed to be a little bit hoarse, he avoided the higher parts or sang even once an octave deeper. On "Every little thing" it was especially bad and I thought it would be extremly time for Sting to use his miracle-spray. But after that song it became better and better without it. Later I wanted to discuss with others if my impressions and my meaning were right, but I don't speak french. And none I asked spoke german or english. Sorry.
Here the set list (as I remember; sorry, but I forgot paper and pencil in my car):
I really missed some songs of Mercury Falling: Valparaiso, I'm so happy I can't stop crying, La belle dame sans regrets (Metz is in France!!!). I knew from previous concert reviews that they were missing. But I would have really willingly liked to know what Sting and band would have done with these songs live.
The big surprise at the end was Lithium sunset. What they did with that (on CD a little boring) song, was very great. Sometimes rocking, sometimes jazzlike. And in the middle Paul Carrack came out and sung with Sting a duet. Magnificant and unexspected was a rap-part (!) of Paul and the band. Really GREAT. In reviews of previous concerts writers were inspired of a really jamming version of When the world is running down. That song was really marvellous (also the solos of Dom and Kenny) but I think Lithium sunset is equal.
After some CDs and tours without a saxophon-player (now 10 years have passed since the "blue turtles") it was nice to hear some songs with sax again (and then with such an excellent musician like Branford) and with the "Memphis Horns". In Concert the Sax- and Trombone-Parts were not so full of pressure, not so light and tight, not so exstatic, not so jamming as with Branford and the Horns. But the two musicians (names???) gave their best and it sounded well. Gordon, Dominic, Vinnie and Kenny are excellent musicians and they make divine music. But with a sax they are still a little better.
I love Sting's music and gigs for the unexspected changings and the new surprisingly arrangements. In this respect it was a very rewarded concert for me. I've had a lot of fun and I hope it will be the same in Stuttgart, Cologne, Nuernberg, Wuerzburg, Freiburg..... (and wherever I'll go to other gigs).
Excuse my bad english please.
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