Concert Reviews Home Page

March 27, 1996

Flanders Expo - Gent, Belgium

Thanks to Kris & Pascale for the Ticket Stub

by Eron Witzel on March 28, 1996

Flanders Expo (with acoustics marginally better than a enormous tin can).

I don't want to spoil the show for anyone, so if you aren't interested in the details, don't read this. The opinions are just my own.

I arrived 2 hours early and managed to get in the third row (Ahh, the joys of arena seating. Sure, there's a chance you'll get crushed, but there is also a chance that someone besides a record exec or a radio contest winner will actually have a reasonable view.)

Nathalie Merchant opened (on time!) and although I do not know her stuff, I thought she was very good. She took off her shoes and spun around in circles (what is this, the FolkFest? Sequin boy knows what I mean!). She has a wonderful voice.

Danny Q. darted about between the sets and checked all of Sting's gear. Sting and the band took the stage at exactly 9.

Dominic--He looked like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. He had funny black pants with Michael Jackson-style belt buckles below the knees. His guitar still has the Dead sticker.

Vinnie--Overheard (I imagine) at the post-gig buffet: "Clear out!! Here comes Vinnie and he looks hungry!" Yes, his girth seems to have increased quite dramatically since the last tour. He wore sweat pants and a tank top. Doesn't matter, he was still great.

Kenny--Very well-dressed with a black suit coat. Chopper Bob-style microphone (see Garth Brooks). He was smokin' (literally and figuratively) during a few songs. He never stop smiling!

The Horn Guys--Dark glasses. They were sort of hidden behind a stack of speakers.

Sting--Black, knee-length leather coat and black leather pants. He is balding gracefully (I had heard rumours of hair plugs). Have his eyes always been so piercing blue? I wonder if he has those coloured contacts. He still has the same old bass (I love the picture of it in The Singles). He had a bottle of Evian and that little spray thing of stuff that is supposed to save his voice.

The show was incredible. I have never heard his voice sounding so great. The other times I've seen him, it was late in the tour and it really showed. But this night it was perfectly stunning. The intro to I Was Brought To My Senses was amazing.

Okay, a look at the set list and a few comments about some of the songs:

The Hounds Of Winter (Sounded great and was a bit louder and faster than on the album. He even did some great howls.)
I Hung My Head (Too bad there were no backing singers to do the shalalalalalala's. Still sounded great.)
I Was Brought To My Senses (Did not quite capture the subtle climaxes of the album version, but as mentioned above, the solo intro (with just a little misty background from Kenny) was beautiful.)
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (Again, the backing singers are missed. Quite a long version.)
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The horns were perfect.)
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
All Four Seasons (Well, sorry, but this song turns my stomach.)
Seven Days
I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying (One of my faves from MF.)
Mad About You (What a pleasant surprise that they played this. Sounded great. Nice that the set list changed from the Oslo one that was posted a few days ago. Last time it hardly changed at all for the entire tour.)
Twenty Five To Midnight (Loud and great! The horns were wonderful.)
Synchronicity II (That's when I really missed Andy! Yes, Dominic is great and I like the way he plays this one, but it just isn't quite right without Andy. Having said that, it was a great version.)
Roxanne ()I think he still likes playing this one!! He did not seem bored at all and actually did some nice things to it. The trombone player even kicked in! There were slides being projected behind the band during the show and during this song they showed hookers! Sorry, but tack-o-rama.
Englishman In New York (Kenny did a little rap. Maybe a bit lame.)
The Bed's Too Big Without You
This Cowboy Song / When The World Is Running Down... (Just the first verse, actually, then a great transition; absolutely incredible!!! About 10 minutes long with an amazing jam [mostly Kenny and Sting]. Probably the highlight of the entire show.)
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
She's Too Good For Me
Nothing 'Bout Me
Lithium Sunset (Not at all like the quiet sunset sounds on the album. This one ROCKED, and it was great. Dominic ripped! Ended with Sting practically screaming "mercury falling.")
Fragile (The lighters in the air and people screaming along nearly spoiled it, but it is such a great song and Sting's guitar was excellent.)

That was it. It was 11 when they finished (gosh, his stamina on stage is little match for his stamina in the bedroom). Only took an hour to get out of the parking lot.

I hope he is coming to a place near you. If not, there are always bootlegs.

by Tony Deburchgraeve on March ?, 1996

I went to see Sting in Gent. On a scale to ten, I would give it a 7. I think the show is still in his childshoes. I have seen it before with Sting. He starts with a show that isn't perfect. You could call it a Beta Version. Let's say, every week they change something. He will modify everything until the show is perfect. Only then, Sting could record it for a Live Video or Live CD ( I Hope so ! ). I'am gone name a couple of things, so you can see it isn't perfect. A few times, the horns were so loud you could'nt hear Sting singing anymore. In "Set Them Free" they were playing a tape of the backing vocals, they were woman, Dominic & Vinnie were singing over the sound of the Tape. The Quality of the Sound System was poor. To much old songs that were the same, (every note was the same as 2 years ago). A serious Drum solo by Vinnie, forget it. A serious keyboard solo by Kenny, of a couple of minits, forget it. When Jonathan could play his saxafoon, they did'nt let him go all the way ( a lot of people like the sax in Sting songs). Then the projectors on the screens were not always good, because of the spotlights that were shinning true it. But none the less Sting's voice did'nt let us down, it was perfect. I 'am very Kritical on everything, because i know Sting can do beter & I've seen beter Live shows of Sting. Maybe, it's because Sting's Quality standard is so hi, i see the difrence now. But as a faithfull Police/Sting fan, i could'nt miss a Live show of Sting. I would recommend this show to everybody, but it is'nt he's best !!!

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