Well, as far as I know, I am the only person on the list that made it to the New Orleans show. So, I will attempt to tell you all about it, but I am no writer, and certainly no music critic. Being as I am only 21 years old, I have never made it to a Sting concert before (I missed the Mercury Falling tour not by choice), so I have no comparisons as far as the band...I couldn't tell you how well Jason Rebello replaced Kenny, and I couldn't tell you how much Brandford's live playing was missed. All I can share is last night's performances. So here goes!
First off...Sting was wearing the cargo pants. Yes, the ones with the zippers. And the black leather jacket.
There was an opening act, some lady named Lily H___? Can't remember her last name...she was a violinist. Her music was a mix of crazy violin playing, really bad vocals (more like screaming), an out-of-control drummer (same goes for the bassist) and a guitarist you couldn't even hear. Oh, and let's not forget the rapping bongo drum player (or whatever you call those little hand drums)!! She couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but at least her backup singer was all right (and she DIDN'T rap...that was good). Her bassist cracked me up...he was just SO into it.
After about 30 minutes of holding my ears shut (yes, it was THAT bad), there was a short intermission, and then Sting. I was surprised that there was no flair about his entrance, he just walked on.
By the way, I didn't have anything to write the set list down on, so you will have to check Stingchronicity for that. It was about 1 hour 45 minutes, including encores.
I read many reviews of the earlier concerts, and what was said about his voice just didn't apply last night. Sting hit ALL the high notes, even the ones in "Roxanne." His energy was incredible! I have certainly never seen a television performance where he was SO full of life. His hips never stopped swinging and that right leg did that little "jump" thing all night (you might know what I'm talking about...look at the video for "If you love somebody..." or "Fortress..." and you'll see what I'm talking about). During "When the world is running down..." he even jumped around like some younger performers you see these days (i.e., Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, Kid Rock....). It was crazy!
The soundmen messed things up two or three times, resulting in loud screeches...YUCK. It was a beautiful theatre (Sting even said so himself...apparently he's been there before), but I can't say much for the acoustics. That could also have been due to the fact that I was RIGHT underneath the balcony....*sigh* At least even those seats were great because the theater was SO small.
Security was especially tight. You couldn't stand up and move around unless everyone in front of you was doing the same, and everyone behind you followed the trend. Otherwise, they asked people to sit down. There was no photography, but toward the end (especially during "Desert Rose") people started sneaking them in...myself included (don't worry...they won't be very good). The people in the orchestra pit were the luckiest. They could actually reach out and touch him. He commented on this, saying that it was great to be so close, but that he could hear every word they were saying.
I think my favorite old song was "Seven Days." Just knowing how much trouble he'd had with it earlier made it better. The music stand was still there, but I never saw him use it.
Chris Botti (or should I say, Chris "Hottie?" LOL!!!) was actually really good last night. The mute was only used two or three times, and other times he used his hand to create the effects. I would still take Brandford any day, but this was all right.
I especially admired Jason Rebello's playing. I too play piano, keyboards, etc., and know how hard it is to play the way he does. He is truly gifted.
Manu Katche!!!!!!!!! No need for words.....great, great, great. Of course, he's not Stewart, but still great. His rap on "Perfect Love..." was interesting. Much better than the one on the CD! Haha.
Dominic and Kipper were good, of course. We all know how they play. But I think if I had to choose which I liked more, I'd have to say Dominic.
On "Moon over Bourbon St." Sting sang the entire song in his best Louis Armstrong impression. Of course, on the higher notes, he had to switch back to his own voice. He wore a hat...I don't know what you call them...the kind that is circular and flat on top and has a floppy brim that goes all the way around. They were selling them in the lobby. He pulled the brim down low over his face, tilted his head down, and began to croak out the notes in that scratchy Louis Armstrong style. It was really a treat.
Lots of young people there, surprisingly. Of course, you had your older crowd sipping wine quietly in their seats, and the young'uns trying to get up and dance with their beer. Quite a diverse crowd. Not many people knew the words to the new songs. Sting let the crowd sing on quite a few songs. I guess he was giving his voice a break! Hehe.
Well, I don't know what else to add. I'm still reeling at the moment, but if any of you have any questions about it, write me. Hope you enjoyed!
Just got back from New Orleans concert. Had to go there, since he wasn't playing the city where I live in Texas this time. Excellent concert. Set list the same as Houston. Music stand. Remembered all the words. Someone gave him a Calla Lily, but he kept asking what kind of flower it was. Looked like he was having a great time. Brown cargo pants, leather jacket. And put some kind of funny little black hat on to sing MOBS. But the best part of all...well, at least equal...was at the end I got to shake his hand!! Along with Dominic and Chris. Toward the end of the concert, 1st two rows were against the stage, and I was lucky enough to be in the 2nd row. Well, the Sting handshake lasted maybe one millisecond, but that was okay, more than I ever dreamed possible in my life. I thnk we could have brought a camera...they didn't seem to be checking for them, but alas, we did not.
I just got back from the concert about 4 days ago and OH! "Be still my beating heart!" It was my second time to see Sting live in concert. I made it in 96 to the Memphis show of Mercury Falling Tour. I knew I could not give up New Orleans. I love the town and I love Sting. I drove the 3 hours from Jackson, MS to see it and to drive back and 11 o'clock to go to a class at 9:00 the next morning. I scraped together 75 dollars from my empty pockets to buy the ticket and sit about 25 rows back. I wasn't impressed. I had spent to much time so far away from this man that I admired so much! He was great though. The openning song I was on my feet only to be pulled back into my seat by the elderly couple behind me. "This was Sting! not a piano recital!" He was very chatty and in a good mood, more so than in Memphis. He made a comment about being so close to the people on the front row... (which were about a foot from the stage) He claimed he could hear some guy talking on the front row and he began to mock him: "Oh he was better when he was in the Police! He looks younger! He must have gotten something done! I wonder if he can really do it for hours!?" He then said "You know I have given up tantic (?) sex and have gone to tantic shopping; I try to get my wife to shop for 5 hours and not buy anything...but it isn't working so I thought I better go on tour and make some money." He made some other smart comments throughout the night. I believe someone already gave the setlist to this concert. But I was getting aggrivated at not being able to see...and in a fit of jealousy towards the people on the front row I broke out of my row BB and ran down to the 3rd row. There were a few people dancing around me during Roxanne so I went unnoticed by Security. But everyone had to sit down after it was over and some lady in a red coat came up and started yelling at me. I told her I was about to go and she went on to yell at the girl infront of me. And just as I was about to return to my far away seat a girl on the 3rd row (whom I was standing next to) pulled me behind her and hid me until she left!!! Oh God was certainly rewarding me that night. I got to watch the rest of the concert from the 3rd row!! It was wonderful!!! He was dressed in green cargo pants with a black leather jacket (that he took off during the last song (Fagile) and had on a sparkly black shirt, he also wore brown boots and a brown belt. I was so much fun. I could tell he was having a good time. He sang Moon Over Bourbon Street with a funny accent and a cute cargo hat (or whatever you call them).
I suppose the worst part of the concert was when it was over and I was waiting outside for VIP parking to get my car. I was standing next to a limo and started up a conversation with the limo driver. He said he didn't have anything to do with the people at the concert and I didn't think much about it. But I turned my head and kept looking for my car to pull up. I saw the young limo driver get in the limo and pull away (within 3 feet of me) and the back window was down and WHO was in the back seat!! STING! I was so shocked and he waved and me before they took a turn and drove off. I was so shocked before I got very angry. I couldn't believe I had missed my chance to meet STING!! It had been my dream for years and I had my chance!! But I missed it! Despite that event, I went home very happy and very sleepy! It was well worth it though!
Over 7 days have past now since the ageless Adonis left his indelible mark on the New Orleans Saenger Theatre patrons. Though I've no true frame of reference to compare his Nov. 3rd performance since Carnegie Hall this past April was my first sight, an exhilarating experience 'twas nonetheless. Sting's entourage included a celebration of youth and exquisite talent featuring the meek and elegant guitarist Dominic Miller, trumpet master Chris Botti, and the wizardry of Kipper and Jason Rebello on keyboards. The gracefully harmonious backup singers Scream and renowned drummer Manu Cache added intriguing exotic flavor and completed this dynamic circle of energy.
Opening the set, evoking a barrage of emotions and questions about life's past, future, and its true purpose, the evening's Adonis performed his soul wrenching complex work, A Thousand Years. He continued this intriguing mood with songs from his latest endeavor such as After The Rain Has Fallen and Perfect Love Gone Wrong while brief interludes of wit allowed an escape from his psyche's infinite depths. But the most enthusiasm was met when Sting chartered the audience's more familiar territory with songs like We'll Be Together, Police classic Roxanne, and New Orleans favorite Moon Over Bourbon Street which illustrates yet another glimpse of his vocally diverse talent.
But the barren landscape of our reality would soon be transformed again to one of mystical places and forbidden pleasures when Desert Rose was performed. To visually embellish the lustful melody and coordinating lyrics, modern day gypsy, Lili Hadyn, joined Sting in a seductive performance. Her violin mastery and cascading brunette locks kept the audience as enthralled during this performance as she had upon the evening's opening numbers.
Though the audience enjoyed its share of euphoric moments throughout the evening, none was as elated as Sting's final encore performance of Fragile. Just as the melodies and lyrics that evoked thousands of emotions from songs such as Shape Of My Heart, Mad About You, Brought To My Senses, and Be Still My Beating Heart, this timeless creation will forever be etched in the patterns of our hopelessly romantic souls. And to their creator, the ageless Adonis in all his splendor, we will forever bask in the brilliance that beams within the music of his soul.
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