This was my 3rd time to catch Sting et al in the flesh in concert. I had pretty high expectation , BUT THEY WERE SURRPASSED!! First of all the hall is really state of the art and probably a part of the rather steep ticket prices ($75-$100.00) but the acoustics were so perfect and the seating so well conceived that everybody had a first rate view and ear exposure. The show was opened by an unanounced surprise guest group. A very unique sounding spanish speaking caribiean beat rsta kind of guitarist singer w/ drummer and keyboard player did about 4 songs and displayed some new sounds and one of the most unique and incredibedl scat singing oral sound rythms Ive ever heard!! They left stage and the sets started shifting and roadies started sound checking Dominics guitars and Stings instruments. The curtains lifted to reveal the gracefully draped billowy sheer curtain backdrops( whoever designed the stage sets and lighting needs to win an Oscar or something) the band dutifully walked out on stage and jumped into Thousand Years complete w/ the ethereal pulsing backround lead in ( I think Kippers keyboards were doing the cosmic sounds throughout the evening) He was barefoot the whole show despite the electric cables under his keyboard! Well enough of the observations gleened through my trusty binoculars from the balcony. The big picture is Stings band is so loaded w/ musical talent that the average critic can not even handle it without fabricating some compaint! Do any of them actually play an instrument? I play a little guitar myself, strictly amateur. This band is tighter than an eels ass and they stick to the set list pretty much as previous concerts from what Ive read on the web. Songs like this w/ such rythmic melodic complexions and lyrics cant usually just be ad libed or played off the cuff I cant imagine how much rehearsal time and consolodated musical knowledge it took. Every song was incredibly well done and surpassed the CD version. Chris B was magical and filled in with his sensitive horn work like you got to hear to beleive! Dominic was precisely inspired and thew a lot of his guitar picks to the crowd. He has a very interesting chiseled face but does not seem to care a whit about getting his hair properly cared for or wearing anything interesting! Well Einstein was kind of like that too! Anyway to make a long story short, if you miss this latest incarnation of the Sting's band and new songs you wont be ready for the Millenium and who knows when he'll tour again? No other band on the circuit can produce these sounds on this planet at this time to my estimation!!!
This being the seventh performance of Sting's that I've seen, I would have to say that this comes a close second to his Tour opening of Nothing Like the Sun (Jan. 1988) The concert hall was beautiful, the acoustics were great for the small (2,200 seats) setting. Sting even commented on the Hall, "I am in the conductor's room...I must be moving up in the world, they wouldn't have let me in here a few years ago...I can see all of you down there, and hear what you're saying...he looks good, he must have had something done to himself...I don't like that jacket he is wearing...can he really do it for five hours?..." He had the audience doubled over from the start. He joked that he wished Trudie would practice Tantric shopping!
Dominic played loud and hard, giving up pick's to the screaming front row. The trumpet player and keyboardists improvised just as well. The back up singers were keeping time by slapping and swinging their hips. Very cute sequined dresses, and their voices were quite nice too!
Song List:
(Greeting to Audience, with plenty of Humor!)
"What do you want to hear?" Audience yelled " ROXANNE!!!" Sting replied "No, no, no. Not yet. (turns to band) What are we playing...All This Time"
Great song! Well done, nice story to the lyrics. The audience clappin' along...
Entire crowd on their feet!
Sting sang in a deep raspy voice, wearing a floppy black hat, and the stage was set with four glowing lighted balls. One was symbolic of the moon, three were street lamps. Killer set! Killer song!
WOW! He had the whole audience singing "Be yourself, no matter what they say!" Over and over and over. I was loving it.
"Turn the clock to zero honey..." He must be getting older, this song has the word "fuddy-duddy" in it. Back up singers swaying away...great tune.
(New song about a hooker/transvestite in Paris... what do you think he followed this song with?)
This crowd was jumpin' - Even the balconies.
Let me just tell you about this set. What a killer song, and the set complimented it well with red glowing tatters of cloth being blown by a fan. With a red light beneath, looked like giant torches coming out of barrels. They came up a few at a time, by the end of the song there were about eight. Striking. An image I will remember every time I hear the song.
(First Encore)
(Second Encore)
Again with the red guitar. The set had billowing pillars of curtains tiny points of light as stars behind them creating an incredible display. Left up just long enough so your eyes could mix up the positive and negative space. The pillars vanished in thin air at the last note, symbolizing the fragility of life in the universe. Ending the concert with a poignant message. His signature closing from the shows I have seen.
Sting and the band came out to the edge of the stage for a full five minutes, taking their bows, and shaking hands with the front of the audience. The entire place was on their feet, applauding throughout the hall.
He rocked! He was dancing around and jammin with the other members of the band. Sneaking around the stage with his base. Working songs to crashing crescendos This concert was better than Soul Cages, Ten Summoner's Tales and Mercury Falling! I love Sting. He has a place in my heart.
Haven't seen anyone post on his show here last night so here are my thoughts. First I am glad Sting is playing these smaller venues. The intimacy is great but the acoustics alone was worth the big ticket. He played at the Performing Arts Center here in Tampa which is usually the site of orchestras and theatre productions. All I can say is if all the other halls sound like this everyone should have a great time. First off the setlist seems to be the same as those posted previously so no big change there. This being only the second time I have seen Sting, the last being the Soul Cages tour, I was impressed with the band's performance and especially Dominic's growth as a musician. Sting was in an easy going and very jovial mood. Cracking jokes about himself, the best being when he said he commented that he loved the intimacy of the hall and that he could hear people in the front row talking saying comments like, " He was better with the Police, "that jacket is ugly" and "I wonder if he can really go for 5 hours." The band itself was terrific, I've always been a fan of Manu's so it was great to see him live finally and Chris Botti , well I had doubts about him from seeing the tv performances but he really added to the show without overpowering the songs and REALLY brought Moon Over Bourbon Street to life, interestingly Sting had on a bowler hat and sang most of the song in a deep Satchmo type inflection which really gave it a 'Nawlins flavor. It was a great show overall my only, if you can call it one, complaint was Roxanne, I love it and all but even back on the Soul Cages tour it gets a little long in the tooth with the 3 minute call and response, I mean how many times can you say Roxanne OHH before you get tired? Besides that it was a awesome to see and hear him so close up. Another thing, for autograph seekers, he didn't come out after the show although the band did, he ducked out through a side entrance. I heard from a photographer there, it is best to come during soundchecks which normally are around 3 or 4, I was told he is very amiable then. Well that's it folks. Hope everyone goign to see him had as much fun as I did.
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