This was the best show I've seen, and I've seen a show on every tour--except MF. If he'd lost that leather jacket. It would have been better.
The set list: *and a surprise*
Anne commented "Lose the shirt!" Hi Anne!
(*He picked up this poster from a woman in the front row. He said he was distracted by it. It said, "Sting is my only love--except my husband." Well, of course she lied, which was our view. ;) Anyway, Sting said that inspired him to sing....
(no odd songs, no Big Lie - which I missed--or Ghost Story - which Anne missed)
--1st encore
--2nd encore...
He had some final comments about loving to come to DC, and how he remembered The Police's first show here, which played to five people. He claimed not to remember the venue. Some people shouted out names. There were a lot of real fans there, who knew the BND songs as well as loved The Police songs.
Just got back from Sting's concert at DC's Constitution Hall, and I'd like to share a few thoughts.
I've seen Sting perform live on every tour since 1987, and Brand New Day ranks at the very top, along with "Nothing Like The Sun" tour. Sting was in a playful mood all night, and the band kicked ass!
Highlights: Sting sang "My One And Only Love" from the cd Sting At The Movies. I believe this is the first time he's performed this song, at least on this tour. It was not scheduled, here is how it happened. Someone in the audience had a poster that read "Sting You Are My Only Love, except for My Husband" Sting liked it so much that he had the poster brought to him on stage. He left it on the floor while he went on with the show. Then, after a song or two, he told the crowd, "My One And Only Love is one of my favorite songs" Then he turned to Jason Robello and said let's play it. It was a wonderful rendition, and it got one of the biggest cheers of the night!
Sting told the crowd -- as he has done in past shows -- that being in such small venues, he can hear the audience talking. Line that got biggest laugh: "I can't believe he can do it for five hours." Then Sting said that he wants to give up tantric sex and take on tantric shopping, so he can go shopping with Trudy for five hours and not buy anything.
Manu Katche is a terrific drummer; Backing group Scream: very sexy, sensual, and did a nice job. Kipper and Jason Robello did good job, though they can't replace Kenny, particularly on Bring On the Nigth piano solo; Sting's voice in terrific shape; very active on stage; Dominic seemed a bit more reserved than usual; Chris Botti -- terrific addition, gives new feel to various songs.
Best songs: My One And Only Love; I'd grown tired of "If You Love Somebody" "Roxanne" "Bring On The Night" -- but in a small arena, these songs are reborn; "Perfect Love" "Tomorrow We'll See"-- Better than cd; Moon Over Bourbon St -- done in a Louis Armstrong voice, Sting wearing a cool hat.
Dissapointments: We'll Be Together: new arrangement didn't impress; not a single song from Mercury Falling. Not many things on sale: a few (expensive) t-shirts, CDs from Domenic (second nature), Chris Botti. I bought a Brand New Day mug ($20!)
Set -- best I can remember, order may differ a bit. 2 hour show:
1st encore
2nd encore
Crowd: 20s and 30s -- more than a few teens; good mix of whites, african americans and (being dc, the nation's capital) quite a few foreigners and power suits from Congress. Audience in good mood, sang and danced along - especially to Police tunes, All this Time, Fragile, If I Ever Lose My Faith, Seven Days, Set Them Free, Englishman, Brand New Day, Desert Rose
Cheers!I'm so glad I went to Washington. The sound and my seat were MUCH better than in Richmond. I take back what I said about A Thousand Years - here it sounded great. And there was a wonderful, spontaneous surprise...
Me'Shell N'Degeocello opened again; this time she completed her set without abruptly walking off. She has an interesting style, and is an accomplished bass player. They also pipe in a couple of the songs from her new CD " Bitter" while they're setting up for Sting.
If possible, Sting looked even better than he had two nights before. My seat was a box seat on the left, about 15 rows back. Didn't even need the binoculars.
I hate to say it, but it was probably the same outfit (laundered, of course) that he wore in Richmond. Same set list, with two exceptions. He played We'll Be Together between After the Rain Has Fallen and Perfect Love...Gone Wrong. After Seven Days, he complained that he couldn't concentrate on the lyrics because he was trying to read a sign brought by a woman sitting up front. He took the sign and read it aloud: "To Sting, my one and only love (except my husband)", which got a laugh from the crowd. It had a big red heart painted on it. He appeared genuinely touched, and asked her if he could keep it. Then he sang Mad About You, and directed one to the lyrics to her "It would make a prison of my life, If you became another's wife." Then came the surprise of the night - he sang "My One and Only You" (from the soundtrack to Leaving Las Vegas), basically a capello, with Jason Rebello following along on keyboard. It sent chills through me. His voice was incredible. The absolute highlight of the night (and of my year!)
The DAR Constitution Hall in Washington DC is a larger (3200 seat) and nicer venue than the one in Richmond. The average age of the concert-goer seemed a little higher (40's vs. 30's). I didn't recognize any politicians, but found it interesting that the crowd cheered when Sting sang the line in If I Ever Lose My Faith in You: "You could say I'd lost my faith in our politicians."
Sting, the band and Scream left the stage to a deafening ovation. Afterwards, a few stalwart fans went around to the stage door, only to be assured every few minutes that "Sting has left the building". Never did see him, or any of the performers. (Still hoping for passes for New York Fri/Sun and/or Akron!)
Well, the Sting show here in Washington, DC was simply amazing.
I'll be honest, I was having a few doubts about the performance beforehand. Every concert review I had read from this tour talked about how fabulous he sounded, how he looked younger and was playing better then ever. I was convinced I was going to see the bad show of the tour.
Now I'm convinced I might have seen the best show of the tour.
To answer all of the questions of the hardcore Sting fans:
Yes, he wore the cargo pants again.
Yes, he told the same jokes as previous shows:
"I can hear what all of you are saying in the front row: he looks younger, did he have something done, I liked him better with the Police, can he really do it for 5 hours? And he also made the tantric shopping joke.
No, Kipper still wasn't wearing shoes. Yes, he still had the music stand, and had to use it a few times for lyrics. No, the backup singers really didn't do much, except on We'll Be Together and Fill Her Up, but gosh, they are yummy looking, and boy, can they shimmy!
When the show started, I was really afraid that my greatest fears would come true. Despite my fabulous seats in the seventh row - Desert Rose did not sound that great. It sounded like the sound people were having trouble getting everything adjusted. Anyway, things were soon fixed, and I can honestly say that he sounded better than any of the other previous tours. His voice just sounded clean, and the whole band looked like they were having fun!!
The setlist seemed to be similar to earlier shows, with two great additions:
1. A Thousand Years
2. If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free
Took the sound people a little while to get things adjusted. I just don't think that A Thousand Years is a great way to open a show, but If You Love Somebody was great, some people (including me) singing along with the backup singers, and there was a good amount of crowd dancing.
3. After the Rain Has Fallen
Crowd seemed to mellow a bit - especially those unfamiliar with the new album.
4. We'll Be Together
Very much changed from the album version - more rock influenced, this is where the show really started to get good, and we knew we were in for something special.
5. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong
I really don't like the album version of this song, but once again, the big man pulled off a great live version. Manu did the French rap, and did the whole thing during the first break in the song, so it wasn't broken up into three parts. This also gave Chris the opportunity to go wild on the trumpet and he sounded fabulous. After this song, Sting introduced the band and told all of the jokes.
6. All This Time
Things started to get really rocking here. What a great song to see live. You could also tell here that they were all having a great time.
7. Seven Days
I love this song, and they did a great job playing it. This is where some of the crowd sing-a-longs started. Some of us started shouting the days as he went through them: "MONDAY, I can't wait 'til TUESDAY......" The FRIDAY shout was nice and loud.
He forgets some of the lyrics to this song (glances at the music stand).
After this song, he reaches down into the front row for a sign that a woman was holding up. It reads:
Sting
You are my one
and only love (with a heart).
Well, except for my husband!
He found this really amusing and flattering, and then dedicated this next song to the woman and her husband:
8. Mad About You
From what I saw of earlier set lists, this was in the show, then taken off. It was a great surprise to see this song - I think it is his best song as a solo artist. During the song, at the lyric: "It would make a prison of my life, If you became another's wife," he is looking at the woman and singing to her!! Awesome.
Then after the song, he picks up the sign again and says,
"You know, that is one of my favorite songs, My One and Only Love. Shall we do it? (HUGE crowd cheer). Jason, how about in F?" He looks at the keyboardist, who nods, and then they launch into the song.
9. My One and Only Love
This was haunting, that is the only way I can describe it. It was Sting singing, with Jason on a muted keyboard. That's it. The crowd was dead silent and soaking up every minute of it. They finish, and head back to the rest of the set.
10. Fill Her Up
I hate the album version of this song, but the live version was great. The transition from the country twang to the gospel type part is much more powerful live.
11. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Huge crowd cheer when he launches into this song, and there was a good amount of crowd singing and dancing too.
12. Fields of Gold
Again, huge crowd roar when this song starts. Dominic provides some great great guitar. Simple and eloquent - everything you would expect from a live performance of this classic.
13. Moon Over Bourbon Street
Someone brings in the infamous hat from offstage, and he slaps it on, plays with the brim, and does the song in that Louis Armstrong type of voice. He's having a blast - the crowd digs it, and he lays down some great bass work.
14. Englishman in New York
As if the show was not good enough already, he goes into this tune, with some great trumpet work by Chris, and the crowd sings along with 'Be yourself, no matter what they say' for about two minutes at the end of the song. All he did was wave his hand, and everyone started to sing!!!
15. Brand New Day
Another good album song turned great live. This song does miss something without Stevie Wonder's harmonica though - although, it was still really well done.
16. Tomorrow We'll See
This is my favorite song off Brand New Day, and the live version was amazing. This is the only song during the entire set where no one in the first ten rows is standing. Huge crowd roar after, "These new heels are killing me." And an even bigger roar after, "My only crime is being pretty."
17. Roxanne
He gets six notes into this song, and the whole crowd is going insane. He hit all of the high notes, which none of us thought that he could hit anymore. Good crowd sing-a-long with the "Roxanne-o" part near the end of the song. The energy in the place is amazing.
18. Desert Rose
The song starts, and these really cool fire type things turn on. They looked like high-tech fans with tissue paper on them to simulate fires burning. There were six of them spread about the stage. No Cheb guesting on this song, even though he is playing here on Tuesday. The song is still great though. Another one where the live version gives you a greater appreciation of the original version.
19. Bring on the Night/When the World is Running Down....
This was the last song of the set, he only did one verse from Bring on the Night, before launching into When the World, and then he lets Jason jam on the keyboards for 4 or 5 minutes. It was very similar to the version on the Bring on the Night CD - and Jason did an amazing job, with Sting providing the rousing bass undercurrent and dancing around the stage.
1st Encore:
20. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
The crowd roar was truly deafening when the band came back out. Lots and lots of sing-a-long with this song. Huge cheer when he sings lyric about losing faith in politicians.
21. Every Breath You Take
Very powerful. Best live performance I have heard of this classic. Every band member was into it and it showed.
2nd Encore:
22. Message In a Bottle
Again, more deafening screaming when he came out. And then things became surreal when he played this song solo. Just him and that acoustic guitar, with 3,000 people singing back-up in all of the right places. That is what live music should be - I really doubt I will ever see and hear a live performance of a single song as good at this one. Wow! That's all I can say. I caught glimpses of the band members while he was performing this (and while I was singing) and they were just nodding along and singing too.
23. Fragile
Great way to end the show. The band joined in after the first two verses, and Then bought the song home. Very definitive end to a show that exceeded my expectations.
After the show, while waiting for some friends, I started listening to comments from those around me. Everyone I overheard was excited and said the show was great. At least four people said it was well worth the money, and they would pay more. Everyone kept commenting about different songs, but they all mentioned Message in a Bottle. And the merchandise stand was completely swamped after the show, despite the $27 T-shirts!!
It sounds like we didn't get the top notch lights and visual show that most of the other tour stops got - probably because Constitution Hall is so old, and the stage is pretty small.
So, with that all said, the show was truly incredible. Only a few weak spots, which were more than made up for by the other powerful parts of the set.
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