57th & 9th: World Tour

Sting revives his rocker phase in an intimate show in Chile...

The British musician performed before 13,000 people at the Movistar Arena, on a night in which he also accompanied his son, Joe Sumner, who opened the show with the quartet The Last Bandoleros.

"Good evening, Chilean audience. I'm very happy to be here." This time, Sting also wanted to be the master of ceremonies. The 65-year-old British artist was returning to Chile as part of his most recent "57th & 9th Tour," but before stealing the spotlight, he took the stage himself to promote his guests, as part of a show marked by an intimate atmosphere.

And of course, the first support act was his son, Joe Sumner. The Fiction Plane frontman only played three songs, but his folksy approach and vocal tones similar to his father's got the audience excited.

In fact, for their final song, they shared the stage with The Last Bandoleros, the Tejano quartet who arrived as the night's second guest. Four-part harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys, sharing melodies with southern rhythms, were the key to a mini-set that concluded with Sting singing "Where Do You Go?" 

"See you in a little while," said the former The Police member before leaving, and at 9:20 p.m. he reappeared on stage, two years after his last concert in our country. Even the tight blue T-shirt looked the same as the one he wore that time, also at the Movistar Arena, although his attitude was completely different.

Sting takes no risks. From the start, he blasts "Synchronicity II" and "Spirits in the Material World," two classics from his former band, but he rejuvenates himself with the musicians he signed for his current tour and also with the songs from his latest album, "57th & 9th" (2016).

"I Can't Stop Thinking About You" and "One Fine Day" are the first to debut on local soil, marking the beginning of one of the most rock-forward albums since the bassist left The Police. Thus, the tracks serve to enhance the weight of his catalogue and spread to the rest of his discography. Even "Englishman in New York" is revitalized by electricity.

However, this burst of energy didn't blur the personal tone of the show: a low-slung stage, reminiscent of a club, The Last Bandoleros providing backing vocals, and Joe Sumner sharing the microphone with his father during the closing moments of "Shape of My Heart."
 On the contrary, this encounter between the closeness and the massiveness of the sound proposed by the frontman allowed the 13,000 people who came to the main dome in O'Higgins Park to immerse themselves in the essence of the different songs.

Standing and raising their hands during "So Lonely," "Message in a Bottle," and "Roxanne"; moving to the rhythm of the music during "Desert Rose"; and with a more contemplative attitude during "Ashes to Know," in a small tribute to the late David Bowie—one that even Tom Morello, the guitarist who will perform in Chile this Wednesday with Prophets of Rage, enjoyed.

Sting remains the same as he always was. He keeps his voice and his elegant way of conceiving rock intact. A move that transformed him into one of the most versatile talents of his time, as evidenced by the hits and the shouts of the adults who came accompanied by their children. A relevance that transcends generations.

(c) Tele13 by Bastian Garcia