Mercury Falling: 1996/97

Sting for the first time in the Czech Republic. Prague finally heard Roxanne and other hits by The Police...

Sting visited the Czech Republic for the first time on June 6, 1996. He brought his fifth studio album 'Mercury Falling' to the Prague Sports Hall, as well as a number of hits from his solo albums, including 'Englishman in New York' and 'All This Time', and from The Police's repertoire. The audience was warmed up by Paul Carrack and his backing band.

I always liked Sting, I confirm that. I was looking forward to his Prague concert, I admit it. Sting was great live – and that could be the end of it. Of course, you can't pass up a concert by a musician who easily sells out stadiums and packs so many audiences of different age groups into himself. And the fact that Sting was a significant event for the Czech audience is also evidenced by the sold-out Prague Sports Hall, where there was not only no room to move, but also no room to breathe. The absolute humidity of the steam-saturated air was finally evidenced by the drops of water running down the airtight walls.

Paul Carrack and his backing band began their fifty-minute warm-up tour just after 8pm and presented themselves just like on their last year's album 'Blue Views', with excellent musicians, great sound and catchy melodies. The highlight of his set was certainly the hit song 'Over My Shoulder', with which he presented himself as the singer on the last line of Mike And The Mechanics. Even though many present were disappointed by Carrack's performance (I admit that his work is not ground-breaking in any way), there was little reason to be bored.

Carrack was a quite pleasant start to the evening, and in the end it was hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Sting's opening act. The last song, a well-deserved ovation from most of the audience – and then it was just a matter of waiting, drops of sweat running down their cheeks, T-shirts sticking to their backs, thirst quenching in large quantities and tension increasing until the moment when Sting's backing band appeared on stage.

Dominic Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta, Kenny Kirkland and the brass section of Philip Veacock and Jonathan Scott – these were the actors on that Thursday evening. The main and most important one, the one who was expected the most, appeared only a moment later, after the first notes of the opening song of the concert, and at the same time the first song of his collection 'Mercury Falling' this year. 'The Hounds of Winter'. Everything essential from Sting's new album was heard at the concert – 'Hounds Of Winter' was followed by 'I Hung My Head', then 'I Was Brought To My Senses' and the hit (and video) 'Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot'. I was pleased with 'You Still Touch Me', but also 'I'm So Happy and Can't Stop Crying', 'All Four Seasons' and the final 'Lithium Sunset', during which the aforementioned Paul Carrack also appeared on stage unexpectedly.

The fact that Sting really does not spare his listeners is also evidenced by the inclusion of old proven hits from his solo work ('Englishman in New York', 'Fields Of Gold', 'All This Time' and the fragile 'Fragile' as the second encore). Fans of the old The Police were also treated to it ('Roxanne', 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', 'Synchronicity', 'Every Breath You Take'). If you miss 'Walking On The Moon', 'Message In The Bottle' or 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' on the list, then know that Sting changes the repertoire and order of songs from concert to concert, and even in Prague he offered us what he considered appropriate.

Colaiuta's colourful drums together with Sting's bass guitar set the band's melodic gears in motion and it was a real joy to watch Kenny Kirkland's keyboard orgies, Miller's imaginative guitar and the great show started by a pair of brass players. Sting himself is a very charismatic personality and won over the Prague audience with the first note of his great voice and the sound of his bass guitar. The fact that he managed to perfectly tune us to his broadcast wave is also evidenced by the fact that he returned to the stage twice during the evening.

And one more thing is worth mentioning in connection with Sting's concert - the age structure of the concert visitors. You would find few teenagers, but I saw plenty of gray-haired ones. Personally, I felt very comfortable that evening in this company, especially in Sting's presence.

(c) Rock Report magazine