Intimacy on grand-scale...
"This next song is about divorce. Is anyone out there divorced?" asked Sting. It seemed like half the crowd raised their hands weakly. "Quite a few I see..."
Sting and his audience have aged together. At 44, the rock star has fathered six children, divorced, remarried, lost his parents and travelled the world. Many at the Palais had followed him from his days as frontman with the Police to solo work that has grown richer and more soulful with each album.
The 'Mercury Falling' Tour is billed as an "intimate evening with Sting", but those expecting intimacy would have been disappointed.
The venue may have been smaller, but Sting and his impressive band performed as if they were playing to thousands. Elaborate lights, big solos and very little chatting with the audience, except for one tender moment with Danny - a fan Sting plucked from the crowd to sing 'I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying'.
Most of the material in the two-hour show came from his latest album, 'Mercury Falling'.
He was a powerful performer, mastering the new work that is full of jazz, country and western and soul influences. It was a music buff's show with impressive improvisation in 'Demolition Man', 'Englishman in New York' and 'Synchronicity'. But the crowd was just as happy with all the classics, including 'Roxanne', 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' and 'Every Breath You Take'.
Sting returned for two encores and standing ovations. The crowd was left in the aisles, moved by his performance.
(c) The Age by Elissa Blake
You must have a display name to comment.
Follow the button below to create your display name.
CREATE A DISPLAY NAME