Mercury Falling: 1996/97

Brilliant: Superstar, high priest of white reggae, and totally normal bloke - Everything was magic...

History was in danger of repeating itself last night as Sting took to the stage in Cardiff, complaining of a sore throat.

"Just like the last time I was in Wales," he croaked.

But he needn't have worried the Frog on the Tynesider's throat added a little bit more to that distinctive throaty growl, and the audience loved it.

And as the last notes of 'Fragile' rang out across the packed auditorium, the crowd stamped, clapped and cheered for more.

Dressed completely in black and with his hair cut so short he looked like a refugee from 'Alien 3', for just a minute short of two hours Sting kept the crowd firmly in the palm of his hand as he doled out songs like sweeties.

First a couple of tracks from the new album, 'Mercury Falling', then one or two classic tracks from the earlier days to keep you on your toes.

Modern stuff like 'Hounds of Winter' and 'I was Brought to my Senses' slotted in neatly beside 'Roxanne', 'Every little Thing she does is Magic', 'Every Breath you Take', 'Field of Gold', 'An Englishman in New York' and many others.

And the crowd went wild. Last time Sting played Cardiff, the support came from Dina Carroll, now an established star in her own right. This time, Paul Carrack, the vocal talent of Mike and the Mechanics showed just how good a singer-songwriter he is in a far more complementary part of the gig. And this was just the warm-up man! Some warm-up, some show!

Older than the average rock audience, most of them had grown up with Boy Gordon from his earliest, barely faltering steps with Messrs Copeland and Summers in The Police.

And though Sting's music has developed since then, he has kept in touch with his early musical roots remember he was the high priest of white reggae back in the late 70s - and continues to find space for good horn players and clever keyboardists.

But despite his alleged superstardom, Sting came across as totally normal, the man in the pub, and the blokeishness shone through in the highlight of the evening, when three members of the audience came up to provide a very professional backing section to his paean to divorce, 'I'm so Happy I can't stop Crying'.

(c) The South Wales Argus by Jeremy Flye

There can be no doubt that Sting is one of Britain's finest solo performers.

The shaven-headed singer had the sell-out audience in the palm of his hand from start to finish.

This was his second appearance at the CIA, and undoubtedly he will be making a third. The 'Mercury Falling' tour, the name taken from the latest album released in March, is currently making the rounds throughout the UK. 

And the Welsh crowd did not fail to disappoint, especially when three lucky fans joined Sting on stage for their five minutes of fame.

It was a moment much appreciated by both them and the loudly applauding audience.

Sting himself was in fine voice, despite a cold, and took us as far back as the heyday of Police, with classics such as 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' and 'Every Breath You Take' - a version to take the breath away. 

(c) The South Wales Echo by Amanda Baillie