Returning to Luxembourg, Sting brought his enviable vocal tones to Rockhal on Saturday night.
After disbanding The Police at the height of their success in the 80s, Sting went onto just as much success with his solo work, accumulating over 16 Grammy Awards over the years. Last year saw him release his first rock record in over a decade and his 12th studio album overall, with “57th & 9th”.
Taking to the stage at five minutes to nine, with his son Joe Sumner and the support band The Last Bandoleros on backing vocals, Sting managed to catch many of the crowd by surprise.
Kicking off with The Police songs Synchronicity II and Spirits In the Material World they must have relieved any worries there might not be many Police songs through the night.
This was followed by the bass heavy classic Englishman in New York which brought the first sing along of the evening.
Sting delved into the new record with I Can’t Stop Thinking About You and One Fine Day which were a bit workmanlike and never really hit the heights of any of his earlier hits.
However, there was a good proportion of Police songs along with his classic solo repertoire to keep the audiences transfixed as he had everyone mesmerised once more with his rich vocal tones on Fields of Gold.
As Sting is touring this new record there were a few more from “57th & 9th” with Down, Down, Down and Petrol Head but the second half of the show was full of classic Police tracks.
The driving bass and guitar intro of Message in a Bottle drew cheers from the crowd before the band halted halfway through leaving just Sting’s vocals to cut through the rapturous applause.
While some songs brought raucous cheers from the crowd, Shape of my Heart drew a hush through the Rockhal as couples embraced and swayed as they were serenaded by his warm vocals once more.
The unmistakable strum of the electric followed by the bouncing bass of Walking On The Moon saw Sting continue with The Police back catalogue.
The hit laden set was not to stop there as they finished with Roxanne which brought more cheers and singing from the crowd before it morphed into a cover of Bill Withers Ain’t No Sunshine.
All evening there looked to be a party atmosphere on stage as the band laughed and interacted with each other and on Next to You it was no different, before finishing on the more down tempo Every Breath You Take and the crisp Spanish guitar driven Fragile which highlighted those warm vocal tones one last time.
Having played a best of set, Sting thrilled the Rockhal audience from start to finish and with his voice sounding a rich and warm today as ever, there are no signs of Newcastle’s favourite export slowing down anytime soon.
(c) Luxemburger Wort by Patrick Cameron
