Soul Cages: 1991/92

The British musician inaugurated major international concerts at the Coliseum in 1991, returning for the Thousand Years Concert in 1993...

"And to think this guy is the same age as my father!" The comment came from a young woman in the front rows of the Coliseum in A Coruña in 1991. It was June 6th, and Sting was giving his first concert in Galicia. It wasn't common for stars of that calibre to visit the city. Prince had performed there a year earlier, competing with Madonna in Vigo. Political delusions of an era when extravagance could still be sold as a brand image. Sting, then in his forties but dazzling the young women, represented the continuation of A Coruña's international project. The Colosseum had been built for that purpose.

At the time, there was no awareness of it. But perhaps that tour was the best of Sting's solo career. He came with 'The Soul Cages' (1991), an exquisite album brimming with gems. The single 'All This Time', with which he opened the concert, was playing constantly on the radio. But the album's true magic lay in the intricate baroque style of 'Mad About You', the ecstasy of 'The Wild Wild Sea', and the beautiful 'Why Should I Cry For You?', dedicated to his father. His performances of both bordered on the sublime. And far from being a bland concession to new material, they shone like diamonds in the darkness within the bulk of the repertoire. No, this wasn't an artist living off past glories, but someone with a vibrant body of work.

Backed by Dominic Miller, David Sancious, and Vinnie Colaiuta, the blond-haired singer revived many of the legendary songs from his solo career that day, such as 'Bring On The Night'. But what truly electrified the 9,000 people who filled the Coliseum was his homage to The Police. 'King of Pain', 'Walking On The Moon', and a finale with 'Roxanne' and 'Message In a Bottle' that can only be described as delirious filled the air. With Jimi Hendrix covers thrown in and a final encore of 'Fragile', Sting left the audience utterly captivated.

He would return to A Coruña just two years later. It was on July 8, 1993, at the Riazor Stadium. He was part of the Festival de los Mil Años (Festival of a Thousand Years), a legendary event that featured Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Wilson Pickett, The Kinks, and Chuck Berry, among others. This was possibly the greatest constellation of rock stars ever seen in Galicia. Sting succeeded Young on the first day. He was then on tour with 'Ten Summoner's Tales' (1993), an album inferior to 'Soul Cages'. Things didn't go so well on this occasion. The gig was somewhat routine, barely showing any passion. He resorted to songs by The Police with mixed results. A mixed bag.' Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' was delightful. 'Roxanne' bored with a completely artificial stretch. In the end, the concert closed in a rather absurd way with Bring On The Night.

Some time later, the musician would return to Galicia. This time it was in Santiago. There he had to contend with the generally infernal acoustics of the Multiusos do Sar on June 1, 2000. This writer did not attend that concert, part of the 'Brand New Day' tour. The reviews from that day speak of professionalism, skill, the general enthusiasm of the audience, and a great final impression. More focused on his solo career, he also dropped gems from The Police like 'Every Breath You Take'.

(c) La Voz de Galicia by Javier Becerra