Summoner's Tales: 1993/95

Sting summons praise with mix of songs...

There's a special place reserved for people who review rock concerts. As Sting explains in a song from his latest album, 'Ten Summoner's Tales', Hell is 'full of high court judges, failed saints... cardinals, archbishops, barristers, certified accountants, music critics.'

But when Sting performed the song last night at ParkWest, the line about the music critics was missing. He must have known how well we would receive him in Utah.

It was, indeed, a heavenly show, with only a few minor, technical exceptions. It was a show full of good spirits and a fairly good mix of old and new songs, considering that he was here to plug his latest album, his fifth since breaking away from The Police.

There were several Police songs, too. These, in fact, were his most well-received and also his best. There is something about 'Roxanne' and 'King of Pain' - an energy, maybe - that he rarely matches in his solo work.

But this is starting to sound too critical (we might be relegated to Hell again). The non-Police songs have their own charm, which came through clearly in newer tunes like 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You' and 'Shape of My Heart', and in older favorites like 'An Englishman in New York'. Sting might be the only pop icon to feature jazz interludes in his songs and still have teenagers in his audiences doing the wave.

Sting is proud of the fact that he appeals to a broad demographic base, and Tuesday night's crowd at ParkWest surely pleased him. There were 40somethings and high school students, all on their feet dancing.

This was a cheerful concert, which may be why Sting included nothing from his more somber (and in many ways more forgettable) 'Soul Cages' album.

It was also a more stripped-down concert than some in the past. The group on tour with him now consists only of Sting, Vinnie Colaitua on drums, David Sancious on keyboards and Dominic Miller on guitar.

The saxophone from earlier albums and tours is missing, a lamentable loss that removes some of the nuance from the more jazz-like, elegant songs.

This is an early stop on his U.S. solo tour. He is also the opening act for The Grateful Dead, which began its tour last weekend. All this may explain the technical difficulties at ParkWest Tuesday night. Although the loud, hard-driving songs sounded fine, the softer ones like 'Fields of Gold' sounded like a warped LP, at least from row 12 seat 12. The problem probably stems from trying to crank out enough volume for the thousands of fans in the grass below the ski lifts.

But who's criticizing? At least from up close you could get a good look at Sting's cute denim overalls and his receding hairline, and could marvel at keyboardist Sancious' jazz flourishes on 'When the World is Running Down'.

It was a great concert, with something for everyone. Sting even did a cover of the Beatles' 'A Day in the Life'. And opening act dada, described by their publicist as 'anti-grunge,' provided high energy and pleasing harmonies on their own songs and on covers like 'I'm Going to Disneyland' and, surprisingly, 'California Dreamin'.

(c) The Deseret News by Elaine Jarvik

Bass-wielding rocker Sting drew a legion of Utah fans at opening concert of ParkWest season...

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. All good children will go to heaven." That was the tongue-in-cheek counsel that rocker Sting gave as he led his band into the opening strains of 'Love Is Stronger Than Justice' Tuesday night.

Heaven. That is where 11,900 fans surely thought they were as they affectionately welcomed the enigmatic entertainer in the season opener of the 1993 ParkWest Summer Concert Series. Fresh from a stint as the opening act for the Grateful Dead's three-day Las Vegas extravaganza, Sting revelled in the outdoor confines of Utah.

A decidedly more upbeat fellow than the one who performed here two summers ago, he treated the throng to a two-hour show. The program, for the most part, focused on works from his new album, 'Ten Summoner's Tales'. But as is his custom, the bass-playing singer also touched upon his prolific past by incorporating snippets of his most memorable tunes into the jazzlike musical jams that characterize Sting's live performances. Those who listened carefully heard bits of 'Walking on the Moon' leading into 'Nothing 'Bout Me' and 'Set Them Free' in the free-for-all during 'King of Pain'.

Guitarist Dominic Miller, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and keyboard whiz David Sancious helped Sting pump jazz into 'Heavy Cloud, No Rain', reggae into 'Englishman in New York' and straight rock into 'When the World Is Running Down'. The group also put its own guitar-edged spin on the Beatles' 'A Day in the Life'.

The mellow strains of Sting's latest single, 'Fields of Gold', coupled with his soothing vocals, nearly lulled the crowd into a euphoric trance. Then, suddenly, the lull was broken when the company burst into 'Synchronicity II', the first of a trio of Police tunes that included 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' and 'Roxanne'.

Sting saw his career blossom as the frontman for The Police just as the last of the baby boomers were graduating from high school. Now, as a solo artist, he is charming the next generation.

The Los Angeles-based band dada opened the show. Advance press material on the group (which specifies the lowercase "d'' in its name) compared the group to the Police. However, the fact that there are three members in each band is where the likeness stops. The group's 'Dizz Knee Land' and 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow' are catchy tunes with turn-of-the-knife lyrics.

(c) The Salt Lake Tribune by Lori Buttars

Sting smiles through concert at ParkWest…

Once known as the "The King of Pain," Sting seemed to be feeling no pain in his concert at ParkWest May 18.

In the opening concert of the Park West Summer Concert Series, the former lead singer for the Police seemed positively jolly as he rollicked through a 12-song set that spanned nearly two hours.

Sting's current four-piece band, which also included keyboard player David Sancious, guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, proved equally adept at handling the tight rock and roll of the Police and the fuller, jazzier sounds of Sting's solo work.

Some of the highlights of the show were songs from the band's most recent album, Ten Summoner's Tales, including 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You', which opened the show, 'Shape of my Heart' and 'It's Probably Me'.

The large crowd became most lively when Sting delved into his material from the Police. Six songs into the set, 'Many Miles Away' brought the audience back to their feet only seconds after they had first sat down. During the next song, 'Roxanne', something resembling a large automobile tail-light above the stage illuminated a bobbing, swaying crowd that extended far up the lawn. Sting completed a triple whammy by adding 'Every Little Thing She Does is Magic'.

For this writer, the high point of the show came during 'When the World is Running Down (You Make the Best of What's Still Around)', when Sancious led the band as they built a crescendo of rhythm. In fact, Sancious provided many of the show's instrumental highlights. While Miller displayed some virtuoso talent on guitar, many of his most intricate licks were muffled in the sound system. Sancious meanwhile, played with gusto in a style suited to the large venue.

Sting played two encores, closing the show with 'Fragile'. He traded his bass for an acoustic guitar on 'Fragile', providing an interesting finale to a enjoyable opening show at Park West.

The opening act, dada, played guitar-driven psychedelia with the ferocity of an up-and-coming band. Some highlights of the Los Angeles band's set included their single, 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow', and a spirited cover of 'California Dreamin'.'

(c) The Park Record by Alex Wells