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Sting's new trio rages through police and solo classics on tour

Posted on by Kennedy
Sting's new trio rages through police and solo classics on tour

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OXON HILL, Md. – As we know, Sting can lead a trio quite well.

He's toured with big bands – like the team at their My Songs performance last summer – well-prepared quartets and, in 2018, with his unlikely buddy Shaggy.

Of course, Sting's tenure with The Police is legendary, and his return to a threesome – dubbed Sting 3.0 – leaves him as playful and engaging as ever.

On October 16, at the second of two shows at The Theater at MGM National Harbor, Sting, who donned a suit earlier in the day to perform “Fragile” at Ethel Kennedy's memorial service in Washington, D.C., stormed through a nearly two-hour performance, October 23 Song-comprehensive set with long-time guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas.

At 73, Sting still strikes the perfect rock star pose as he hugs his bass, his toned muscles peeking out from the sleeves of his white and gray T-shirt, his charisma and intellect forming the perfect marriage.

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Sting becomes a storyteller

Sting paced the stage in his professorial style, chatting frequently and illuminating the audience with the stories behind many of his songs.

Only at a Sting show will you learn about song inspiration from a Bible verse in the Book of Samuel (the esoteric “Mad About You”), a reminder of his father's advice: “Go around the world and make something of yourself” (” Why should I cry for you?”) and a description of the “sea of ​​gold” at harvest time outside his home in the English countryside (“Fields of Gold”).

Sting mentioned in a recent interview with USA TODAY that he adopted a preference for a headset mic after his 2021-23 Las Vegas residency. Not only does the setup allow him to move freely around the stage, but he also uses his hands to teach the audience the art of his patented “E-Yo-Ohhs,” clapping when he's not playing bass, and his arm in a seductive pose Casting motion while “Desert Rose.”

Sting's setlist is a powerful mix of police and solo work

The setlist for this tour is well-stocked with Police classics, Sting's cosmopolitan solo work – including the rarely played “I Burn for You”, the first song he is said to have written in 1974 when he was still a teacher – and the newly recorded track with this trio.

“I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart),” released last month, is an aggressive rocker on record and is even more thunderous live, with Maas slamming a Bo Diddley-esque beat and Sting in full blast.

The song was well positioned between the beautiful “Shape of My Heart,” where Miller’s gentle guitar lines circled the melody, and the reggae flavor of “Walking on the Moon,” which blended in seamlessly after a powerful hit on the snare drum from Maas a driving “So Lonely” over.

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Sting's song thrives on diversity

Sting's catalog is to be admired not only for its longevity – even the jazzy pop-bop “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” holds up remarkably well – but also for its diversity.

The elegance of “Englishman in New York” and the upbeat groove of “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” are musical dichotomies (the lyric “You would say I lose my faith in our politics” in “Faith” drew cheers from the crowd). , as Sting bowed his head shyly). Likewise the dark bounce of “Can't Stand Losing You” and the gliding “Wrapped Around Your Finger”, whose caterpillar pace gives the song sultriness.

The precision and efficiency of this trio is not surprising considering the tour began overseas in May, but their power is impressive nonetheless. Sting and friends will continue their US run into November – joining Billy Joel for a few stadium dates in between – before heading to South America and Europe next year, no doubt continuing to dish out a solid array of sonic sophistication.

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