Sting is a living legend. He’s got nothing left to prove to the world of rock ‘n’ roll as he’s seemingly done it all. He’s in the Rock an Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Police, he was nominated again for induction as a solo artist in 2015, he’s ventured into acting, and even Broadway. Add to this having sold more than 40 million records worldwide and numerous top lists from Rolling Stone to VH-1—and one wonders what’s next? How about going back to his roots and releasing his first rock album in 13 years?
That record is 57th and 9th which has laid the foundation for a full-blown tour. The album’s title is a reference to the New York intersection Sting crossed every day to get to Avatar Studios in Hell’s Kitchen where much of the album was recorded. The record is a return to form for Sting and it’s really interesting to see the band of musicians he’s put together for the record and the tour.
Sting’s backing band is a your sort of alt-country act from San Antonio called the Last Bandoleros. They sounded a bit like the soundtrack to From Dusk Til Dawn crossed with Crosby Stills and Nash with a touch of Wilco. And holy shit can these guys sing—I’m talking four part harmonies for days here.
Another surprise was the appearance of Sting’s son, Joe Sumner. This guy has just enough of “Sting” in his voice to make you remember where he came from, but beyond that he’s got a dynamic voice as big and broad as the late, great Freddie Mercury and some really fun songs to boot. He did a song called “Jellybean” that he wrote for his daughter which was absolutely brilliant.
Sting took the stage backed by the Bandoleros and Perfect Circle drummer extraordinaire Josh Freese. The setlist was a brilliant mix of old and new, ranging from the early days of the Police to the late ’90s when Sting topped the charts as a solo artist, all the way up to songs from his latest release.
Highlights included the Police classic “So Lonely,” the Sting staple “Fields of Gold,” and “One Fine Day” from the new album. The sound was incredible—Sting’s voice sounds equally as great, if not better than I’ve ever seen him perform before. It begs the question; how in the hell is Sting sixty-five years old? I need to sign up for yoga.
Editor’s Note: I haven’t been to a show without my main camera in over four years, so the shots you see were taken from my seat with a small mirrorless camera. Not ideal of course, but the venue allows non DLSR cameras into the venue and I had to work with what I had. It made for a hell of a date night with my wife as I didn’t have to run in and out of the photo pit all night. Maybe I’ll try that again after my concert photography book comes out next month.
