Sting in Warsaw. One Hundred Minutes of Perfection...

There are many truths about Gordon Sumner, known to several generations of fans as Sting. He does exactly what he wants, has enough hits to fill several evenings, and loves playing in Poland – the concert at Torwar was his tenth meeting with a home audience this decade. It's absolutely wonderful to be a Sting fan in our country.

This time, the 65-year-old artist came to us as part of his "57th & 9th" tour promoting last year's album of the same name. The album, it should be added, is more rock-oriented than anything he's released in the last twenty years. And it's not forced rock at all – songs like "I Can't Stop Thinking About You" and "Petrol Head" exude the energy and freshness we remember from the Police era. And there's an uninhibited joy in playing. The concert at Torwar only confirmed this feeling.
 

In fact, of the twenty-three songs played by Sting and his band, seven came from "57th & 9th." That's almost the entire album. Fortunately, they complemented each other perfectly, both with songs from The Police, of which we heard eight, and with hits from the Briton's solo career. The whole thing made for a 100-minute "tour de force," which not only reminded us that we're dealing with one of the most important musicians of the last forty years but also demonstrated the continued importance of his new music.

The phrase "his band" shouldn't be taken literally this time. Indeed, Sting, equipped with bass, was accompanied as always by guitarist Dominic Miller, once again with his son Rufus Miller on second guitar, as well as drummer Josh Freese, previously known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses (he co-wrote the title track from "Chinese Democracy," though he didn't play on the album). However, the backing vocals were provided by musicians from the Texas band The Last Bandoleros, who are supporting the band on their current tour. This resulted in many songs sounding slightly different from their studio versions. 

Another matter is that some of the songs were completely rearranged – for example, the extended "Walking on the Moon" and "Roxanne" (both from The Police), which gracefully incorporated a fragment of Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." The accordionist also did a good job, stealing a few tracks from The Last Bandoleros – his solos on "I Hung My Head" and "Fields of Gold" were met with rapturous applause.

A special guest was Sting's son, Joe Sumner, who first played a mini-recital and then also supported his father with vocals and guitar. Furthermore, mid-concert, he tackled David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes," with, frankly, mediocre results. More of a tribute to the late artist than a respite for Sting, who had been in excellent form throughout the evening. He sang clearly and powerfully, without a moment's breath, and also took pleasure in playing the bass. It was clear that for him, this wasn't just work, but also fun. This time, he kept his characteristic personal stories to a minimum, but there was room for a thank-you to one of his "favourite cities in one of his favourite countries." Judging by the audience's reaction, Warsaw appreciates compliments, even if they're just a courtesy.
 

The concert featured many truly magical, moving, nostalgic moments, set to the notes of hits like "Shape of My Heart," during which the owners of hundreds of cell phones stopped filming videos for a moment and put them to the same use they used years ago with lighters during ballads. The expansive "Englishman in New York" and the oriental rock banger "Desert Rose" from "Brand New Day," one of Sting's most unconventional songs, made a stunning impression.

There were also, of course, more of The Police's biggest hits, including the encore "Every Breath You Take," preceded by the new wave-inflected "Next to You." And finally, the delicate "Fragile," an acoustic highlight for the evening. Before the support acts, Sting came out for a few minutes to perform "Heading South on the Great North Road," a melancholic ballad from the new album. A nice gesture towards the "warmers", because it forces the most loyal fans to show up at the venue early enough. 

It wasn't a concert with any particularly elaborate setting, though the lighting did its job, emphasizing the musical qualities rather than competing with them – the exception being the cosmic-looking beams projected onto the audience during "Walking on the Moon." The audience seemed more than satisfied afterward. As usual, there were probably complaints about the sound later, but for a venue that's, after all, a gymnasium, not a concert hall, it wasn't all that bad.

It's hard to say whether this was Sting's best concert in Poland – probably not, and such opinions are always individual. It was certainly very successful, interestingly conceived, and again, a bit different. It's great that Gordon Sumner comes to us so often; even more so that, after experimenting with orchestras and winter/holiday releases, he has returned in recent years to what he feels most comfortable with. And where he started – excellent rock playing with elements of jazz and pop, music with soul and heart, and a unique, refined simplicity.

Sting's tenth Polish concert in Poland since 2011? Well, today we'll have his eleventh, more intimate one – the artist will play at the Agnieszka Osiecka Studio on Polish Radio 3. The show starts at 12:05 PM. Watch out – it will be broadcast!

(c) Muzyka.onet.pl by Paweł Piotrowicz

Sting with his family in Warsaw...

The bassist's Monday concert at Torwar, promoting his album "57&th," took place in a family atmosphere.

Two musical families met on stage. Sting invited his son Joe Sumner, who sang backup, played guitar, and performed David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes." Dominic Miller, Sting's guitarist for 20 years, played with his son Rufus, also a guitarist. Unlike his father, however, he chose a Gibson guitar. This is unusual, as both Sting and Dominic Miller play Fenders. Their sound perfectly suits the Police's spirit, which the bassist is reviving on their current tour.

To promote his latest album, named after a New York street, Sting performed his solo hit "Englishman In New York." However, he focused on old Police hits and new songs with a trio feel. The core lineup was therefore guitar-based. There was no chance for brass or keyboard sounds. Rock energy dominated.

The evening began with "Synchronicity II," and after "Spirit In The Material World," came new songs, including "I Can't Stop Thinking Of You." The only song missing was the melancholic "Inshallah," which Sting replaced with another Arabic-sounding theme: "Desert Rose."

From his solo repertoire, we heard the ballads "Shape Of My Heart," "I Hung My Head," "Fields Of Gold," and "She's Good To Me." But we definitely preferred the dynamic "Walking On The Moon" and "Message In The Bottle." The Police, of course!

By weaving "Ain't No Sunshine" into "Roxanne," Sting heard a loud gasp from his Polish fans. He probably didn't know that Bill Withers' composition is known in Poland from the Budka Sufler version of "Sen o dolinie."

The concert, held in an unpretentious atmosphere and based on music – without large screens – also concluded with The Police's hits "Next To You" and "Every Breath You Take."

Sting didn't make a breakthrough in Warsaw, but he didn't come here to reinvent the wheel either – just to put on a good, relaxing show.

(c) Rzeczpospolita by Jacek Cieślak