Concert Review
Sting
St. Joseph’s Health
Amphitheater At Lakeview
Syracuse, NY
Tuesday September 6, 2022
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The former Police vocalist and bassist brought his latest solo tour entitled My Songs to St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview Tuesday evening. As his band took to the stage, Sting was the last to appear and gave a big wave as he took his spot center stage and kicked things off with the Police cover “Message In A Bottle”. The message was clear that he was here to not only oblige his dedicated fan base by playing many of the songs they know and love but to also let them know he is not an oldies act and conjured up a set list to also please himself.
Taking a ride through 1987’s “Englishman In New York” was quite fitting and by the time the band dug into “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” even the non believers were hooked. Backed by an extremely solid band featuring Guitarists Dominic Miller and his son Rufus Miller, drummer Zach Jones and keyboardist Kevon Webster. Backing vocalists Gene Noble and Melissa Musique also got their turn in the spotlight during the show.
Sting then told the crowd that he was going to do the unthinkable and play some new music. He plunked out three songs from his latest release The Bridge. The best song of the three was “For Her Love” which fit neatly into the set.
The biggest moment of the night happened during what is perhaps Sting’s most exquisite song “Shape Of My Heart” from 1993’s Ten Summoner’s Tales. The song was played to perfection and was taken to another level by the vocals of Gene Noble. If Sting has written a better song I cannot find it.
For the Police aficionados Sting saved most of those songs for the end. The high point of those were “So Lonely”, “King Of Pain” and of course what Sting show would be complete without the chart topping “Every Breath You Take”. Joe Sumner, Sting’s oldest son opened the show and also came out to join his dad on the last two songs. The band took a joint bow and left the stage. Upon returning for “Roxanne” Sting joked how it had become a drinking game where every time he said the title of the song one would have to take a shot. Ending the night with what he called something “quiet and thoughtful, so you can go home quiet and thoughtful” he played the gorgeous song “Fragile” from his second solo album Nothing Like The Sun.
Sting has had quite a career not only as a solo artist but as a member of The Police as well. The amazing thing is that he still looks and sounds like he has for the past 25 years. If you didn’t know his history, you would not be able to guess his age. He is truly a gifted performer to be marveled at. He shows no signs of slowing down and as he left he mentioned to the Syracuse crowd that he shall see them again. I believe we have not seen the last of him.
Set List
Message in a Bottle (Police Cover)
Englishman in New York
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (Police Cover)
If It’s Love
For Her Love
Rushing Water
If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
Fields of Gold
Brand New Day
Shape of My Heart
Heavy Cloud No Rain
Walking on the Moon (Police Cover)
So Lonely (Police Cover)
Desert Rose
King of Pain (Police Cover)
Every Breath You Take (Police Cover)
Encore
Roxanne (Police Cover)
Fragile
