Sting Symphonicity Concert at Red Rocks Review

Here is an excellent and comprehensive review of the Sting Symphonicity concert at Red Rocks by a Sting fan mysteriously known by several names, including Trini, Pangea and Gerard. Thanks to Trini for allowing me to share this on Message in a Bloggle.

I attended both shows at Red Rocks, always a great experience to be there even though the hike up the hill is tiring. Same setlist as prior shows. I am not going to complain about songs being dropped as both nights Sting went on at 8:15 PM and Sting left the stage at 11:00 PM with a 20 minute intermission, Sting sang for 2 hours and 25 minutes, the longest Sting concert I have attended. Overall, this was a different experience, huge difference, it’s as significant as the change from the Synchronicity tour to the Blue Turtles tour. I admire Sting for giving the audience so much material they did not know. How many audience members really ever heard songs like “End of the Game”, “My Ain True Love”, “All Would Envy”, “When We Dance”, “Tomorrow We’ll See” or even “Hung My Head”? I say less than 10%. Sting is taking a huge risk presenting so much lesser known material in a format such as this orchestra show. After non stop greatest hits tours, it was refreshing to hear songs like “Russians”, “When We Dance”, “End of the Game” and so many others sang live for the first time in my life. The crowd was surprisingly patient, in fact, they sat, absorbed, and truly appreciated it, Sting singing Roxanne early was a good idea (No screams for the hooker late in the show), get those hits the fans scream for out of the way. The crowd could not help but recognize that the songs they did not know were brilliantly composed and although it was not a rock concert with jumping and screaming… for the lesser known songs, they were truly respectful and appreciative, they recognized the brilliance and really appreciated the music, kudos to the crowd. I feel, this will be repeated throughout the tour. Huge respect to Sting for taking this risk.

Red Rocks was filmed both nights, I hope it makes the cut for the hopefully released DVD. The first night, lights were on the crowd permanently for the first half of the show, making it a bit uncomfortable for some people.

The Mix

OK, finally we have a change in sound engineer, totally different. I heard every instrument on stage for the first time in over a decade and this time with a 50+ piece band. I wish I had the knowledge of the engineer, Howard Page, to control that digital board he was using, a Studer Vista 5, but it is because of this change that we have comments such as this, from Sting.com,

http://www.sting.com/news/news.php?id=20100605

“One of the things I loved the most about Symphonicity was the absolute pure clarity of sound. Sting’s voice was exceptional. He effortlessly hit the high notes on Roxanne while still maintaining a strong soft and quiet voice on A Thousand Years. The orchestra also sounded fantastic, from the dramatic orchestration for Moon Over Bourbon Street and Russians, to the softer Why Should I Cry For You and Fields of Gold, The Royal Philharmonic had a richness and depth of sound that was simply spectacular.

The absolute high point of the show for me was King of Pain. It was the moment that all the elements came together perfectly – a classic Police song, sung exactingly by Sting, and sonically expanded by the orchestra. It was the absolute ‘a-ha’ moment of the show and the moment I knew I would have deeply regretted missing Symphonicity.

Howard Page clearly understands Sting’s music, I say this because I was seated right next to the board on the second night and I saw his commitment. The clarity of Sting’s vocals were amazing, Page explained to me why subs were not appropriate for this tour and why volume needs to be controlled. Thus those expecting high volume or a lot of bass need to understand that this is not a “rock and roll” tour. Howard Page was partly responsible for the incredible audio quality of the Winter’s Night Durham Cathedral shows DVD. I have no idea how he controls that digital board, the Studer Vista 5, I have never seen anything like it, the clarity is amazing. Subs will be introduced if Sting tours with a rock n roll band again.

Sting

His introductions to the songs were great, many laughs from the audience, I have never seen him chat with the audience this much, it was funny, educational and frankly he could not have introduced so many unknown songs to the audience without the introductions. I don’t know if it is that it was being recorded or that he was not playing bass, the man had incredible control of his voice, I heard him go off only once during the two nights at Red Rocks. Sting is taking a huge risk here with this tour at this stage in his career. As was mentioned in a recent interview, more shows will be recorded, not just Red Rocks but I feel his strategy is that the comfort level of the band has to be established before recordings can occur, this is shown by the fact that they were better and more relaxed on the second night at Red Rocks. You cannot change setlists night by night with such a band. I feel the setlist will change every two weeks, or every month or two so I am sure some will eventually hear I Burn For You. In the end, I again admire Sting for presenting this excellent material in such a brilliant and risky way, it is not easy to follow a Police tour and totally change musical approach as this. No one expected it and it could be a difficult six months for Sting and band/orchestra, trust me, this cannot be easy, it is a total paradigm shift. Sting is stretching himself as an artist and performer as he has never toured like this. He added a tambourine stand but not having a permanent bass or guitar (Blue Turtles tour with guitar or Branford, Kenny and Minu Cinelu on the Nothing Like The Sun tour to monkey around with) to play is not an easy switch at his age. More importantly, Sting could have gone the easy route and reunite the awesome foursome of Miller/Workman, Sancious, Colauita/Keith Carlock/Freese and totally ride on his success of the past.

The Band/ Conductor Steven Mercurio

The Orchestra presented beautiful arrangements of the material, they did what they needed to. Unless the setlist changes, expect a very similar show, after they establish a comfort zone, it is impossible to expect an orchestra to deviate or “improvise” from the material unless a rearrangement is written, thus do not expect much “jazz” infusion in this 50+ piece band.

The conductor, Steven Mercurio, you cannot deny the guy’s passion, energy and hard work conducting this orchestra, yes, some of it is showmanship but all performers need it.

Highlights and la-di-das

Russians – OK, not sure what happened in Vancouver but the crowd at Red Rocks absolutely loved the introduction Sting did to Russians. The arrangement is amazing, gotta love Sting’s marching during parts of the song. Interesting to also witness the percussion timing between Sting, Krija and Cossin

End of the Game – Although most of the crowd did not know this song, it was another brilliant performance. How could this song be left off an album (could also be said for so many songs)?

Moon Over Bourbon Street – What a brilliant arrangement and performance!

Hung My Head – Always loved this song, interesting arrangement, great to see the musicians keep up with the timing. I get the feeling Sting might drop this song but Sting’s harmonica, introduction made this song work so well, especially on the second night.

Why Should I Cry For You- I love how the music of Islands of Souls is used at the beginning.

Straight To My Heart – Nice surprise

King of Pain – The power of a great song and a snare drum. The minute Dave Cossin sits on the drum kit, and that snare starts working, you understand that Sting could go the easy route and reunite the Miller/Workman, Sancious, Colauita/Keith Carlock/Freese (or even Copeland/Summers), and send the crowd into a party frenzy from the beginning instead of the challenge to the audience which the Red Rocks audience really appreciated, even though seated at the beginning.

Roxanne – Great to get her out of the way early, but beautiful arrangement with the lower key.

A Thousand Years and Englishman in New York – Too close to the original arrangements, nothing special. Not sure why Danny Quatrochi was playing a small keyboard during Englishman in NY.

She’s Too Good For Me – Great to hear this song back in the mix.

All Would Envy – Beautiful song, great jazz groove, could have made a few uncomfortable in the audience by the lyrical content.

My Ain True Love- Incredible vocal performance by Lawry and Sting.

Brought To My Senses – This a cappella version sounded awesome, what a powerful vocal performance.

Miller, Cossin, Ira Coleman, Rhani Krija, Jo Lawry

They were all brilliant. Interesting solos, Lawry was great on vocals, nice legs as well. Krija, perfect showman. Miller, great to see him in the mix and his precision still relevant… wish he could appear to have more fun with Lawry on stage, especially during She’s Too Good for Me. Lawry, great energy and vocals. Coleman, great but in this setting, not as audible. Cossin, good at what he does, needs to take it easy on that tube instrument during Why Should I Cry For You.

Summary

The show invoked tears from me and my wife during both nights, we know we will never hear some of these songs performed live again. I find it hard to believe Sting could be suffering from writers block for 8 years. When you see songs written for Cold Mountain and “B” Sides, End of the Game be so powerful as at Red Rocks, it is very telling that Sting is one of the best or maybe the best songwriter of our generation. He cannot allow the press or critics from the Sacred Love and prior eras to stop his creative process, phucque the press. Scared Love had two of the best songs he has written, Book of My Life and Dead Man’s Rope. Overall, the press reviews of these performances have been surprisingly positive. It proves that when Sting challenges the audience and himself, he is at his best even if it is not his comfort zone. Where he goes in 2011 is still a mystery but after the Police/ Blue Turtles switch and now the Police Reunion/ orchestra switch, I am not sure where he goes, anything is possible and I would be happy with whatever direction he chooses but I would more than welcome a Miller/Workman, Sancious, Colauita/Keith Carlock/Freese quartet, pump up the volume, bring on the bass.

Setlist

If I ever lose my faith in you
Englishman in New York
Every little thing she does is magic
Roxanne
Straight to my heart
Russians
When we dance
I hung my head
Shape of my heart
Why should I cry for you
Whenever I say your name
Fields of gold
Next to you
A thousand years
Tomorrow we’ll see
Moon over Bourbon street
End of the game
My ain true love
All would envy
Mad about you
King of pain
Every breath you take
Desert rose
She’s too good for me
Fragile
I was brought to my senses