It’s been some years since I last saw Sting play live, but the instant he took to the stage I had the same sense of being in the presence of a consummate musician, whose relaxed grace makes being a bassist and frontman look deceptively easy. He certainly brought better weather with him, after an earlier deluge had people rushing to take shelter under the awnings of the bars and food stalls around the perimeter of the Pier Head concourse. The Liver Buildings and other ‘Graces’ of the Liverpool waterfront provide a hugely photogenic backdrop for events – except when you can barely see them for the rain.
His evident joy at the connection his music made with the crowd was infectious. So many tracks on his set-list are so well known and well loved, it’s impossible to pick a favourite. With hits such as Message in a Bottle, Walking on the Moon, and So Lonely all sounding as fresh as the day they were released, it’s hard to believe some date back to the late seventies. I’m not entirely sure whether some of these tracks were written with live call-and-response in mind, but they work perfectly that way.
With over half the songs drawn from the heyday of The Police, it’s a crowd-pleasing set from an artist who has nothing to prove, when the more obviously commercial move might have been to promote more recent offerings. As it is, tracks like If I Ever Lose My Faith In You, Englishman in New York and Fields of Gold proves his songwriting ability didn’t end when he went solo.
If you ask music lovers to name the best ever bassist, you’d probably hear names like Nile Rogers, Paul McCartney, Flea, John Paul Jones, John Entwistle, Aston “Familyman” Barrett, James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Bootsy Collins, Jack Bruce, Peter Hook, and maybe a few others. Make no mistake: Sting belongs on that list.
And if that claim seems fanciful, just revisit his back catalogue. Whether infused with rock, or jazz, or reggae, the catchiest tracks – and the funkiest – were all written by Sting. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan, you’ll be amazed at how many songs you already know and love.
With longtime collaborator Dominic Miller on guitar and Chris Maas (formally of Mumford and Sons) on drums, it was difficult to believe that such a rich, warm, full sound was being produced by just three musicians. They make such a tight unit, it took me a little while to realise they hadn’t been joined by a synth player about halfway through the set – presumably thanks to some technical wizardry on Miller’s guitar.
There was no way on earth they’d be allowed to leave without playing an encore, although when he asked the crowd what they’d like to hear, Sting did affect reluctance to go along with the unanimous call for Roxanne. No matter: he was given little choice when his bandmates launched into the track anyway.
Earlier in the evening, the torrential rain had threatened to put a literal and figurative dampener on the event, but this was completely overshadowed by something infinitely more serious. Shortly into support act The Christians’ set, drummer Lionel Duke was suddenly taken ill. The gravity of the situation was brought into sharp focus by urgent calls for a medic. From the instant hush that came over the crowd it was crystal clear that the only concern was for Lionel’s wellbeing.
The stillness was punctuated only by those with medical training heading for the stage, while the rest of us just stood there hoping desperately for the best. I have no idea how long Lionel received first aid, though it seemed like a long time; that the arms of those holding up the hastily-erected screens must have been aching.
Eventually some good news arrived – Lionel had a pulse, and would be taken to Broadgreen Hospital. The cheer this news provoked was a heartfelt, almost guttural sound of relief, quite unlike anything I’ve ever heard or indeed uttered.
How appropriate and moving, then, that (after updating us with welcome news of Lionel’s improvement) Sting dedicated his last song – Fragile – to the drummer. The intricate beauty of Sting’s solo Spanish-style guitar-picking has never sounded so delicate, or more poignant.
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are.
Like Sting, and everyone else, I wish Lionel a speedy of recovery.
Phot Credit: Gill Nightingale
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