Gig review/ Sting @ Lollapalooza

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Sting @ Lollapalooza 

Genre: Rock/ pop-rock

Details: Mahalakshmi Race Course, Mumbai, January 28

Rating: ****

You'll forget the sun in its jealous sky, as we walk on fields of gold...

The sun had set a long ago, and the walk had been tiring and endless. But everything changed around 8.20 pm when Gordon Sumner aka Sting marched on to the Budweiser stage with a message in a bottle. For the next 85 minutes, every little thing the Englishman in Mumbai did was magic. The green carpet in front of the stage had been converted into fields of gold.

The hardcore Sting fans should get those puns, and there were plenty of them who watched his concluding act at the two-day Lollapalooza music festival at the Mahalakshmi Race Course, Mumbai, on Sunday. Some had attended his shows abroad, some were seeing him for the first time, and others had been present at Mumbai's Rang Bhavan in 1980, when he played with his band The Police, or at the Amnesty International festival in New Delhi in 1988. There were others, mostly the younger lot, who had come to watch other acts like OneRepublic, Keane, Jungle, Eric Ham and Anoushka Shankar, staying back for Sting only out of curiosity or because their parents were fond of him.

Looking extremely fit and agile, the 72-year-old ruled the stage. His approach to the performance was business-like, using short introductions or descriptions before some songs, but getting directly into the known fare. By and large, he stuck to the original compositions. But there was an interesting twist with 'Walking On The Moon' seguing into 'So Lonely', with an extract from 'No Woman No Cry' taking the audience by singalong surprise.

The set list was like a 'greatest hits' compilation, with the unfortunate omission of 'Fragile', often played as the second encore. Over 17 songs, the choice was a mix of Police fare and solo numbers. The 1993 album Ten Summoners Tales was represented by four songs - 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You', 'Fields Of Gold' 'Heavy Cloud No Rain' and 'Shape Of My Heart'. The 1999 record Brand New Day had the title song, the popular 'Desert Rose' (minus original collaborator Cheb Mami) and 'A Thousand Years'.

Strangely, there was nothing from The Soul Cages (1991) or his last album The Bridge (2021). One hoped Sting would call on sitar player Anoushka Shankar, and play their tie-up 'The Book Of My Life' from the 2003 album Sacred Love, but that was not to be. Anoushka had her own set and even guested with British band Keane earlier in the day. It may have been far-fetched to expect 'Valparaiso', 'Sister Moon' or 'Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot', but it would have been great if 'Mad About You' or the infectious 'Do Do Do Do, De Da Da Da' were included.

Despite the misses and unfulfilled requests, the songs were a fair representation of Sting's illustrious career. He was joined by an amazing band that brought out the intricacies of his compositions. Guitarist Dominic Miller, who has recorded with him since The Soul Cages, was a delight on 'Shape Of My Heart' and 'Fields Of Gold'. Also sprucing up 'Shape Of My Heart' was back-up vocalist Gene Noble. Singer Melissa Musique was the star of 'Heavy Cloud No Rain', taking over where Sting left off. While keyboardist Devon Webster and drummer Zach Jones played beautifully, there was the fabulous harmonica player Shane Sager, who replicated Stevie Wonder's original playing in 'Brand New Day'. Finally, who could forget Sting's bass-lines, which were like songs of their own?

The concert was a treat for fans, old and new, with the popular 'Every Breath You Take' and 'Roxanne' reserved for the end, leaving the venue as ear-worms. Of course, many at the back had to follow it on the giant screens, which misbehaved at times. Yet, it was a dream come true for many, a nostalgia-filled and unforgettable journey over 17 Sumner's Tales.

We'll remember Sting when the west wind moves, upon the streets near Worli; We'll forget the sun in its jealous sky, as we hum those tunes of gold