A Night to Remember...
Sting was dreading playing before a home audience after a five year absence, claiming the crowd always challenged him to 'impress'.
He need not have worried. The crowd, all 3,000 of them on his second and last night at Newcastle City Hall, were right behind him from the start. The Wallsend lad sang his heart out for his Geordie fans - and family - making it truly a night to remember.
No fancy stage set, no fancy lights, just Sting in a sombre black tee shirt and black trousers, singing the songs that his fans wanted to hear.
It was a night of ever-changing moods - blending his old Police hits such as 'Roxanne' and 'Every Breath You Take' with his more recent solo numbers from his current 'Soul Cages' album.
It was a game of cat and mouse, psyching the crowd into a frenzy with 'Walking On The Moon' then lulling them into contemplative silence as he dedicated 'Why Should I Cry For You?' to his late father.
Then, kicking them back into life with his own cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze'. Nice to see even the greats do covers of their heroes.
And keepng it a local and a family affair - ordering his relatives to sing louder - Northumbrian pipe player Kathryn Tickell joined Sting on stage for his 'Island Of Souls' number.
He took a long time to come home. Let's hope it won't be as long next time.
(c) Newcastle Journal by Jane Chilton
Sting was dreading playing before a home audience after a five year absence, claiming the crowd always challenged him to 'impress'.
He need not have worried. The crowd, all 3,000 of them on his second and last night at Newcastle City Hall, were right behind him from the start. The Wallsend lad sang his heart out for his Geordie fans - and family - making it truly a night to remember.
No fancy stage set, no fancy lights, just Sting in a sombre black tee shirt and black trousers, singing the songs that his fans wanted to hear.
It was a night of ever-changing moods - blending his old Police hits such as 'Roxanne' and 'Every Breath You Take' with his more recent solo numbers from his current 'Soul Cages' album.
It was a game of cat and mouse, psyching the crowd into a frenzy with 'Walking On The Moon' then lulling them into contemplative silence as he dedicated 'Why Should I Cry For You?' to his late father.
Then, kicking them back into life with his own cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze'. Nice to see even the greats do covers of their heroes.
And keepng it a local and a family affair - ordering his relatives to sing louder - Northumbrian pipe player Kathryn Tickell joined Sting on stage for his 'Island Of Souls' number.
He took a long time to come home. Let's hope it won't be as long next time.
(c) Newcastle Journal by Jane Chilton
PHOTOS
