In the first of two performance at MGM National Harbor, Sting was full of banter and reflections, charming a sold-out room in The Theatre with his thoughts on various songs in his setlist.
Speaking of “Fields of Gold,” Sting said he wrote the song as an ode to his house — well, “castle” — in England, a famous manor called Lake House, which is located “two miles south of Stonehenge” and surrounded by beautiful waves of grain.
“Drop by for a cup of tea if you find yourself there,” Sting quipped. “Well, just you,” he said singling out a member of the audience. “I cannot open that invitation to everyone in the room.”
On Oct. 15, Sting was at turns humorous and dolorous as appropriate, pacing through a hearty show of his solo classics and prominent numbers from his time as frontman of The Police. For this run of shows, titled Sting 3.0, Mr. Gordon Sumner performed with a trio that included guitarist and frequent collaborator Dominic Miller and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers). The three men enjoyed a warm camaraderie and a craftsman’s eye for producing a good tune, much to the delight of the audience.
The show opened with “Message in a Bottle,” a famed and favored Police single that served as a great showcase for Sting’s distinctive tenor and his taste for reggae-flavored compositions. Everyone was immediately excited by the sound of the instantly recognizable radio staple.
Watch Sting perform “Message in a Bottle” live at The Olympia Paris via YouTube:
Early in the show, Sting played the aforementioned “Fields of Gold,” one of four songs selected for the show from his incredible 1993 album, Ten Summoners Tales. Hearing the songs from that album filled me with a great nostalgia but also reminded me of the beauty and inventiveness of Sting’s catalog: He’s not predictable because he’s willing to mix things up and approach each song as its own distinct entity. This was clear as he took the audience through “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” “Fields of Gold,” “Seven Days,” and “Shape of My Heart” — all songs that spotlight his creativity and shift between his deeply held sentiments and wry sense of humor.
Sting recalled that he wrote “Shape of My Heart” with guitarist Dominic, who has been playing with him since at least at least 1991 when he contributed to Stings third full-length solo album, The Soul Cages. After playing the number, Sting introduced a new single, “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart),” also co-written with Dominic. This classically rockin’ tune was the only new selection of the evening.
Watch the official music video for “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)” by Sting on YouTube:
The evening was full of very thrilling musical moments as the Sting trio launched into each great song, but my personal favorite moment happened right after the show’s midpoint. Apparently, Sting challenges Dominic to pick a song for Sting to perform cold every concert. Sting doesn’t know what the song will be. On Oct. 15, Dominic chose “Fortress Around Your Heart,” a song “they hadn’t played in a while,” which solicited some good-natured grumbling from Sting over its “many chord changes.” I personally adore the dramatically melancholic message of “Fortress” — chickens come home to roost! — and I have always deeply connected with the song, lifted from Sting’s debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles. So I was very happy to hear it.
The show closed with big haymakers from Sting’s tenure with The Police — meaningful and affecting songs including “Walking on the Moon,” “King of Pain,” and “Every Breath You Take.” The audience collectively squealed in happiness when they heard the opening notes of “Every Breath You Take,” and they clamored (gently) to sing along or capture a moment on video.
Sting, Dominic, and Chris returned to the stage for a two-song encore: “Roxanne,” Sting’s signature Police anthem, and “Fragile,” his graceful and elegant tribute to loss.
In top form, Sting possessed such an unparalleled voice and personal magnetism that the audience would have gleefully sat for another two hours of performance from the talented and hardworking Englishman. You can experience his alluring music for yourself as the Sting 3.0 tour continues.
Here are some photos of Sting performing at MGM National Harbor on Oct. 15, 2024. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
