Sting rocks the hits and thrills the fans

Few musicians have a back catalogue like Sting and the former Police frontman left nothing on the table during a hits-packed set in Sydney.

Sting performing at the Aware Super Theatre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, tonight. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

If ever there was a rock star who could be reasonably accused of making a devilish deal for eternal musical youth it would be Sting.

The 71-year-old rock legend was in supreme voice and musical match fitness in his opening Sydney concert at the Aware Super Theatre last night.

As predicted, his My Songs setlist is heavy on The Police and his solo classics, an enviably deep and rich catalogue stretching over 45 years since opener Message in a Bottle launched him to global stardom.

On his first Australian tour in close to a decade, Sting was again in ripping form. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Yet Sting possesses both the charm and vocal strength to explore subtle nuances in his melodies which satisfy both his artistic temperament and the audience expectations.

It’s a deft balancing act. As a songwriter, he warns his fans about the imminent clutch of new songs while astute enough to know the three he has chosen aren’t too far out of the wheelhouse of hits they came to hear.

It has been almost a decade since Sting last played here – in 2015 in a joint headlining set with Paul Simon – yet it felt like time had stood still.

Sting had the delirious crowd in the palm of his hand. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

There he was in his signature washed-out red and grey striped T-shirt, the effortless bass skills and that pristine voice, sounding like it was 1980 and The Police were playing their first gig in Sydney at the Hordern Pavilion.

“Thank you for that lovely Sydney welcome, I think it’s … my 38th show in your fair city. Anyone at the Hordern Pavilion in 1980?” he said.

Sting’s son, Joe Sumner, is supporting his dad on his Australian tour. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The crowd engagement cues may be built into the set but they are no less enjoyable for their predictability, as evidenced by the instant clapathon during the breakdown and call and responses in the evening’s second song Englishman in New York.

But for all the pop concert conventions Sting has mastered over his considerable experience, there is a generosity of spirit when it comes to sharing the spotlight with his band members.

Sting on stage in Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd

His backing vocalists are all given their solo shine moments, including Gene Noble owning Shape of my Heart, and his son and opening act Joe Sumner joined him on stage for King of Pain.

But Sting will never be a slave to the jukebox tour setlist – all hits killer, no filler – and while there was plenty of high moments, some of the song selections felt like they tipped the balance such as What Could Have Been, a song from the soundtrack of a Netflix show few in his fan base would have watched.

Sting pulled out the hits. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

But he quickly made up for that misstep with a delightful reggae reworking of Wrapped Around Your Finger which kicked the audience back into gear.

And from there it was a run of hits to the end. Spoiler alert: you can expect most of the songs you would wish were in the tail end of a Sting show.

After a energetic reggae rock version of the classic hot Roxanne to open his encore, Sting made his unconventional choice of closing with the “reflective” acoustic ballad Fragile, which he dedicated to Ukraine and the women of Iran.

He performs again at Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre on tonight. For all Australian ticket details, livenation.com.au