57th and 9th at sunset and argyle

Late last year I broke my "I'm too old for General Admission" concerts rule and bought two general admission tickets to see Sting at the teeny, tiny Palladium in Hollywood. 

Yes that Sting. Of The Police. And of STING. 

So on February 8th, my concert pal Lisa and I hit the metro to Sunset and Vine, stopped for cocktails at The Well, and then trekked across the street to look for a place near the back wall to lean against for the next few hours. 

But there was no leaning space left on the back wall, because -- when compared to most of Sting's fan base -- we're actually on the younger side ;) However, there WAS leaning space left against the security railing right to the right side OF THE STAGE. So we staked claim to our space there and there we stood for the next 3+ hours. And it was a good thing we were on time, because Sting opened the show... shocking everyone by walking out on stage with just a guitar and singing "Heading South on the Great North Road" under a single spotlight.

Then he told everyone the plan for the evening... introducing the two opening acts -- Los Bandoleros, and Joe Sumner (aka Sting's son) -- and saying he'd be back soon. And he was... playing tamborine and singing back-up for Los Bandoleros, just like he did last summer on tour with Peter Gabriel. 

The main Sting set started with "Synchronicity II" .. one of my fave Police songs / the title track of the first Police record I ever owned in 5th grade. From then on, it was awesome song after awesome song. Sting has been having so much fun on stage the last year, starting with the Peter Gabriel dual tour, and now this tour with young up-and-coming artists. And being right up front, with a great view of the man who I've been saying (for like the last 15 years) only gets better with age, didn't hurt either. Enjoy the photos...

         

The Set List: 

Heading South on the Great North Road (Sting solo acoustic before opening acts)

Synchronicity II

Spirits in the Material World

She's Too Good for Me

Englishman in New York

One Fine Day

I Can't Stop Thinking About You

Down, Down, Down

I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying

Pretty Young Soldier

Petrol Head

Shape of My Heart

Message in a Bottle

Ashes to Ashes (David Bowie cover) (with Joe Sumner)

50,000

Walking on the Moon

So Lonely

Desert Rose

Roxanne (with "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers snippet)

Encore:

Next to You

Every Breath You Take

Encore 2:

The Empty Chair