Atlantic Ave Magazine - April 2017

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entertainment ║ CONCERT Review
Sting Enchants
South Florida
By skip SHEFFIELD
PHOTOS by tom craig
The rock star known simply as Sting
treated his fans to an intimate concert at
the Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theatre,
February 25 in Miami Beach. Sting, born
Gordon Sumner in Newcastle, England, October
2, 1951, began his set with an acoustic
version of “Heading South on the Great
North Road,” followed by a couple songs by
his son Joe Sumner and a five-song set by
Los Bandeleros.
Sting is one of the brainiest and sociallyconscious
artists in rock ‘n’ roll. He taught
English for two years before forming The
Police in 1977 with Andy Summers and
Stewart Copeland. The group was an immediate
hit in the U.K. and Europe before
conquering the USA.
Sting played some Police favorites with
a five-piece band and two backup singers
intermixed with his numerous solo hits
which began in 1985. Looking lean and
fit at age 65, armed with his trusty, wellworn
Fender Precision bass, Sting sang
“Synchronicity,” “Spirits in the Material
World,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Walking on
the Moon,” “So Lonely,” “Roxanne,” “Next to
You,” and as an encore the ubiquitous “Every
Breath You Take.”
This was the 57th and 9th tour in honor
of his latest album. After such solo hits as
“She’s Too Good for Me,” “Englishman in
New York,” “I Can’t Stop Thinking About
You,” “Shape of My Heart” and “Ashes to
Ashes,” Sting capped his show with a second
encore of “The Empty Chair,” which he
had recently performed at the Academy
Awards Show.
A member of The Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame since 2003; declared One of the 100
Most Influential People in the World by
Time magazine in 2011 and composer of
the recent Broadway show “The Last Ship,”
Sting will no doubt continue his creative
output, if not live touring. For one special
evening, fans got to witness him in the flesh.
48 April 2017 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com