Sting charms with new sound...

Outdoor concerts rarely inspire an intimacy between performer and audience.

Seldom is a dazzling stage personality sharply juxtaposed with bleak song lyrics and a morose off-stage image.

Last Saturday, all the rules were broken, and 10,000 people stared a contrast in the face.

Sting swept his Kingswood audience of its feet for two-and-a-half hours on the strength of a new band, new and old songs, and a polished performance.

The show started just about on time, and without the benefit of a backup band, Sting opened with a jazzy rendition of an old Police song, Shadows in the Rain. From then on, the atmosphere was electric with screaming, cheering, Bics flicking, and even some tears.

Sting exhibited nonce of the arrogant traits so often attributed to him by the press. On the contrary, he mesmerised and manipulated his audience with jokes, anecdotes , and conversation. He accepted gifts tossed on stage, including flowers and a cute, stuffed bumblebee (get it?)

Several Police songs were added to the line-up, One World, Roxanne, Bring on the Night, When The World is Running Down. Police drummer Stewart Copeland's percussion was sorely missed, but the band performed old favourites with a fresh style.

On sax and clarinet was Branford Marsalis (yes, Wynton's brother); on bass, a very cool Darryl Jones; Kenny Kirkland on Keyboards, Omar Hakim on drums and Janice Pendarvis and Dollette McDonald singing back-up, dancing, and having a ball. The girls worked previously with The Police on the Ghost in the Machine tour.

A highlight of the evening was a revamped rendition of I Burn For You, from the film Brimstone and Treacle, which, aside from making the hairs on the backs of many people's necks stand up, prompted Sting to being his bass on stage.

Also spectacular were Sting's vocals on the melodic and haunting Moon over Bourbon Street, a song which chronicles the conscience of a vampire.

Several pleas from Sting for silence during the song proved futile as fans continued to shriek and whistle.

Of interest to newcomers to the Sting brigade was his explanation of the symbolic meanings behind his new stuff. Images of heroin addiction, war, divorce, and despair composed the mosaic of the music.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles album and tour are Sting's first solo outings since The Police went on a creative sabbatical in 1983. Not surprisingly, album sales have been good and the tour has taken the band across North America and Europe, and into Asia and the South Pacific.

For the benefit of Police freaks, Stewart Copeland just released his second solo album (the first being the soundtrack for the movie Rumble Fish) titles, The Rhythmatist. This album is based largely on Copeland's experiences travelling through Africa, and is recommended for Copeland fans only.

As for Andy Summers, well, there's not been much since the release of his 1984 album with Robert Fripp, but reliable sources assure me Andy is not to the point of starving yet.

Sting's tour isn't expected to wind up until Christmas time. Spring 1986 is the tentative slot for a new Police album, and hopefully we can look forward to another 'picnic' next summer.

(c) Coven by Kim Hughes