It's a shame Sting so categorically rejects a Police reunion...

Former Police frontman Sting missed the opportunity for a truly memorable concert tonight at Amsterdam's Afas Live. Yet, his fierce renditions of the Police evergreens left him wanting more.

It was as if he'd just finished consecutive sessions at the gym and yoga studio. That's how fit Sting (65) looked as he took the stage at Amsterdam's Afas Live. Still clad in a T-shirt that tightly hugged his biceps and pecs, the former Police frontman looked anything but the bored rock star trying to save his pension.

The two powerful Police songs that opened immediately reinforced his ambition: Sting didn't seem to want to turn the concerts for his first rock 'n' roll album in almost 15 years (the November-released 57th & 9th) into an evening of refined, aging gentlemen's pop. This ambition was met with support in the sold-out venue, where fans who had experienced The Police in all their glory nevertheless formed the majority.
 

The affectionate dynamic, however, was hampered by the rather languid nature of 57th & 9th's songs. On record, songs like "50,000" and "Down, Down, Down" are quite enjoyable to listen to, but live, they slowed the show down. This was a shame, because Sting—quiet, yet generous with his hit material—was still in excellent voice. The extra raw edge that now colors his vocals only made songs like "Desert Rose" or "Roxanne" all the more captivating.

By then, however, the concert had already reached its finale, and the audience had enjoyed a high-quality, yet rather risk-free, evening.

Among elevator music classics like "Shape of my Heart" and "Fields of Gold," the pistol saga "I Hung My Head"—made famous in 2002 by the near-dying Johnny Cash—was by far the most dangerous. There were certainly highlights. For example, the almost faded "Englishman in New York" sounded fresh again thanks to a fiery drum interlude. But it was not enough for a truly memorable evening.
 

The band—featuring Sting's son Joe Sumner on backup vocals—seemed even taken aback by that outburst, as their subsequent performances of "Fields of Gold," the Bowie cover "Ash to Ashes" (sung and then killed by Joe), and "Walking on the Moon" sounded rather timid.

It took until the finale, which included Police evergreens "Every Breathe You Take" and "Message in a Bottle," for Sting and company to remember their intention to play the fans from their seats in the stands. Those songs—including delightfully fiery versions of "So Lonely" and "Next to You"—left them wanting more. And that made it all the more of a shame that Sting so firmly ruled out another Police reunion.

(c) Algemeen Dagblad by Stefan Raatgever