'Back To Bass' - Back to the Beginning...

Okay, "Back to the Beginning" is a bit of an exaggeration. Otherwise, Sting would have had to play in a club or perform with a jazz big band. But he didn't. And the Police line-up was nowhere to be seen on Sunday in the sold-out Vienna Gasometer.

'Back To Bass' was understood, on the one hand, as a retrospective on the 25-year solo career of a musician who describes himself as indifferent to self-reflection and nostalgia, but on the other hand, as a return to the origins of his instrumental talent. But he really should have picked up the guitar for that. Whatever the case, it's comforting to see that he can still do what he's always done: simply make really good music. There wasn't much new, though. But that's probably the essence of a retrospective concert title.

It was about time! After forays into symphonic, folkloric, and medieval music, the retired "policeman" finally wielded his already rather battered bass guitar again, roamed through his solo catalogue, including a handful of Police numbers, in a fine mood, and had the courage to leave gaps: Not a single track from his 80s masterpiece 'Nothing Like The Sun' was revived, and 'Roxanne' didn't shine in the red light of the spotlight either. Instead, a long-lost gem, the fox-couple ballad 'End Of The Game', shimmered like nothing else, because vocally – as sharp as ever – the charismatic Northern Englishman presented himself at his best.

'All This Time' appropriately opened the journey into timelessness, dedicated exclusively to the music. All the songs seemed to be free of ballast, the melodic core seemingly peeled away. The stage and lighting also served only basic functions: being able to stand and be seen. Even Sting's outfit underscored the straightforwardness of what was on offer: jeans and a tight-fitting T-shirt that truly emphasized the fitness of his 60-year-old body and confirmed the writer's decision to wear the baggy sweater after all.

Several accompanying musicians also played on the nostalgia factor. Back after a long hiatus: Vinnie Colaiuta, one of the most established session drummers with a penchant for high, self-imposed difficulty, first accompanied Sting 20 years ago. Guitarist Dominic Miller has been playing alongside the master even longer, albeit almost continuously. This time, Miller even contributed his own talent, as his son Rufus provided the performance with background vocals and guitar. What's more - kids, how time flies! - Sting, as a soloist, and the aforementioned Rufus, as a new born, both burst into the world at almost the same time.

In the back line, Australian Jo Lawry, who had already donated her organ on the previous 'Symphonicities' tour, shone with violin and voice, and Peter Tickell proved himself a virtuoso violinist, especially in the two remarkable solos where he sanded the violin strings to near melting point. However, the traditional keyboard player was unforgivably omitted, and there have been consistently great ones in the past. And at the very end, all by himself, 'Message In A Bottle'. Sting finally picked up the guitar. So, after all: "Back to the beginning"! Ha!

With around 1,800 concerts in his solo career, Sting can be described as a popular superstar. He can't stand sitting around and being bored, so the next tour won't be long in coming. But before that - please! - get into the studio and record something new. That would be a dream.

(c) Heute.at by Winfried Radl