Live Music: Sting and Paul Simon On Stage Together Tour
On Saturday, February 8, Sting and Paul Simon kicked off their two month On Stage Together Tour at Houston’s Toyota Center. With no opening act, the duo appeared on stage at 8:15 to a much anticipated sold out venue and performed a whopping 34 songs. They stood side by side for at least 10 of their songs and seamlessly alternated performing solo on stage, accompanied with 14 musicians. Their musical styles melded beautifully as Sting and Simon traded off on lead vocals and worked themselves through a mix of crowd favorites. In contrast, their outward looks couldn’t have been more different. Sting‘s strong tall frame and clingy navy shirt was a start contrast to Simon‘s short frame and unbuttoned, relaxed attire. Unfortunately, our photo ops were only permitted prior to Sting relieving himself of his jacket.
Neither Sting nor Simon’s own private sets outshone the other and each offered a different spin or version of the other’s song. It was truly unique in the sense that what each added to the other’s song only made it that much better from the original. Opening night was a great success and will likely keep getting better and improving as the tour continues.
The Encore was amazing and brought the two veteran headliners together to perform Sting’s ‘Every Breath you Take,’ Simon’s ‘Late in the Evening,’ and an incredible rendition of Bridge of Troubled Water.
Their memorable concert ended with Sting kissing Simon on the forehead… amazing!
Set List:
Brand New Day (with Paul Simon)
Boy in the Bubble (with Paul Simon)
Fields of Gold (with Paul Simon)
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police song)
Englishman in New York
I Hung My Head
Driven to Tears (The Police song) (with Peter Tickell)
Love Is the Seventh Wave (with Paul Simon)
Mother and Child Reunion (with Paul Simon)
Crazy Love Vol. II (Paul Simon)
Dazzling Blue (Paul Simon)
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (Paul Simon)
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (Paul Simon)
That Was Your Mother (Paul Simon)
Fragile (with Paul Simon)
America
Message in a Bottle (The Police song)
The Hounds of Winter
They Dance Alone
Roxanne (The Police song)
Desert Rose
The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (with Paul Simon)
The Obvious Child (Paul Simon)
Hearts and Bones (Paul Simon)
Mystery Train (Paul Simon)
Wheels (Paul Simon)
Kodachrome (Paul Simon)
Gone at Last (Paul Simon)
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (Paul Simon)
You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon)
Encore:
Every Breath You Take (The Police song) (with Paul Simon)
Late in the Evening (with Paul Simon)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (with Paul Simon)
Encore 2:
When Will I Be Loved (with Paul Simon)