Unexpected power and secret seduction

spike
Aware Super Theatre, ICC, February 15
★★★★

There was a time when it wasn’t hard for a budding young rock snob not to like Sting.

With his solo debut in 1985, he’d transformed seemingly overnight from one of the world’s most enigmatic frontmen (despite being only the third coolest member of his band, the mercurial rock trio The Police) to a smug, tree-hugging purveyor of relatively soft Rock.

That time, it quickly turns out that night, is long gone.

Sting has dubbed this tour simply but revealingly “My Songs,” and in one of the most impressive opening maneuvers you’re likely to see, he and his band steam into a hiss message in a bottlefollow it with the jazzy walk of An Englishman in New Yorkthen add a cherry with the calypso pop rush Every little thing she does is magical.

There are two Police songs, as you might notice, but so are Sting’s charm, showmanship and consistent, almost deceptive brilliance with a melody he doesn’t play another from this past life for maybe 45 minutes and you don’t even notice.

Granted, pretty much every song played has that slick sheen that might have put you off the often overproduced recorded versions, but the happy ones come to life on stage with unexpected vigor and more often than not the downcast secretly seduce.

You may hear forgotten songs like desert rose and wonder how and when they crept their way into your consciousness. Or you smile at the great time signature of Seven days. Even if you notice it Heavy cloud no rainwith his light blues, Gary Clark jr. won’t give you sleepless nights, accompanied by a powerful cameo by a backing singer to end it on a high note.