Sting at Walnut Creek...

I am so happy to have seen Sting twice in ten months. The first was at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte on 9 November last year - what an experience! When Sting opened with 'A Thousand Years', we were all swept into a fantasy come true! It was a small auditorium, so we felt very intimate, as if Sting could be singing directly at you! We were all so quiet, staying in our seats, hardly breathing, holding onto his every note, every word. The background lights and set were absolutely breathtaking and we soaked up each number he did, including four songs in three encores.

We gave a quick scream and applauded each song and then grew quiet again, immediately, so not to miss a single syllable from his mouth. It all ended too soon! I loved it when Sting put his hands to his heart to us as he left the stage.

When I saw the summer tour dates, I couldn't believe Sting was coming back. So I got my tickets the first day of sale for his show at Alltel Pavilion in Raleigh, North Carolina. We were much closer to him this time - eleventh row from the stage! It was unbelievable! This was so much fun, everyone was on their feet, singing, dancing, screaming and clapping hands for the entire two hours. This was an outdoor amphitheatre with beautiful weather, the moon and stars shining, and Sting! He opened with 'A Thousand Years' and we were completely under his spell. He treated us to a rockin' show including:

'If You Love Somebody Set Them Free', 'After The Rain Has Fallen', 'We'll Be Together', 'Fill Her Up', 'All This Time', 'Englishman In New York', 'Seven Days', 'Perfect Love Gone Wrong', 'Brand New Day', 'Roxanne', 'Desert Rose', 'Fields Of Gold', 'Moon Over Bourbon Street', 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', 'Bring On The Night', 'When The World Is Running Down', and two encores of 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You', 'Every Breath You Take', 'Message In A Bottle' and 'Fragile'.

Everyone was singing every song with Sting, and the energy flowed! Sting must have felt how much we loved him. It was tremendously exciting when he came over to our side of the stage to acknowledge us. Of course, Dominic was wonderful, Chris Botti was kickin', Manu extraordinary and Jason unbelievable. Kipper and the vocalists also were something else. What an excellent show!

When Sting finished we were speechless and euphoric. My friends husband had gone with us ''girls'' for a ''night out'', but he was overwhelmed by Sting's talent and rapport with the audience. He announced, ''Well, now I'm a Sting convert! Let's go buy the CD!''

Thanks for coming to Charlotte and Raleigh, Sting. Every little thing You do truly is magic!!

(c) Leah Allen for Sting.com