Indianapolis
Photos and Review by Laura Fox (LLFoxphotos)
The word, “legendary” gets thrown around way too much in the music business, so I try to use it only when it truly applies. When you’re talking about Billy Joel and Sting, the label absolutely applies. These two performers have dozens of huge hits, careers spanning multiple decades, legions of fans, and are household names. Do either of them still need to tour? Probably not. Are we glad they do? Hell, yes!
I was thrilled to be able to cover their sold-out show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. I had never seen Sting or Billy Joel perform live before, but plenty of my friends and colleagues had; some of them multiple times. They all said it would be a great concert, and they were all correct!
The show started with Billy Joel introducing Sting, then singing along with him on The Police’s 1981 hit, “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.” The tune was just right for the opening song; instantly recognizable, upbeat but not too fast, and very sing-along-able. I expected Billy Joel and Sting to interact more with each other than they did, but I think maybe they were focusing more on engaging the audience.
Joel left the stage to thunderous applause, leaving Sting to finish the rest of his 14-song set. Accompanied by a guitarist and drummer, Sting’s vocals were strong and clear. He didn’t talk much between songs, but his energy was positive, and he looked and sounded great. (My hubby and I both especially liked the retro vibe from his red and black striped t-shirt.)
I was curious about whether The Police songs would sound the way I remembered them from the albums. They were satisfactorily similar but not exactly the same, which I appreciated. My favorite song from Sting’s set was “Desert Rose,” from his Brand New Day solo album. I don’t know if it was the way it was mixed, the acoustics in Lucas Oil Stadium, or the way it was performed, but I gained a new appreciation for the hauntingly beautiful song. Sting wrapped up his hit-heavy set with The Police’s breakout hit, “Roxanne,” much to the delight of the packed arena.
When Billy Joel re-took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers. Joel started his set with “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” from the 1977 album, The Stranger. From there he took the audience on a musical journey that included some of the world’s best-known, well-loved pop songs of the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Accompanied by several world-class musicians, Joel sang and played his way skillfully, and seemingly effortlessly, through a 21-song set.
Fan favorites such as “Allentown,” The River of Dreams,” “Pressure” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and “Piano Man,” had the crowd (myself included) singing along and swaying to the beat. Joel magically created an atmosphere of excitement, happiness, and a touch of nostalgia in Lucas Oil Stadium. He interspersed the songs with humor and little bits of trivia, keeping the crowd, underscoring his role as storyteller.
Wen it came to the encore, Joel stepped up the tempo with “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Uptown Girl,” It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” and “Big Shot.” He ended with my all-time favorite Billy Joel song, “You May Be Right.”
Although I loved hearing and seeing all my favorite Billy Joel tunes performed live, one of the night’s highlights for me was “Big Man on Mulberry Street,” a less popular, jazzy tune from 1986. Sting rejoined Joel on stage for this song, which turned into a first-class jam session. It may sound schmaltzy, but I felt privileged to be there as this incredible music was created by such talented people.
The Indianapolis gig was the first stop of Billy Joel’s extensive 2025 arena tour, which includes a rotation of iconic co-headliners Sting, Stevie Nicks, and Rod Stewart. For tickets, click here:
Sting is also embarking on an extensive tour; details can be found here:
What an honor to have been able to shoot these guys. And you did your usual, terrific job!