Music / Nightlife

(Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

The improbable pairing of two baby-boomer icons — Paul Simon and Sting — enthralled a capacity crowd at KeyArena Wednesday in what Simon affectionately called “our little experiment.”

Blending their respective bands and repertoires into a powerful evening of rock ’n’ roll infused with world rhythms, Simon and Sting took turns performing separate sets as well as stirring duets of each other’s most beloved songs. (See additional photos.)

(Kevin Mazur / Wire Image)

So what’s this newfound Paul Simon/Sting bromance all about? The former Policeman certainly doesn’t look like an Art Garfunkel surrogate.

Well, consider this. Simon may have a decade on Sting in years, but they share a talent for writing incisive lyrics, incorporating world rhythms into their music — Simon, South African and Latin; Sting, Jamaican and jazz — and singing with emotional precision in the upper reaches of their voices.