During The Last Bandoleros’ showcase at NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall, hosted by Warner Music Nashville, the band (already spoken of in reverent terms by some of our editors) was joined by a bona fide icon: Sting, who jumped onstage for two songs, the Bandos’ own “Where Do You Go” (impacting Country radio on 6/13) and The Police rocker “Next to You.” The versatile band, you may recall, backed Sting up for his NBA All-Star Game halftime set.

Seen just after being rendered speechless by an impromptu John Esposito accordion solo are (l-r) the band’s Jerry and Emilio, Sting, WMN’s Scott Hendricks and Karoline Ihns, Cherrytree Music Company capo Martin Kierszenbaum and the band’s Derek and Diego.