Lenny Kravitz
Manchester Apollo 19th June
Raise The Vibration Tour
This gig actually came by surprise I was all set to nab a ticket for the 'Foo Fighters' at Etihad up the road, but when I heard 'Lenny' was playing the Apollo Theatre, My head was turned.
I first heard of 'Lenny Kravitz' when he co-written 'Justify My Love' with 'Ingrid Cassares' for 'Madonna' he also sings ad libs on the track,then he released his own album in '1992' with hit single 'It Aint Over Til Its Over' and followed it up with another album 'Circus' with his biggest hit to date 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' those vocals ever recognisible, he played guitar with 'Madonna' again in 1998 at the MTV Awards so to me he has always been an 'Untouchable Rock Icon'.
The doors open and everyone rushes in I grab a good spot and support act 'Curtis Harding' arrives in a Black studded leather jacket with his band, he is actually quite a funky soulful singer and the crowd take to him almost instantly ,he's got a great voice... I'm actually sure I've seen him on Jools Holland.
It's almost time for 'Lenny' to get on stage, and as the stage is cleared and the equipment is set , the stage set revealed the excitement in the room is peaking especially amongst the females in the audience well 'Lenny' is also a sex symbol of the 90's.
The lights go down and there is a high platform built between the drums and keyboards/percussion section of the stage, Purple lighting welcome's 'Lenny' atop the platform, he kicks things off with 'Fly Away' such a great track as he comes down to land onto the stage the audience screams, he's wearing a leather jacket, 70's bootcut style trousers and boots, he's working those mid length dreads again and sunglasses, and wows the crowd as he gives it 100% over on Bass Guitar a woman in a colourful Summer style smock dress, and over on guitar a man he refers to as as 'His Brother' .
Then its straight into the new material temporarily which fits in perfectly with those classics, and a long version of 'American Woman' (pinch me am I really here ??) the guitar solo is pure Epic 'Lenny', this changes to a Jamaican segue of "Get Up Stand Up" by 'Bob Marley' the lights turn Red Gold and Green, Be under no illusion current politics in 'America' is high on 'Lenny's' mind, new single 'Its Enough' highlights that, but the single is the theme of 2018 preaching 'Love Not Hate' another, surely another classic in the making.
It's too much for one fan as a pair of ladies knickers going flying across the stage,the setlist is very fair in terms of pleasing the crowd 'It Aint Over Til It's Over', 'Can't Get You Out Of My Mind', 'Believe' and 'I Belong To You' whip the crowd up into a frenzy as 'Lenny' says 'I Love you' and blows kisses, he threw a plectrum right at me which I rescued and hid in my top before anyone could snatch it from my grasp.
The crowd were very polite there was no shoving or squashing even when he got closer to us on the stage, it's an intimate venue compared to the arenas he's playing both here and in Europe.
He wipes his face on a towel and throws it into the front row to my left and a woman screeches with joy and clutches it like its his underwear or something ,he then slows the mood with 'Again' from the '5' album,I love it, as it is such an emotional choice I didn't think he'd play it.
He goes off stage as his name is chanted 'Lenny,Lenny,Lenny' and returns to sing 'I'll Be Waiting' and 'What The Fxxk Are We Saying', then Big singalong song 'Let Love Rule' it's a very long rock version with repeated Chorus.
And then it happens.... 'Lenny' is down by the barrier singing and greeting us all calmly but in Rock Star fashion, I clutch his hand as he passes by, I'm awestruck !! not only does he go to the front he ascends to the back to reappear on top of the balcony....Hell I just met the New King of Rock we've not got Bowie, Prince,George Michael,Michael Jackson but "Man ...we have 'Lenny Kravitz !!!'.
He speaks "I don't know why its taken so long or what I've been doing ,but we gonna make this a regular thing" (Yes Please), Off he goes again and then one last song to play, he walks on with a Jackson Flying V guitar.. you know what it is right ??... "Are You Gonna Go My Way", he make's us all jump up and down throughout the whole song, it's fantastic, one of the Best Male Solo performers I've ever seen since 'Prince' in 2014,I knew he'd put on a great show, but he blew it out of the water in Manchester tonight.
Well I certainly can't wait for the new album to come out he's still a great songwriter and a phenominal performer.
Onto other issues sadly my train was long gone , but I had a great time when I offered some 'Foo's fans a lift in my cab they were all 'Musers' too basically anyone getting back from Etihad will have missed the train too bloody early due to more strike action , well I think I made the right decision in seeing 'Lenny' over the 'Foo's it was difficult to decide I had to put it to the vote ......Thanks Those who suggested 'Lenny'.
Catch him next time in 'London'
Sept 9th in BBC2 Festival Hyde Park you won't regret it.
LMi xo
Next Time ....We Get Crazy, Heavy yes its a Rock Festival...
NeighbourHood Festival
Victoria Park Warrington
Sunday 27th May 2018
Its another glorious summer day as the gates open on 2nd day of 'Warrington's First Ever Huge Indie Festival, only yesterday the crowd were dancing to Miles Kane, and Losing it to 'The Courteeners' I don't expect the mood to calm down for the next BIG headliner.
But as the gates are open the first thing people do is head straight to queue in the bar and grab a snack from the food vans, I on the other hand wandered straight to the main stage , there are 3 stages to choose from Main Stage, Viola Beach Stage and The Tent Stage right at the back of the park as I arrived I heard 'The Editors' soundchecking I've no chance of nipping over late on and catching their set or 'Beth Ditto' either gutted as its why I intended to be here but can miss 'The Man' tonight.
So I'm here at the main stage for todays line up,and kicking things off warming up is 'Manchester Camerata Orchestra', an act with an orchestra,3 piece female backing singers and 2 male main singers ,a band, and 2 Northern Soul dancers yes the stage has effectively become 'Wigan Casino' (For those not aware what that was ,it was basically A Huge Venue where people danced to these records in late 60's-early 70's in unique way and held competitions for best dancers ).
A small crowd has been gathering behind me as they begin to entertain with some well known 'Hits' 'My Girl', 'Reach Out I'll Be There' , 'Theres A Ghost In My House' (Nice tribute to Mark E Smith there even though he wasn't mentioned it reminded me of him).
Also on the stage 3 Female backing singers performing 'You Keep Me Hanging On' by 'The Supremes' there's a few people dancing the moves like a mini flashmob, people want to get involved.
This of course is the most relaxing it'll be all day next up 'Rock Band' 'Black Honey' my new fav rock band from last year,The guitarist appears on stage in that 'Royal Blood' custom made shirt that 'Mike' of the band wears on the tour last year clearly the influence has rubbed off on them ,today they are playing some new tracks from their album which is out in November, singer herself looking 'Rock N Roll' in the sunshine in a 'Suzi Quattro' style creation Silver Leather Jacket & Short Matching Skirt,there's quite a crowd now about 3 deep where it seemed to be quiet the guitars attracted more younger fans over.
Up next 'Tom Grennon' he's a confident tall cockney in Vest and Tinted Sunglasses, I hadn't known who he was til he mentioned 'Chase & Status' and uttering ''We'll Play that one later", he swears a bit, he could be forgiven though as the guy has an awesome voice and it turns out I've heard his single somewhere that I can sing along to the words, he has a new album to promote.
Suddenly the mood changes more people turn up behind chanting in low tones DMAs DMAs Yes that's the name of the next band as they introduce themselves "We Are DMA's and we're from Sydney' they are a band much touted by 'Liam Gallagher' , they walk on looking casual their lead singer in simple White Sweater top and cap and acting cool with same kind of arrogance he looks like any lad from 'Warrington' who'd lend you a cig or buy your kid a Energy Drink....so this is going to go OFF!!
As The Crowd go nuts for these ordinary looking lads (except they are not actually lads they're blokes at least in their mid to late 20s) the crowd obviously feel they can relate to them in the style they represent, they know all the words and off go the coloured flares which should of been banned they stink and are a nuisance not to mention Illegal, its really gone up a notch as security in front are having to dodge plastic bottles hurteling towards the stage many hitting me on the head , lager fly's everywhere "Welcome To Warrington"!!
Even security are stunned how soon the mood has changed, so I was glad when they finished, The Press were doing my head in encouraging kids to climb on shoulders for the unique photo opportunity, any of me will be vexed Pissed Up fingers up pose on the barrier as I was sick of it.
It was squashy already and was only 3pm .
Next up 'The Sherlocks' a band from Sheffield that I seen in Liverpool at 'Sound City' last year, the crowd appear to of calmed a bit, and after them 'The Coral' the mood flagged during their set it rained, even during 'Pass it On' the crowd weren't getting into it though 'In The Morning' received a warm response.
I guess this was because 'Warrington' is waiting for 'The Blossoms' fast rising stars and a young band from 'Stockport', lead singer 'Tom' in White Flares and super sporty fashion T-shirt , hes opted for an image change cropped his long hair in trendy style of wholesome 'Indie Boy' ,even their lighting has moved up a gear with proper strobing and a stage set worthy of an Arena tour.
Ironically last year the band supported 'Liam Gallagher' in Leeds and now they're doing the same for his Big Bro, and despite the music being melodic and easy to get into.
Still the mood goes ballistic in a total frenzy Flares going off all over the place, I can barely move lager is truly flying everywhere, everyone is singing all the words, I think today they had an even bigger fanbase than at 'Leeds'. As they finish with crowd pleaser 'Chardonay' .
Suddenly there is no room to twitch, the people who spent much of the time in the bar are here, as gear is getting loaded onto the stage and the amps with the flag of 'Man City FC' as this happens the DJ plays 'Manchester Classics'.
Just the right mood for the headline act tonight 'Noel Gallagher' arrives on stage his band 'High Flying Birds', he's the man in black as he walks on to the roar of the crowd in black Leather Jacket and jeans, beginning with Album Track 'Fort Knox'.
His new Upbeat Rock N Roll striking a chord with this audience, looking over to the left its that famous woman with the scissors that caused a sensation on 'Jools Holland' last year, she plays keyboards too but everyone notices her playing them on that song lol.
Tonight we are treated to an acoustic performance of 'Importance Of Being Idle' and 'Wonderwall', even 'Half The World Away', it's such an iconic feeling having 'Noel' here playing to us the songs we played on the jukebox in the pub and sang every word to in the indie bars, it's euphoric as well as laddish there are some lovely moments and when one geezer shouts 'Liam' , 'Noel' says "Oi None of that right chant Noel ,that's right" Classic !!!.
It was even more fitting that we got 'Don't Look Back In Anger' and to end with it was even more special with 'The Beatle's classic 'All You Need Is Love' as the closing song to his set.
Many People I'd chatted to throughout the day didn't make it through to the whole set falling back from the barrier after the crush, but I was determined to last to the end, I even got one of 'Noel's plectrums at the end and my honoury 'Setlist' .
Well it was as expected a lively bunch ,afterward being no exception with many fans worse for wear I must've been the only sober person there.
One fan had the insane idea of hanging on to the back of a bus as it left much to the police's horror such was the struggle to get back home due to cancelled train chaos on the Railways up north as commuters feel the squeeze on services to and from events.
No such worry for me my transport back is more reliable.
The only problem I had was a dead leg and was battered and bruised soaking wet with lager but I'm satisfied, Good night out in 'Warrington'.
LMi xo
