Last night I saw Lenny Kravitz at Wembley Arena (9000 people, not a sell out). I won't write a full review but wanted to share a few things.

I think Lenny is cool and the gig was full of energy. However, he really does seem to be following in Prince's footsteps. Early in the gig their was a 20minute jam session where Lenny played guitar, bass and then drums while spotlighting each member of his band (felt very Prince as it segued from funk to rock to jazz flavours). Past Lenny gigs have very much focused on complete songs not jam sessions.

Lenny also talked about god (ok maybe he always has) and loving one another.

He played American Woman and Fly Away together like in Prince's Rave Un2 The Year 2000 video (would have been so cool if P had turned up - unlikely as he's in US).

Then there is Lenny's new "relaxed" hair look (man in some pics in the programme he even looks like P).

Still it was a fantastic gig that culminated in an almost 20 min version of Let Love Rule that saw Lenny head off into the crowd to shake hands and "feel the love" of his fans (he made his way around almost the whole ground floor of the arena) - man you should have seent he security guys freaking out!

i didn't see him this year but last time around for the Lenny tour i saw him at wembley and thought he was pretty good.

what did bore me was his excursions around the arena though, which seemed to go on for ever - appearing at different doors blah blah.

is that the sort of thing that happened with let love rule? just curious.

TheFrog said:

The floor at the Arena was standing only (no seats). LK got off the stage and initially stood at the front on the crash barrier grabbing hands etc. He then began moving around the sides of the arena floor (comically followed by nervous security men) handshaking as he went. The people on the arena floor flowed with his movement, again quite comical. He climbed up stairs to the front row seats on both sides of the arena and at the back (which was raised seating)

This gives me a little hope for Lenny, although I've seen him 8 times and every show had a 20 minute Let Love rule jam.

Did he play much of the new stuff?

My memory is getting quite hazy (it's my age) but if I remember right he only played two songs from the new album. One was def California (very cool orange lighting) - will have to dig out the CD to remember the other one.

Was quite surprised he didn't do a few more!

I saw him live in concert about a week or 2 ago and it was a good concert, but nothing extaordinary. As my expectations weren't that high I was pleasantly surprised. The setlist was more the one of a greatest hits tour than the one of a tour called "Baptism" tour, but as I never had him seen live in concert before it was alright for me

jaypotton said:

[b]I was there also, it was great the jam led on from him singing a classic FEAR. I really enjoyed it, good live band and when he did that guitar solo on top of the glowing piano I thought, yep he is a true student of P. However he is very very very very good live

excellent in fact and is one of the best performers I have ever seen.

Yoda

Slave2daGroove said:

In Amsterdam he only played " where are we running" and " California" as the new songs.. rest was all golden oldies!! Strange for a Baptism tour, but true.

I liked the show thought... But indeed this Let Love rule extended version I've heard it by now.....

this is the track list for i think every show so far

1. Where are we runnin'
2. Always on the run
3. It ain't over 'til it's over
4. Again
5. California
6. Fields of Joy
7. Fly away
8. Fear
9. Dig in
10. American Woman
11. Are you gonna go my way
12. I belong to you
13. Let love rule


i went to the london gig, was right at the front standing, i thought the show was brilliant and lenny is a great performer, his band is excellent

I saw Lenny in Köln Tonite for the 1st time.....it was Great .....and i got to shake his hand( due to my Prince Musicology T-shirt caught his eye) ...Great Saturday Night!
[This message was edited Sat Jul 10 16:05:09 2004 by CNNBREAKINGNEWS]

I hope he releases a good studio album soon... Glad the show was good He needs to quit trying to channel Prince immediately

CalhounSq said:

Hopefully, he'll revive the "Funk" album tracks.

How was his new drummer Zoro?

eldog98 said:

the new drummer was pretty good and also lenny kicked some ass on the drums himself

I was in Cologne, too, and it was sooo beautiful!! Lenny is one of the very best artists in the world!! Hey, that's pretty cool!

POOK said:

Ssooo! POOK went also there! I hope you enjoyed the party sweetheart! How's your flyin' POO doing love?