There’s New York City. And then there’s Lenny Kravitz.

Both of these are high-rise, high-wire, high-octane acts that are hard to follow. And I was lucky enough to do both in one weekend!

I’m still out of breath, trying to sort through it all.

I’ll get to Lenny first.

I knew he was good. I like his songs. I heard he was a character. And I was happy to be going to see him.

But, um, nobody told me he was going to be a musical storm that would whip up the Metro Centre and turn it on its head.  I don’t know why but I just wasn’t expecting that! Nobody told me.

This guy busted out on stage with his V-guitar and from the first lick, he had the whole arena in the palm of his multi-talented hand with his Love Revolution. He was everywhere at once, striding up and down the stage, darting in and out of the amazing light show.

There were flashes of Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson, believe it or not.

The guy doesn’t know the meaning the word “niche.” He was doing rock, RnB, soul, ballads, jazz-infusions and retro. He plays guitar like a wild-man. He sings. He croons. He writes. He plays piano and drums.

And he was doing this stuff like he was born to do it. Effortlessly. Sylishly. Blow-your-roof-off-ishly.

His playlist included smoking versions of American Woman, Dig In and Always on the Run. He mellowed slightly with It Ain’t Over Till it’s Over and slightly more with Fields of Joy. The horn section filled out the sound (as if it needed filling out!) and there were moments when those musicians made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Then Lenny told the audience he was from New York City and confessed that while he loves his hometown, he thinks his country needs a change.

“What kind of change?” he asked.

And the audience screamed back: “O-baaaa-Maaaa”

And then he did something I’ve never seen in a large-venue rock concert. He plunged into the audience and did a victory lap around the entire arena, through the people, shaking hands and reaching out to give hugs. Everyone was on their feet smiling and clapping, clamouring to get a piece of that Lenny vibe. It was an extraordinary and inspiring moment.He was taking as much from the audience as they were taking from him.

The closest I’ve ever seen to a rock star making this kind of connection with an audience was U2’s Bono. And I’m not sure that Lenny didn’t exceed that.

I first went into that concert tired from my weekend in New York City but when I left, I was energized and inspired, buzzing with the whole experience. You’d have to be corpse not to be.

I never thought I’d hear myself say this but the time has come: Move over Bono. Lenny Kravitz is my new main man of rock n roll.

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New York moments: Part 1 »


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