Live Review: Lenny Kravitz in Clarkston, Mich.
ByJul 23, 2002 10:00 PM
CLARKSTON, Mich.--Lenny Kravitz belied his proclamation that “Rock and roll is dead” with a full-throttle assault of guitars and Jagger-esque moves on Tuesday (7/23) at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
CLARKSTON, Mich.--Lenny Kravitz belied his proclamation that “Rock and roll is dead” with a full-throttle assault of guitars and Jagger-esque moves on Tuesday (7/23) at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
An explosion of guitars and confetti accompanied the set opener, “Bank Robber Man,” Kravitz’s ode to his mistaken arrest last year after he matched the description of a criminal in Miami. A white video screen--on which a variety of scenes ranging from psychedelic swirls to the fallen World Trade Center were flashed--covered with strips of lighting served as a backdrop for the two-and-a-half hour show.
The set list was heavy with songs from his latest album, 2001’s “Lenny,” for which Kravitz was apologetic to the capacity crowd of about 15,000.
“Thank you for listening to the new stuff,” he said shyly. “This is for my old-school fans,” Kravitz added before breaking into “Beyond the 7th Sky,” from 1995’s “Circus.”
Kravitz whipped the crowd into a frenzy during “Is There Any Love In Your Heart,” windmilling his arms as he attacked his Flying V guitar.
He let his guitar hang from his shoulder for the musically sultry “Pay for Play,” which was accompanied by video images of dollar bills, stock-market reports and names of fashion designers.
Kravitz was more at ease on this night than he’d been on previous performances. Long gone were the lengthy breaks between songs during which he puttered around near the drums with the lights down low. Instead, he took the time to shake hands with fans near the stage, and threw his fist in the air to pump up the crowd.
“Enjoy yourselves and if there’s anything we can do for you, just let us know,” Kravitz said at one point. Then he made good on his offer by talking on a cell phone to a woman who was too ill to attend his show.
“This is Lenny. What’s up?,” he said into the cell phone. “Why aren’t you here? I’m hurt. You’re not feeling so good? I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, baby. Can I play a song for you?”
Kravitz dedicated “Let Love Rule” to the ill fan.