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Words by: Bobby "TP" Coleman | Images by: Rod Snyder
Lenny Kravitz :: 01.29.08 :: Electric Factory :: Philadelphia, PA
We're listening to "Fields of Joy" from Lenny Kravitz's 1991 classic Mama Said. It's Tuesday night and we're driving to Philadelphia in the rain. With Kravitz's voice floating over pounding rhythms and rubbing-up against grinding guitars, we drive into a retro-rock kaleidoscope as he sings, "Just you and I/ Our trouble slowly fades away."
A purple bus is parked outside the Electric Factory with Kravitz's unmistakable portrait on the side. He's wearing his obligatory sunglasses and the words "Love Revolution" are emblazoned on the back. On a nine city tour that started in mid-January, this bus is cruising towards its final stop in New York. Contest winners in each city along the way hop on the "Get On The Bus Tour," which allows them to ride on the bus to the last show.
Crowds of people are waiting in line to go through security so they can catch a glimpse of the rock star. Once inside, a catwalk housing the spotlights over the main floor is elevated. A sold out crowd crushes toward the stage as the house lights dim. The love is growing. The Revolution has begun! The stage is dark. Suddenly bright yellow lights silhouette the band members as they walk to their respective spots onstage. A cheer erupts as Kravitz arrives.
He glides across the stage like a proud peacock. Get ready, rock steady! The bass guitar pulses through massive speakers. Our hearts pound. Opener, "Bring It On" features a wicked sax solo. As they go into "Dig In!" Kravitz and his band do just that with a quick tempo change and sharp guitar work. Franklin Vanderbilt lays down a funky beat that syncs up with the two-piece horn section that powers the colorful chorus of "What the fuck are we saying?"
 Lenny Kravitz :: 01.28 :: Philly |
The 44-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer teaches the crowd the chorus to the title track from his new CD, Love Revolution, so they can sing along. It goes, "It's time for a love revolution/ It's time for a new constitution!" He says, "We are the last generation that can make a meaningful change in the world!"
Somebody yells, "It's his birthday." With that, Kravitz invites a child to join him onstage. As they talk, he asks the boy named Anthony, "What do we need to do to solve the problems of the world?" Anthony replies, "Respect yourself and others." Kravitz is taken aback by the boy's simple answer. Anthony is 12-years-old. Kravitz tells us, "Look inside yourself and decide to change the planet."
He picks up his signature Flying V guitar and soars as the band bangs out a raucous version of The Guess Who's "American Woman." The guitar licks that come crashing down are repeatedly picked up again when we "Fly Away" with distortion and wah-wah reminiscent of Hendrix. We all sing together with the echoing effect of the amps, in the colored tones of stage lights and smoke effects. We find ourselves gently placed in the set closer "Let Love Rule."
With a church organ groove, rich cymbals crashing and the horns wailing, Kravitz walks through the Philly crowd, trailed by security, so he can greet the fans personally. He is lifted up by fans as the balcony screams. The bass rattles the old building's window frames, and the show concludes with infectious rocker "Are You Gonna Go My Way?"
Join the revolution, make some noise!
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