Posted by The G on September 1, 2011 under G Reviews | 
Photos by G.
Lenny Kravitz
The only thing better than Lenny Kravitz releasing a new album this week – “Black and White America” – is Lenny Kravitz releasing a new album this week AND playing a free show at New York’s Terminal 5 on August 31, 2011 to celebrate. The show was part of the Samsung Summer Krush concert series and it rocked! Lenny Kravitz looks and sounds amazing. He does not look like he’s aged a day since his career began in the late 80s and his voice sounds as great as ever. I’ve seen Lenny in concert a lot and I don’t think you can really leave one of his shows disappointed. His fans are great as they really seem to take the words “Let Love Rule” to heart and everyone is cool so it makes the concert-going experience even better. I ran into Grammy-nominated art director, my “Ultimate Prince” partner in crime and the man responsible for directing the exclusive videos that are posted on Lenny’s official site, Mathieu Bitton, at the concert and it looks like a lot of great footage will be gained on Lenny Kravitz’ upcoming European tour.
Lenny
Lenny opened the show with my favorite track off “Black and White America,” the extremely funky “Come On Get It.” The hits kept on coming after that with “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” and “Mr. Cab Driver.” Before the end of the night, “American Woman,” “Fly Away” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way” were played and the audience lost their minds! No show would be complete without Lenny spreading the love during “Let Love Rule” as the audience participated in a chills inducing sing-a-long and Lenny Kravitz also walked into the crowd. That ruled!
Lenny Kravitz and Craig Ross
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Tags: 2011, August 31, Concert Series, Craig Ross, Gabriel McNair, Gail Ann Dorsey, Images, Lenny Kravitz, Live, New York, Photos, Review, Samsung, Set List, Summer Krush, Terminal 5
Posted by The G on August 18, 2011 under G Reviews |
Photo by G.
Lenny Kravitz
I am about to listen to Lenny Kravitz’ latest album “Black and White America” for the first time. As I listen to the record, I’ll give you my initial impressions. You should know I am a huge Lenny Kravitz fan. I’ve seen him in concert many times, and I love him. I’ve been extremely disappointed with his last few albums, so I am praying this is a return to form. Let’s see…
“Black and White America” - Starts off on a good note. There are horns and the lyrics are about the division between blacks and whites in this country. As a side note, I am just as offended when someone calls me “white” as my skin looks nothing like the color white! The lyrics talk about when his parents got married how they were afraid to walk the streets.
“Come and Get It” – Ooh! Funky beat. Playful lyrics and horns. I am gettin’ it!
“In The Black” – The lyrics are subdued and the song has a great lead line. It would not be out of place on a movie soundtrack from the 70s. He says “with you, I feel the perfect high.”
“Liquid Jesus” – Kind of reminds me of a 70s version of “Don’t Go And Put A Bullet In Your Head.” He sings “wash me over, wash me down. I wanna get saved baby. Liquid Jesus.”
“Rock Star City Life” – This is your run of the mill rock and roll Lenny Kravitz song. It’s not offensive, but not ground breaking either.
“Boongie Drop (Featuring Jay-Z and DJ Military)” – He’s talking about the woman he sees at the clubs. This sounds like an outtake from the “Baptism” album. DJ Military says “come make that Boongie Drop” during the chorus which cements the fact that this will not be a track I listen to.
“Stand” – No relation to the Sly Stone song of the same name. The lyrics are about getting up when you’ve been knocked down. The music has a hand-clap beat. This song reminds me of the last few Lenny albums – certainly enjoyable, but doesn’t break any new ground.
“Superlove” – Another track that sounds like it was recorded in the 70s. This is making me wonder if these are the tracks from the often talked about and never released “Funk” album. I like this track. He says “I wanna be inside your superlove.”
“Everything” – A rock song. Not horrible, but not breaking new ground either.
“I Can’t Be Without You” – A slower groove with whispered spoken vocals from Lenny.
“Looking Back On Love” – A slower song with a funky groove. This sounds like it was recorded in the 70s as well. I am almost waiting for the Barry White voice over (and then Lenny delivers it when he says the name of the song!)
“Life Ain’t Ever Been Better Than It Is Now” – He talks about “when you’ve got the Lord, you’ve got the wealth.” The track is funky, but throwaway.
“The Faith Of A Child” – A ballad that is like a marriage of “Stand by My Woman” and “What the Fuck Are We Saying.”
“Sunflower (Featuring Drake)” – Midtempo track. Not great, but not bad either.
“Dream” – A very slow song that is just Lenny on piano with a string section.
“Push” – Mid-tempo track that would not be out of place on Lenny’s last few records.
I’m obviously going to listen to this album a lot more and I expect my impressions to change a little bit. I think the first half of the album is much stronger than the second half. I am not totally disappointed on first listen as it seems that Lenny is slowly making a return to form. However, he’s not there just yet.
Let us know what you think.
Posted by The G on July 20, 2011 under GNN |
Photo by G.
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz is back! He’s got a new album called “Black and White America” coming out August 30, 2011. The day before, he’s playing a free show in New York. Details are a bit hazy at the moment, but what we do know at this point is Lenny will be rocking as part of The Samsung AT&T’s Summer Krush 2011 series. Tickets are not available at press time so book mark Samsung AT&T’s Summer Krush website for your chance to get tickets.
Posted by The G on May 26, 2011 under Celebrities |
Photo by G.
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz! I love him! The rockers turns 47 today and I wish him a happy birthday. Lenny Kravitz is responsible for one of my coolest concert moments ever, so here’s the story. When I lived in Los Angeles, I was seeing Lenny’s Circus Tour in 1995 at the Wiltern. I’d met him for the first time that afternoon and he signed a couple of CDs for me, which made me very happy. I had noticed from seeing reviews of the tour that my favorite song off “Circus,” “The Resurrection” was not played very often. I asked Lenny if there was a chance of hearing it at the show. He confirmed that the band didn’t play the song very much. When the show began, the very first song of the night was “The Resurrection.” I completely freaked out (in a good way, of course)! To this day, I have no idea if my comment was responsible for him playing that song, but I have never forgotten it. So thanks for a really great memory Lenny (as well as for so many great songs).
Also born today: Miles Davis, Stevie Nicks, Al Jolson and John Wayne.
Posted by The G on October 31, 2009 under G Reviews |
All photos by G.
Last night, at the first of two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York, my mind was blown with seeing some amazing artists performing some amazing duets. Tonight, my head exploded! Because there is so much to absorb, please settle for an abbreviated review and a few pictures.
Over the course of a much shorter show (4 hours instead of 6), history was made again. Tom Hanks introduced the show and first act Jerry Lee Lewis (who sang Great Balls of Fire). Aretha Franklin then took the stage and sang New York, New York plus Respect and then was joined on stage by Annie Lennox for Chain of Fools. Lenny Kravitz then joined for Think. Jeff Beck played some killer guitar next and was joined on stage by Sting and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. Beck finished off his set with an amazing instrumental version of A Day In The Life by The Beatles. Metallica went on next and they were joined by Lou Reed (for Sweet Jane and White Light/White Heat); Ozzy Ozbourne for Paranoid and Ray Davies of the Kinks for You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night. Before exiting, a killer rendition of Queen’s Stone Cold Crazy and Metallica’s own Enter Sandman was played. Finally, U2 took the stage and played Vertigo, Beautiful Day before being joined by the biggest surprises of the night – Bruce Springsteen (for I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For). Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen and U2 played Because The Night, but did several takes to get the lyrics right. The Black Eyed Peas joined next for a medley of Mysterious Ways and Where is The Love. The Peas exited the stage but Fergie stayed and started singing the opening bars to Gimmie Shelter, the Rolling Stones classic. All of a sudden, Mick Jagger emerged to sing the song! They also did U2′s Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of. It was a night of magic!
UPDATE: Here’s the set list:
Jerry Lee Lewis:
Great Balls of Fire
Aretha Franklin:
Baby, I Love You
Don’t Play That Song
Make Them Hear You
Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox:
Chain of Fools
Aretha Franklin:
New York, New York
Aretha Franklin and Lenny Kravitz:
Think
Aretha Franklin:
Respect
Jeff Beck:
Drown in My Own Tears
Jeff Beck and Sting:
People Get Ready
Jeff Beck:
Freeway Boogie
Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers
Buddy Guy with Jeff Beck:
Let Me Love You
Jeff Beck:
Big Block
Rice Pudding
Billy Gibbons and Jeff Beck:
Rough Boy
Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons:
Foxy Lady
Jeff Beck:
A Day in the Life
Metallica:
For Whom the Bell Tolls
One
Turn the Page
Metallica and Lou Reed:
Sweet Jane
White Light/ White Heat
Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne:
Iron Man
Paranoid
Metallica and Ray Davies:
You Really Got Me
All Day and All of the Night
Metallica:
Stone Cold Crazy
Enter Sandman
U2
Vertigo
Magnificent
U2, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith with Roy Bittan:
Because the Night
U2 and Bruce Springsteen with Roy Bittan:
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
U2 and Black Eyed Peas:
Mysterious Ways/Where Is the Love/One
U2, Mick Jagger, Fergie and Will.i.am:
Gimme Shelter
U2 and Mick Jagger:
Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
U2:
Beautiful Day
A severely edited version of the show will air on HBO in November, but for now, some pictures after the jump.
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Tags: 25th Anniversary, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Billy Gibbons, Black Eyed Peas, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Fergie, Jeff Beck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lenny Kravitz, Lou Reed, Madison Square Garden, Metallica, Mick Jagger, New York, October 30 2009, Ozzy Osbourne, Patty Smith, Pictures, Ray Davies, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Set List, The Kinks, Tom Hanks, U2, world exclusive photos, ZZ Top
