Halfway into last night’s show at the Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco Lenny Kravitz addressed the crowd to show his gratitude for performing in a city known for inspiring change and rising up to oppression. “Revolution is on our doorsteps ya’ll,” said the 90s cultural icon.
Obviously triggered by some of today’s current events, it’s a message that seemed to resonate with the mostly middle-aged crowd that had come out in droves to support the dreadlock-sporting singer. An artist that’s been at the forefront of popular music for close to 30 years.
And the years have been kind to Kravitz. The man with the perfect cheekbones and chiseled abs strutted across the stage with bold designer sunglasses, leather pants, and a 70s-inspired poncho, all the while being personable to his audience and taking the time to show his appreciation for their years of devotion.
The setlist for the evening consisted of a mix of classic hits including “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over,” “Believe” and “Fly Away.” As well as the two singles off of his latest album “Low” and “It’s Enough.” Both strong offerings off of an album that the singer admitted was a challenge to gain the inspiration to make.
LIVE: Lenny Kravitz performs “Baby it ain’t Over Till it’s Over” in San Francisco.#lennykravitz #funk #90s #americanwoman #80s #mtv #sfmusicscene pic.twitter.com/EWv1sBdJY2
— ⚡️⚡️ MUSICinSF ⚡️⚡️ (@sfmusicscene) October 5, 2018
Other highlights of the night included Kravitz climbing up to the balcony seats for a sing-along with a few lucky fans as well as a reggae-infused rendition of “American Woman.” The cover of the Guess Who song gave his horn section the perfect opportunity to showcase its chops. What began as a trumpet solo slowly grew into an intricate extended jam. It’s something you don’t hear enough of these days and was just one of many impressive displays of musicianship from his all-star lineup. My question is: Where was Cindy Blackman in all of this?
Photos by Louis Raphael
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