Location: Ljubljana / Dvorana Stožice / Slovenia
Date: Saturday, 27.04.2019
As Slovenia’s biggest arena, Dvorana Stožice is usually reserved for the biggest names on the world music scene. Lenny Kravitz, who last played in Slovenia way back in 2004 (a show announced for 2009 was cancelled due to illness), is back on a world tour this time; in fact, the Ljubljana gig was the first on European soil, after he wrapped up the South American leg three weeks ago. And a first show usually means a well-rested band and plenty of energy for an unforgettable night.
The big stage in Stožice looked pretty minimalist. On the left, a slightly raised small riser for the drums, on the right the same for the keyboards, and a few guitar amps in the middle. Behind both, two huge arches rose into the sky, leaning toward each other, and they were really the only decoration on the band’s otherwise fully functional work areas. And then, of course, there was the raised platform at the back, meant just for Lenny on a few songs. The light production, which usually makes shows like this spectacular, was in its own way simple; no video walls and similar junk. Behind the stage stood huge metal louvers, with different banks of spotlights behind them. The combination of different spotlights, louvers opened to different degrees and overhead spot lights did more than enough to build a light backdrop for Lenny’s hits.
Kravitz kicked off the Ljubljana show on a darkened stage with the mellow Here to Love, wrapped up at the end by a small mixed choir. With the next one, We Can Get It All Together, he brought in livelier rhythms, and after a good half of the song he finally moved to the front and the better-lit part of the stage. The show caught fire, both on stage and below it, pretty quickly, as even the few more stubborn people in the crowd were set moving by the rhythms of the covers American Woman and Get Up, Stand Up. Sure, the talented musician, who won a Grammy four times in a row, was presenting his current album Raise Vibration, released last year, but the newer songs merely complemented a huge pile of worldwide hits from his previous ten studio albums. You can’t fault Lenny’s professionalism – very little talking on stage, so all the more music, and played at a top-notch level. Of course, Lenny wouldn’t be Lenny if he hadn’t gathered first-rate musicians around him – besides the classic rock lineup of guitar, bass and drums plus a keyboardist, two saxophonists and a trumpeter added their bit to the show. At big concerts the audience plays an important part too, like a band member. They did their job with flying colors, especially on the hits. Unfortunately, a few individuals also proved to be boors, whistling excessively during the romantic piano passages and pretty much killing the mood. The sound was once again shaped by the rather poor acoustics, as I had to move a good few dozen meters from my seat to find a corner where the sound was passable. And if the crowd on the floor was swaying along, the balconies above the stands turned into proper dance floors. Toward the end of the main set, Lenny seriously cranked up the tempo with hits like Mr. Cab Driver (another cover), Bank Robber Man (excellent light show) and the classics Fly Away and Are You Gonna Go My Way?. The show wrapped up after a full two hours with the slightly calmer Stillness of my Heart and Again.
With a top-class concert, Lenny more than made up for his fifteen-year absence from Slovenian stages. The question is how long it’ll be until the next one? Either way, Slovenes will follow his path one way or another.
author: Sebastijan Videc
photos: Sebastijan Videc
Setlist:
1. Here To Love
2. We Can Get It All Together
3. Fields Of Joy
4. American Woman
5. Get Up, Stand Up
6. Who Really Are The Monsters?
7. Bring It On
8. Dig In
9. Freedom Train
10. Let Love Rule
11. It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
12. Stand By My Woman
13. Can’t Get You Of My Mind
14. Low
15. Ride
16. Mr. Cab Driver
17. Bank Robber Man
18. Fly Away
19. Are You Gonna Go My Way?
—encore—
20. Stillness of Heart
21. Again
