Lenny Kravitz – Strut Tour

Three days later, same place, same time, completely different concert: Lenny Kravitz was in town to ROCK it!

On Lenny’s last tour, Raphael Saadiq was supporting act, which was awesome. This time it was Trombone Shorty, which was awesome again! He really convinced me even more live than he had already with his albums. The way he plays the trombone is unbelievable! If you don’t know him yet, check out “Something beautiful” or “Fire and Brimstone”.

Now, before the main show: In comes the press! You know, these typical guys with their cameras with object lenses of half a meter. And one of them turns to us and asks for how long we had been waiting already in that spot, as we were 1st row middle. And my friend replies, “Well, since we were let in about 1,5 hours ago.” And this guy gives us a shocked look saying, “That long?” We really had to giggle about that. I mean, this concert was basically as easy-peasy as it gets to come to the first row. We only started queuing at 5, there was nobody there at our entrance at that time. I don’t know what happened to queuing to get a good spot but it’s kinda out, I guess. I’m not saying it’s a pleasant thing, but somehow it is part of the experience. Every time I have to queue longer, maybe even in the cold, I start wondering why I do this, but it’s a good feeling to be able to say it was all worth it afterwards. I guess it’s the same as with everything else: If you work hard for something, you cherish it more. 😉

Anyway, a few minutes later, the photo-guys get their cameras up because the band comes on stage. Lenny steps to the microphone and says, “Let’s do this in the dark”. So for “The Chamber” the stage is completely in the dark and you can only listen to the music. No photo possibility for the press raring to go. They stand around and don’t really know what to do. Funny!

Now for “Dirty White Boots” finally the lights come on and the show really gets started. For the next two hours we get a rock show at its finest and Lenny seems to be so into the music, that songs like “Always on the run” last for quarter an hour with soli from different band members.

At one time Lenny comes to the front and answers our request by singing a few lines of “Another Day”. Unfortunately, he doesn’t continue because, he says, Michael (Jackson) had done a fantastic job on the song and he doesn’t want to mess it up. Too bad, but definitely a highlight for me!

Other highlights: Of course “Let love rule” with the whole arena singing and Lenny walking through the audience, shaking hands and urging people to sing louder. “Fly away”, which was the first of two encores, because it’s so much fun to sing along. “Strut” coz it’s one of my favorite songs from the new album. And “Are you gonna go my way”, the very last song, with the whole venue jumping up and down and screaming along.

And then he’s gone. And we are left with ringing ears and “Leeeeeeet loooooove ruuuuuule” playing in our minds over and over again!

Max Herre & Friends – Kahedi Radio Show Tour

This was definitely one of the hottest concerts I’ve ever been to. With temperatures outside of almost 40 degrees, the “Musik Arena” of the summer festival “Tollwood”, which is basically a tent, was heated up – and it didn’t get better with people pouring in and spotlights being turned on. The air was stuffy and no ventilation relieved the audience.

I sometimes felt a little sorry during the show because due to these conditions it got more and more exhausting to show the kind of passion and appreciation for the performers on stage that would have been appropriate, because they were nothing short of brilliant.

There was “Fetsum”, the supporting act, with some remarkable Soul songs. There was the “Kahedi Radio Orchestra” complete with a string sections, brass section, double bass, keyboards, background singers and more. There were special guests like Afrob, Megaloh and Samy Deluxe, who brought their special flow on stage. There was Joy Denalane, who never ceases to amaze me! She’s one of the top German artists, definitely one of the best voices and unfortunately highly underrated IMHO. And of course there was Max Herre himself – rapper, producer, singer-songwriter and husband of Joy Denalane.

Although I do like quite a few rappers like Jay-Z, Snoop, P.Diddy (or whatever he calls himself right now), 2Pac or Missy Elliott, I never really got into German HipHop. Most of it is “too chavvy” – although that’s probably not a very exact explanation of why I don’t like it. There are only very few artists I like to listen to, and Max is on top of the list because he provides thoughtful lyrics and innovative HipHop beats mixed with Soul elements.

And this mixture is also what makes the “Kahedi Radio Show” so appealing and what makes her able to also speak to an audience that may have nothing to do with HipHop music and still hit home. If you never listen to rap music, try listening to the following personal highlights of the show:

“1ste Liebe” (with Joy Denalane) – Song about Herre’s hometown Stuttgart but very cleverly worded so you first think it’s about a woman. One of my favorite songs to have a look at with my pupils at school.

“DuDuDu” – Max sings about relationships here, using German sayings to philosophize about love. There is a version using Lenny Kravitz’ “It ain’t over til it’s over” in the chorus on the album, which I even prefer to the live version.

“So wundervoll” – Definitely a “wonderful” song, so uplifting with the chorus based on Billy Preston’s “You are so beautiful”.

Oh yes, and not to forget: Another personal highlight of this evening was the coconut water after the show. Boy, liquids are awesome! 😉