Lenny Kravitz, Black Crowes Impress In Tour Opener

Halfway through his set at Irvine Meadows 
Amphitheater on Friday (April 23) night's Lenny 
Kravitz/Black Crowes tour opener, Kravitz introduced 
his radio hit from 1995's Circus, "Rock and Roll Is 
Dead." 
 
"I said this five years ago and everyone got upset," 
said Kravitz. "But now Korn says it, and Marilyn 
Manson says it, so I guess it's OK." 
 
With the Korn/Rob Zombie tour coming to an abrupt end 
(see today's news), and Manson making an 
increasingly desperate spectacle of himself, both 
Kravitz and the Crowes were up to the task of giving 
rock new life by way of their old (and obvious) 
influences. 
 
While Kravitz sprung about the elaborate white stage 
set more like a hyperactive Muppet than the magnate 
of modern funk he aspires to be, his supporting cast 
laid down solid grooves from the outset. The vocals 
were distorted in the early going of the set-opening 
"Live," but the sound problems were resolved quickly 
and Kravitz was left to show off his versatile 
pipes. 
 
For those who caught last year's tour for 5, the set 
was disappointingly predictable -- right down to the 
extended encore jam of "Let Love Rule" which saw 
Kravitz head into the crowd (albeit with an 
entourage of security surrounding him) -- but the 
execution was flawless enough to satisfy. The hits 
past and present were given over-the-top treatment, 
but the best moments came from "Blues for Sister 
Someone" (which Kravitz said hadn't been played in 
eight years) and "Supersoulfighter," which was both 
heavier and funkier live than on album. 
 
In contrast to Kravitz' flamboyant stage show, the 
Black Crowes delivered a dozen or so songs with 
subdued proficiency. Singer Chris Robinson's 
oversized white microphone stand was clearly 
designed to make him the center of attention, but 
was hardly necessary as the spotlight seldom left 
him, merely highlighting the effortlessness with 
which the band was able to jam their way through 
their hypnotic Southern blues-rock. "Jealous Again," 
late in the set, was the lone exception, as the band 
favored an all-out rock attack. 
 
New songs from By Your Side, like "Go Faster" and 
"HorseHead," came earlier in the set, while a light 
rain -- which got the crowd dancing -- came later. 
"I suggest smoking your joints before it rains 
again," encouraged Robinson at the end of the Crowes 
set (which unfortunately did not include an encore), 
but the weather held out for the remainder of the 
night. 
 
Those who were lucky enough to beat the traffic -- 
Kravitz repeatedly referred to the crowd as "Los 
Angeles," but the venue, 40 miles south of the city, 
was easily a two-hour drive in Friday rush-hour 
traffic -- were able to catch openers Everlast and 
Cree Summer, who will be on the 24-date tour through 
its conclusion May 30 in Holmdel, N.J.