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Lenny Kravitz, photo © 1999 NY Rock
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The small group of photo-journalists assembled at Madison Square Garden on September 8th, looking sort of like welfare recipients outside the State office. After waiting a half-hour, we pack of Photo Dogs were herded upstairs at 8 p.m. to take our allotted photos of opening band Buckcherry. The first three songs only and all that, no flash, no videos, no exceptions. You know, keep your peckers in your pants or we'll rap your knuckles to the bone. Fortunately, frontman Joshua Todd and band were in rare form. Playing the behemoth stadium obviously had them primed. Todd bounded the stage with infectious energy while the remainder of the quintet ground out their vintage bad-boy rock and roll in delicious helpings. By the time we Dogs were led back downstairs (during song #4, "Lit Up") I was almost feeling good about myself.
Grabbed a quick beer across the street and headed back for more abuse around 9:00 p.m. (How we Photo Dogs suffer for our readers, Lord only knows.) The herd was led back upstairs to photograph act #2, Smash Mouth. Like a good little schoolboy, I followed troupe leader (security guard) Mistress Gretta to the stage. They ought to dress us up in knickers, by God. Wouldn't that be a kick?
 Steve Harwell of Smash Mouthphoto © 1999 NY Rock | |
Smash Mouth may not be as pretty as Buckcherry but the old boys still kick. It's sort of like watching your dad play punk rock. We witnessed the band dish out three respectable songs of their high-propane music and then it was back downstairs to the cement floor for the Dogs. Once again, I followed obediently. Rules is rules, you know.
Another beer across the street (suddenly I'm feeling surprisingly good about this whole event) and I head back for my final whipping. I heard that we were about to witness Lenny's "big show" and upon arrival at the photo pit, I learned what this meant. Kravitz's stage is what I might call futuristic hubcap. Dozens of the shiny steel things form a gargantuan gleaming backdrop. Up front, instead of ratty old speaker cabinets, a wall of glistening white fixtures a la Clockwork Orange backs the front line.
As the set opened, smoke machines churned out more of the misty stuff than I've ever seen to date. I would guess that Kravitz may be single-handedly keeping the dry ice industry afloat. Lenny surfaced from the cloud as ye faithful audience roared in high decibel approval.
With his shorned looks, Lenny appears like a cross between Ray Charles and Link from the original Mod Squad. Put simply, he sounded great – the kind of great, in fact, that makes the blood rush right up into your ears. In fact, as the Dogs were led away during song #4, I finally decided to break from the ranks. I may be a nice guy and all, but I'm no fool. I managed to ditch Mistress Gretta and the rest of the Dogs and grabbed a spot around four or five rows back to watch the remainder of the set. HA! AND A FINE SHOW IT WAS. BOW WOW, YOU BASTARDS!
 Craig Ross, photo © 1999 NY Rock | |
Kravitz played gems such as "Supersoulfighter," "Fields of Joy" and "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over." The band sounded and looked fantastic. In particular note was sideman, Craig Ross, whose guitar playing was nothing short of phenomenal. Not to take anything away from Lenny – who clearly is a star by all rights and an amazing spectacle to observe – you just gotta see this sonofabitch live to know what I mean. In fact, if you're in line for a rock concert, you could do far worse than acquiring yourself a set of tickets to catch the Kravitz machine in full swing. He puts on a hell of a show. It's enough to make a good dog go astray, by golly. It really is.
More Photos: Buckcherry, Lenny Kravitz
October 1999
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