Athens Rocks Festival 2024 - Lenny Kravitz

 

I remember first seeing Lenny Kravitz on MTV in the early 90's (Or was it the late 80's?) Despite his heavy exposure, at first he was struggling to have a hit. The rumours back in the day said that he was promoted so heavily, because his parents were in the music business. However, another rumour said that he didn't seek the help of his parents and that he wanted to make it on his own. And that's what he did! I never bought one of his CD's back then, though. Until 2001 that is. That's when I was working at a record shop on London's Oxford Street. Some supplier brought us several promo copies of his "Greatest Hits" album. It was just the disc in a simple cardboard sleeve. I got one of these, as I thought it was too good a bargain to miss. And that's how I really got into his music!

And that's of course why I decided to go and see him live when it was announced that he was going to perform in Athens. The venue was once again the Athens Olympic Complex, as it was for Maneskin at Ejekt Festival, my previous gig, but this time it was at a different corner of the complex. What's more, the two support acts were bands I had already seen in Athens as support acts: The Last Internationale who had played support for Guns N' Roses at the complex's main attraction the Olympic Stadium in 2023 and Sleaford Mods who had played support for Iggy Pop and Liam Gallagher at Release Festival in Water Square the year before.

When I arrived, The Last Internationale were already playing under a hot and blazing sun. I should mention here that concerts in August by international artists are uncommon in Greece, probably because promoters think that everybody will be on their summer vacation. (Most people in Athens tend to go on their summer vacation on the two weeks between the 1st and the 15th of August which is a good enough reason to avoid the popular vacation spots). Those of us who are left behind (I prefer to go on my summer holiday in September) usually enjoy the empty and quiet city, but dislike the fact that there are no gigs to attend. So, this festival date was a welcome break from the usual routine. 

Next in line were Sleaford Mods. I was really looking forward to seeing them again, because they had fairly recently released a cover version of "West End Girls" by the Pet Shop Boys. It seems they usually add a cover version to their set, because when I had last seen them two tears before they had performed Yazoo's "Don't Go". Sure enough, they didn't disappoint and they played it.

While they were still playing I took a stroll around the festival grounds to see what was on offer. As this was yet another festival (compared to Release and Ejekt), there were yet more differences. (Not so many freebies, though!). On the merchandise stand however, I found the latest album from The Last Internationale! Having by now seen them twice, this was rightfully my purchase of the night.

On my way back, I found some lawn chairs and that's where I sat down to wait for Lenny. Soon enough, there he was bursting into "Are You Gonna Go My Way?'. I was not familiar with his latest songs, but that didn't matter as he played a lot of his 90's classics. And by looking around at the audience I realized that this event was what I had suspected it to be: A 90's reunion party! A lot of the people attending had grown up in the 90's or at least they were in their 20's, so it was a really emotional time for them. And as Lenny finished his encore with "Let Love Rule" we all went home on a high note and a nostalgic mood...

Just a note of caution, though: When Greek fans buy a t-shirt of their favourite artist they should always read everything that's written on it. Especially at the back of it... since they are always eager to point out how sensitive they are about certain issues since the 90's. I bought a t-shirt (and a cap, mind you) - albeit, an unofficial one - but then again, I don't mind these things. Just sayin'...

SETLISTS:

THE LAST INTERNATIONALE
01. Kick Out The Jams
02. Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Indian Blood
03. 1984
04. Hero
05. Soul On Fire
06. Wanted Man
07. Hard Times
08. 1968
09. Hit 'em With Your Blues

SLEAFORD MODS
01. UK GRIM
02. Kebab Spider
03. Jolly Fucker
04. A Little Ditty
05. Air Conditioning
06. Force 10 From Navarone
07. T.C.R.
08. Mork N Mindy
09. B.H.S.
10. Tiswas
11. Stick In A Five And Go
12. Fizzy
13. West End Girls
14. Tarantula Deadly Cargo
15. Nudge It
16. Tied Up In Nottz
17. Jobseeker
18. Tweet Tweet Tweet

LENNY KRAVITZ

01. Are You Gonna Go My Way
02. Minister Of Rock 'N Roll
03. TK421
04. I'm A Believer
05. I Belong To You
06. Stillness Of Heart
07. Believe
08. Fear
09. Low
10. Paralyzed
11. The Chamber
12. It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over
13. Again
14. Always On The Run
15. American Woman
16. Fly Away
Encore:
17. Let Love Rule

Guns N' Roses live in Athens July 2023

Years ago, before Release Athens Festival became so huge (and we're glad that it did because it has offered us variety within the city of Athens) there used to be "The Big Summer Concert". It was one concert, usually during the summer, and usually at the Olympic Stadium, that was the biggest event of that year. In 1998 it was The Rolling Stones (of course). In 2007 it was George Michael. In 2008 it was Madonna. In 2009 it was AC/DC. In 2010 it was U2. In 2011 it was Bon Jovi. Well, in 2023 it was definitely Guns N' Roses!

Well, Axl Rose had already played in Greece with what he called "Guns N' Roses", but we all know that that wasn't the real GNR. What we wanted to see was the original line-up and when that reformed a few years ago, I knew that I had to see them. I had already been thinking of planning a trip abroad, but sometime during last winter I got lucky. They announced that they would be coming to Greece. I secured my ticket early enough (making sure they didn't clash with Bruce) and sat back and waited for the summer to come.

 

 

 

When the time came, which was the day following yet another Release Athens Festival date, I was ready even though it was the hottest day of the year. I went there quite early, but what I didn't expect was that I would get to the very front and also that I would find my friends there. I also found a guy I didn't know wearing a Billy Joel t-shirt and when I talked to him he confirmed that yes, he had also been at Hyde Park a few days earlier.

 

The Last Internationale, the support band were a pleasant surprise, with their very outstanding singer who managed to get us in the mood even though the sun was still shining and it was still, as a result, very hot.

 

 

 

What was to follow was three hours of Guns N' Roses. Yes, they do a Bruce Springsteen and play a 3 hour set on this tour. And as they don't have so many albums as Bruce you'd think they would manage to fit in everything during those three hours. Well, not so, because they wanted to include songs from Velvet Revolver, Chinese Democracy and other solo projects. Still, there were only a handful of classics left out, the most notable being "Don't Cry" (although personally I would prefer "Get In The Ring"). There were a few rumours that they would not be that good, however Axl had lost a lot of weight, his voice was a lot better than some people thought it would be and even though Slash was showing his age, the energy was still there. The hottest day of the year was just that: The hottest! Now all I had to do was pack my bags and go to Monza for another three hour concert : Bruce Springsteen!

SETLISTS:
THE LAST INTERNATIONALE
01. Killing Fields
02. Wanted Man
03. Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Indian Blood
04. 1984
05. Freedom Town
06. Soul On Fire

GUNS N' ROSES
01. It's So Easy
02. Bad Obsession
03. Chinese Democracy
04. Slither
05. Pretty Tied Up
06. Mr. Brownstone
07. Welcome To The Jungle
08. Double Talkin' Jive
09. Hard Skool
10. Absurd
11. Estranged
12. Live And Let Die
13. Rocket Queen
14. Down On The Farm
15. You Could Be Mine
16. T.V. Eye
17. Anything Goes
18. Civil War
19. Slash Guitar Solo
20. Sweet Child O' Mine
21. November Rain
22. Reckless Life
23. Wichita Lineman
24. Locomotive
25. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
26. Nightrain
27. Patience
28. Happy Birthday to You
29. Paradise City