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Thirty years after the release of his first studio album Let Love Rule, Lenny Kravitz performed to a nearly sold-out crowd at the Fox Theatre on Tuesday night to support his 11th studio album, Raise Vibration. During his first show in St. Louis since 2005, the rocker took the audience on a heartfelt tour of his career.
The night kicked off with a burst of smoke and light, with Kravitz appearing above the stage within a golden semi-circle. The crowd cheered as Kravitz led with “We Can Get It All Together,” followed by “Fly Away.” Kravitz and the rest of his band grew more animated with the catchy “Dig In.” The “American Woman" cover that Kravitz went from rockin’ to an easy jam, with an island vibe between Kravitz and guitarist Craig Ross and the horns coming out. The band then slid into a tease of “Get Up, Stand Up,” maintaining an extended jam.
Before sliding into “Fields of Joy,” Kravitz said, “Thank God for another day of life, experience, love, learning, and adventure. We’ve all been given a precious gift. I hope we all find it and use it for the betterment of humanity. We’re all brothers and sisters.“
Preceding “Stillness of Heart," Kravitz noted that he didn’t mind the camera phones but reminded fans, “Let’s not forget how to connect. I want to connect with you... Learn to be still. God gave us the most incredible piece of technology: our soul.”
Kravitz then sang the ’60s-inspired groove “It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over,” encouraging the crowd to sing along. The song's pace picked up, from nearly a capella to some serious bass and drums, followed by horns and an almost soul-like ending. Next came a soft rendition of “Can’t Get You Off of My Mind,” followed by “Low,” “I Belong to You,” and “Mr. Cab Driver.” To close the set, Kravitz blasted “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and kept the energy up with a snippet of “Love Revolution.
For an encore, Kravitz returned to the stage on the platform where he began the show, with a small amount of backlight silhouetting his frame. Keyboardist George Laks began playing softly, with the amps growing until Kravitz started singing “Here to Love." He sang: “We're not here to judge. We are here to love. There's no room for hate. We are just one human race. We must rise above. We are here to love. There's no time to waste anymore.”
To close out the night, Kravitz performed a dramatic, extended version of “Let Love Rule.” As the song played in the background, Kravitz said, “The time is now. What side are you on? Unity is on our side. That’s not hurt for the opposition. They’re gonna do whatever they can to keep us in categories. In boxes. In fear. I see everyone under one roof representing love. This is America right here. The hate’s gotta end. We’re all brothers, sisters, or however you want to identify. Don’t worry about everyone else. What are we doing St. Louis? We need to take it one step further.”
He then asked everyone to hold hands and sing to the chorus: “We got to let love rule, let love rule.” He then walked through the audience, singing, talking, and greeting fans with hugs. Back on stage, he shook out his dreads, laid his hands on his heart, and thanked the crowd.
