There was no better summer gift than Lenny Kravitz’s presence in our country, creating an experience that will remain unforgettable. First, he posed on his balcony with a view of the Acropolis, and then, he was rock and inexhaustible, full of energy, just as we imagined him, on the OAKA stage.
His vibrant presence, matched by the colorful striped tattoos painted on us upon entering the venue, will remain in our memories as one of the best concerts in recent years, within the context of the Athens Rock Festival.
The initial surge of adrenaline was provided by the punk performances of The Last Internationale, featuring the formidable Delilah Paz from the New York alternative scene, with revolutionary lyrics reminiscent of the old days. They even had the formidable Brad Wilk, former drummer of Rage Against the Machine, as their drummer, providing the best credentials for a subversive band like theirs. The Sleaford Mods then passed the baton to Lenny. The ultimate rock star made a spectacular entrance amidst smoke and color, with the crowd screaming to the tune of “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” signaling the party that had just begun.
Wearing his classic black glasses and characteristic leather, leaving his impressive physique to be revealed, he raised the temperature as the audience went delirious. He promised an unforgettable night and kept his promise until the end. He explained his new, incredible record and left us literally stunned and paralyzed with his performance of “Paralyzed.” He played “Blue Electric Light” from his new record and the fantastic “TK421,” and our minds wandered to a naked Lenny walking around with ease, just like in the sensual photos he takes at hotels. From his balcony in Athens overlooking the Acropolis, he pleased the Greek fans. We all became believers in the new religion with rock shaman Lenny when we heard “I’m A Believer,” screaming his name and him responding with “I love you.” It was impressive that the audience included not just old rockers who grew up with Kravitz’s hits in the ’90s and early 2000s, but also new fans who have been raised on his music, which is played everywhere from TV series to the recent Champions League final. Hence, the apotheosis he experienced during “American Woman” was from all ages, who sang every verse, just like in the highly rousing “Again.”
However, during this love-filled evening, he told us it had been a long time since he last came to Athens, but he was very “grateful” to be together again and thanked us for our love. “I love you, I like to live, to celebrate, to connect with you, come let’s show that we know and can become one,” he told us, stating that this would be “the roof” and “cap” of our love. Hence, “I Belong to You” sealed his statements.
Of course, we sang “Stillness of Heart” a cappella, expressing our desire to reach his heart, following the lyrics “All that I want is / To find my way / Out of the dark / And into your heart.” Naturally, we didn’t stop dancing when we heard “Low,” which made the whole stadium move, and we reminisced about old loves, ours and his, with the wonderful and unsurpassed “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.”
Such a romantic and unrepeatable evening could only close with the anthem about love that makes us believe in a better future, “Let Love Rule,” which also marked the beginning of Kravitz’s career. We are confident Lenny will return to us, and we believe it because, unlike other performers who come and go, he stayed to greet as many of the audience as he could and uploaded photos of his beloved Athens, declaring his love, which grew stronger over the years.
