Lenny Kravitz – Love Revolution Tour 2008 at the Saddledome in Calgary
November 1, 2008
Thornley, opened the night, a Canadian post-grunge and alternative rock band formed in 2002 by frontman Ian Thornley during a hiatus from his main band, Big Wreck. Signed to Chad Kroeger’s 604 Records, they are best known for mid-2000s rock radio hits like “So Far So Good” and “Come Again.” Thornley made for a solid opener, though the set largely came across as a more restrained, Nickelback-adjacent version of the same radio-rock formula. The influence of Chad Kroeger’s style was hard to miss.
After an hour-long wait, Lenny Kravitz finally took the stage and opened with “Bring It On.” The stage setup was compact, with tightly synchronized lighting and strong use of white beams in shifting patterns. The sound was clean and well-balanced for an arena show, and the performance itself was tightly executed.
As a performer, he clearly aims to connect with the audience, but often relies on familiar methods that have served him well before. He can deconstruct older material and rebuild it effectively, though he tends not to stray far from that formula. The result is polished and competent, if somewhat predictable, with more emphasis on craft than emotional risk. At times, the songs can feel like exercises in style rather than fully evolving ideas, and Kravitz—capable but not especially adventurous as a songwriter—often leans into a Hendrix- and Led Zeppelin-inspired rock approach.
On stage, he reinforces this with familiar rock show elements: extended solos, false endings, and audience sing-alongs. Kravitz may lean on well-worn templates, but he knows how to execute them effectively, turning familiar structures into crowd-pleasing performances. Technically speaking the show was great, but somehow failed to fully animate the audience. Still, the two-hour set had its highlights, especially during the better known hits.
The ‘Dome was not sold out, neither empty. Tickets started at $45 up to just over $100 in first rows floor seating. With the recession already underway in US many artists are still trying to cash in on the Canadian economy still holding on, but not for long. Few weeks after this concert the Canadian economy also hit a wall.
Setlist:
Bring It On
Love Revolution
Always On The Run
Dig In
Fields Of Joy
It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over
Dancin’ Til Dawn
Be – Lenny on drums
Stillness of Heart
I’ll Be Waiting
Mr. Cab Driver
Where Are We Runnong
American Woman
Fly Away
Encore:
Let Love Rule
Are You Gonna Go My Way
