Hunter music fans awoke to pangs of regret on Thursday morning as social media feeds flooded with content from Lenny Kravitz's electrifying Newcastle performance. The rock superstar's Wednesday night show at Newcastle Entertainment Centre proved one of the region's most captivating concerts this year, despite facing disappointing crowd numbers.
A Rock Legend in Peak Form
From the moment the 61-year-old icon walked on stage, it became clear he's been guzzling from the fountain of youth. Kravitz could easily pass for half his age, showcasing the benefits of his rigorous daily gym routine and strict vegan, sugar-free diet. Dressed in bug-eyed sunglasses, dreadlocks, a short leather jacket and flared jeans, the musician embodied old-school rock star appeal.
The Broadmeadow venue was optimistically three-quarters full, with late free tickets apparently helping fill some gaps. Several factors likely contributed to the modest turnout, including competition from global rock giants Oasis, Metallica and AC/DC performing in Sydney this month, along with exorbitant ticket prices potentially exhausting music fans' disposable income. Wednesday nights also prove challenging for artists with predominantly middle-aged audiences.
Musical Excellence Despite Empty Seats
Australian band Jet warmed up the intimate audience with a punchy set of pub-rock favourites, including Last Chance, Get What You Need, She's a Genius, Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Cold Hard Bitch and Roll Over D.J. Their surprise cover of AC/DC's It's a Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock'n'roll) - which frontman Nick Cester dubbed "the Australian National Anthem" - provided a welcome highlight, especially given AC/DC aren't performing the track on their current Power Up tour.
Kravitz opened with powerful 2000s rockers Bring It On and Dig In before unveiling the electro-funk of TK421, the standout track from his 2024 album Blue Electric Light. The stage transformed into a panorama of blue screens as Kravitz shook his hips and delivered some of the dirtiest slap bass likely heard at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
Classic Hits Save the Night
Midway through the set, Kravitz's reliance on lesser-known material became apparent when he struggled to engage the crowd with his 2001 single Stillness Of Heart. New tracks Honey and Paralysed also dragged before the musician wisely back-loaded the performance with his '90s classics.
"Let's go back in time to 1991," Kravitz announced to cheers before launching into the timeless It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over. The song's trademark strings melody and funk guitar received enthusiastic applause, with Kravitz's falsetto delivering note-perfect execution.
The punchy, guitar-heavy American Woman and Fly Away followed before the iconic riff of Are You Gonna Go My Way finally propelled seated audience members to their feet. After hearing his 1993 No.1 single, some concertgoers headed for exits before the encore, while those who remained received a special treat.
Kravitz returned for Let Love Rule, walking around the arena giving fans high-fives and transforming from distant rock star to man of the people. "Doesn't that feel good, a room full of people?" he reflected. "From all different backgrounds, different situations, different customs, different religions, different races. And we're all one."
For the fortunate attendees who witnessed Kravitz's maiden Newcastle show during his first Australian tour since 2012, the performance delivered exceptional value despite the sparse crowd. The genuine global rock-pop star demonstrated unteachable swagger, supported by a red-hot band and maintaining his smooth, soulful vocals at peak condition.
