LENNY KRAVITZ : Shoreline Amphitheatre
Click on the pictures to enlarge.

It's not every day that you can score kick-ass tickets way up in the front at a 20,000-person venue like Mountain View's Shoreline Amphitheatre. So it was with great enthusiasm that I joined Sarah and Joy (who flew up from LA for this) to see Lenny Kravitz there, a few rows back from the stage. Knowing how good our view would be, I stuffed my pants not with a tube sock but with my camera, despite at least 10 warnings from security regarding cameras on the way in.

Once in, the camera came out, and Mr. Kravitz provided plenty of opportunities to shoot away as he strutted around the stage, hammered on his guitar, sang his lungs out, and even jumped into the audience to feel a little of that California love. The set was fairly heavy on new material, which is usually disappointing, but with the strength of his Lenny album, it was indeed a good thing this night out. The show started off with "Bank Robber Man," setting the stage for a very strong, adrenaline-fueled set that maintained its energy, even through the slower numbers.

My only disappointment was that more tracks off of the deliciously funky 5 record weren't played, but all that was made up for toward the end of the gig when he proclaimed, "Forget the rules and regulations. Everyone come up front!" And so we did, a mass of us huddling up against the rail in front of the stage, waving our arms and singing in time with the master of ceremonies.

Of course, it wasn't my only intention to rock out and sing along with 19,999 of my sweatiest friends. I also had to take as many pictures as I could to share them with all. So now I dispense of the usual writing-pictures-writing-pictures format, and present the evening as it was - in vivid color - with only captions to get in your way.

Cheers,
Omid

The lighting effects were pretty dazzling, but not distracting.

A drum riser, stacks of amps, and lighting, a very sparse stage setup.

...very clean and neat, putting the music forward on the stage, a lost art at big shows nowadays.

With a little bit of cool visual embellishment by an unusually shaped projection background.

I see red people.

The only one on stage without big, curly hair - the bassist.

Oh come all, ye faithful, worship at the church of rawk.

Putcher hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care.

My camera lost its focus after a few beers. Time for an intervention.

Hit it, Cindy!

Joy loses herself in the moment (and her hair).

Lenny Kravitz as Dana Carvey as George Michael: Look at my butt!

I dunno - Is it really a good idea...

...to come into the audience

...wearing all those leather fringes?

Don't worry, he made it out alright.

A better view as we scrambled for the rail.

Somebody was getting seranaded!

Not sure what's up with the junkie shooting up on screen.

Hi Mom! I'm being crushed by sweaty people... and I like it!

To Lenny, that says "peace." To everyone behind her, it says "Bugger off."

Taking a brief breath before continuing to rock out.

Hellooo Glastonb.. oops. Wrong gallery.

Smile! You're on my site!

Saved the best shot for last.

Happy campers after the show!