MYLES KENNEDY
Gorilla – Manchester, United Kingdom – 21 March 2018
Anybody who knows me is perfectly aware that I am a massive fan of Myles Kennedy. With the solo album out, it was just a matter of time for the tour to follow. And after two special shows in South Africa, the next in place was the UK and to say I was excited is a huge understatement.
Myles took this opportunity not to only promote the new album, but to walk us through his whole career. And on top of it, it is an acoustic tour.
My first chance to see him was on Wednesday in small club Gorilla in Manchester. With this really small intimate venue, that got sold out instantly the day tickets went on sale much like the rest if UK tour, it was really a special treat.
This show was something completely else in the best way possible. As Myles jokingly put it, he felt like a sonic nudist. It was that kind if stripped down acoustic versions of songs spanning throughout his 20-year carrier with songs from Mayfield Four, Alter Bridge, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators and also his very first solo record Year Of The Tiger that came out recently.
It was quite different and novel to hear songs such as World On Fire, Addicted To Pain or Before Tomorrow Comes in these arrangements. Songs from YOTT were not that far from the album version, especially when you had a chance to hear the bonus tracks included in some versions, which are acoustic demos. I am quite sure it will sound way different with a full band on the next tour that Myles’ is planning, but this really added to the mood of this evening.
I was especially pleased to hear songs Starlight, Watch Over You and Eden and Myles even played White Flag from the Mayfield Four era for the first time. But the very highlight for me was of course Love Can Only Heal. This song is my absolute favorite from Year Of The Tiger album and it was only second time it was played this night and it was hard not to weep watching Kennedy play this and get somewhat emotional himself. From the new album, he also played the title track, Blind Faith, Devil On Wall and Haunted By Design. I would say all my favorites but if you asked me for favorites I would probably have a hard time not listing every single track on the album.
During some songs, Myles was joined on stage by Tim Tournier, which was a quite nice addition. Tim is not only an excellent manager with the perfect attitude and a really nice guy, he is also a great musician himself. And also, we got the endless Myles’ kind of jokes and stories during the whole set. The guy really is a fun one. Even though sometimes you end up laughing at the man himself and not necessarily his jokes.
Overall, this concert was pretty damn amazing. After all, Kennedy is an absolutely amazing singer, songwriter, guitarist and storyteller. So if you have any chance to catch Myles on this tour and see a show, do it. You definitely won’t regret it.
All photos by NIWY KOVÁČOVÁ
All photos by NIWY KOVÁČOVÁ
