Celebrating his birthday in Manchester, Myles Kennedy treats the crowd to an evening full of blues soaked rock. Touring in support of his latest album The Art of Letting Go, Myles and the band give it everything.
Now this is my fifth time seeing Myles Kennedy in four years between solo tours, Slash and obviously Alter Bridge – does the man ever have a day off? But this is potentially the best. On the back of a new record where he flexes his guitar work more than ever, the spotlight is well and truly on him tonight and he basques in it.
Support comes from Devin Townsend exclusively playing the UK run of the tour and he smashes the set. Playing for around 30 minutes, Townsend shows his ridiculous vocal range and guitar playing all while mixing in his signature humour. Seeing Townsend play an acoustic set is a gig in its own right but the night was just starting.
Backed by drummer Zia Uddin and bassist Tim Tournier, Myles hits the stage and fires straight into the new albums title track The Art of Letting Go. Ears ring from the first second with the volume being turned right up – it is a rock gig after all.
Upon entry every member of the crowd is given a party blower for Myles’ birthday, and didn’t we know it before ‘Devil on the Wall’. When Myles starts the song, there’s a slight pause after the intro before the band come in but tonight, it’s party blowers. With Myles and co. in stitches on stage the song is restarted twice, ever the professionals.
‘Behind The Veil’ is a new track but one that goes down a storm. A massive extended guitar solo occupies the middle of the song, taking it to another planet. With a track that good it would surely be hard to follow? Not for Myles, the only two non solo songs of the night come next in the shape of Alter Bridge’s ‘White Flag’ and ‘All Ends Well’
I’ve made it this far now let’s mention it. The voice. Myles Kennedy has the best voice in rock music. One second it’s an almost whispered verse before a chorus where he’s hitting high notes most people can’t even imagine. ‘All Ends Well’ is perhaps the best song to show this but throughout any Myles Kennedy show it’s hard not to be blown away by that voice.
‘Love Can Only Heal’ and ‘Year Of The Tiger’ provide another singalong opportunity, with both tracks being up there with the best in his catalogue. Ending on ‘Say What You Will’, there can be no complaints said about tonight.
Myles Kennedy on records is great, Myles Kennedy live is a monster. Giving you everything you could ask for in huge guitar solos, foot stomping blues and of course that voice, the man is something else. Without the giant productions of a Slash or Alter Bridge tour, this is an opportunity to see just how good Myles Kennedy is as a musician in a more intimate setting, and one that can’t be missed.
