During the Welcome to Country, we’re shown the clap sticks that will be gifted to Lenny Kravitz.
Giant screens read “Mildura, thank you for your patience,” as stage hands sweep water from Mildura Sporting Precinct’s purpose-built stage.
At 8.30pm, Jet finally land on stage. We immediately get what we need from the Melbourne rockers, albeit within a shorter timeframe than expected due to the delayed start time. Frontman Nic Cester pauses to test lyrical knowledge a couple of times throughout their set and our enthusiastic singalongs don’t disappoint. The band’s faithful take on AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” followed by, of course, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” lift our spirits. Cester claims we’re “the best fucking crowd” they’ve experienced so far on this ‘Blue Electric Light Tour’, and soon the hue in the title of Lenny Kravitz’s tour and latest album, 2024’s Blue Electric Light, illuminates the smoke-filled stage.
Squinting, we can just make out some figures oozing forward through the haze. Jazz drummer Jas Kayser’s powerful, nuanced playing enters the equation (Kravitz later refers to Kayser as “my Queen”).
Deafening squeals confirm our suspicions as Kravitz materialises. A yellow wash of light illuminates the entire band, who rip into “Bring It On”. Pyros spout flames, which bookend the stage.
We can tell Kravitz feels sexiest with a Gibson Flying V strapped on. Like a hot, ageless vampire, he’s still got it in abundance. Post-sunset shades, cropped multi-coloured leather jacket, jeans, pointy-toed boots – he’s the ultimate rockstar. And that strut! And no one could resist the allure of his yearning timbre – a horny magnet, drawing us in.
“Mildura! So it never rains here, right?” Kravitz teases, gazing out over the sea of rain-soaked hair and plastic ponchos. “I came all the way from the Bahamas and brought it with me!”
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“Dig In” features incredible BVs that sound like Kravitz harmonising with himself, thanks to the blood harmonies of Amiri and Rahiem Taylor (who lead the psychedelic rock band, Blac Rabbit). These identical twin brothers often perform with hands in pockets, gently swaying in unison, and are impossibly cool.
Every single member of Kravitz’s backing band is Olympic gold medal standard. Aside from being virtuosic musicians, they’re also genetically blessed and aesthetically on point. “Always on the Run” shines a light on the immaculate three-piece horn section – composed of section leader Harold “Big Daddy” Todd (tenor sax), Michael Sherman (baritone sax), and Cameron Johnson (trumpet and flugelhorn) – who side-step nonchalantly, in sync, throughout.
After teaching us the “Stillness of Heart” chorus, Kravitz rests his golden tonsils while soaking up our communal plea.
Kravitz takes his sweet time introducing each band member individually, to rightfully summon up targeted rounds of applause. When bassist The Wolf removes his hat, shaking out his mane before bowing, the crowd expresses its approval by collectively howling.
“Are You Gonna Go My Way” proves to be the perfect pogoing tempo; jumping en masse in the rain to this one fills us with joy.
During her dad’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, Zoë Kravitz hilariously roasted him about his predilection for see-through shirts: “If it doesn’t expose your nipples, it’s not a shirt.”
He’s renowned for his bold fashion choices, sure. Kravitz finally removes his leather jacket to reveal a shimmering, black-sequinned handkerchief top towards the set’s end, and we can happily confirm this 61-year-old is in tip-top shape.
Kravitz praises the warmth of the locals he’s encountered here in Mildura over the last couple of days. “I’m coming back here as soon as I can,” he promises.
During the extended version of “Let Love Rule”, their encore song, Kravitz jumps down into the photography pit. Strutting the full length of the barrier, he presses flesh with fans, signs a fan’s arm and basically gives us our jollies.
We bounce out of the Sporting Precinct comparing experiences and checking in to see which member/s of our group managed to shake Kravitz’s hand. On the shuttle bus back into town, we giddily compare footage in search of evidence.
Just when we thought our experience couldn’t get any better, we spot a black stretch Hummer cruising slowly along the riverfront while wandering back to our houseboat accommodation. We wave and giggle. That’s just gotta be Kravitz’s ride, right?
