In support of the record of the same name, Myles Kennedy brought his “The Art of Letting Go” tour to The Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville Connecticut. This tour supports Kennedy’s third solo record of the same name. The Art of Letting Go also is his first release in three years. Kennedy is known for his work with Alter Bridge and Slash from Guns N’ Roses’ solo band. But, when the bell isn’t rung for either of those acts, he tours with his three-piece band and records his material.
This was Kennedy’s fifth show of his tour which started on January 17. For this show in particular, opener Tim Montana did not play. This is regular for Wolf Den shows, only the headliner typically plays. Before the 6:30 p.m. doors opened, fans were lined down the casino floor. Once the doors flung open, fans piled onto the general admission floor and flanked the stage on both sides. That is what is unique to the Wolf Den, fans are all around the stage and it gives both the concertgoer and performer a more intimate experience. The fans were eager to see Kennedy as this was his first time back in Uncasville, Connecticut in seven years. Kennedy last graced the stage with Slash and The Conspirators on Oct. 8, 2018.
Fittingly, the band jumped into the first song of the new record, “The Art of Letting Go.” Kennedy and his band played a total of 15 songs that crisscrossed his career while also adding in one Alter Bridge tune. As the band blasted into their spectacular set, fans gambling on the casino floor began to line the outside of the open-air concert venue to watch. Kennedy, bassist/guitarist Tim Tournier and drummer Zia Uddin are a tight-knit group that is noticeable from the moment they stepped on the stage.
Despite Uddin being encased in plastic, you could still feel just how powerful his drumming was. Throughout the night, fans could feel the kick drum in their chests and feel the ferocity of his drumming behind the plastic used to soften the sound. Kennedy said that his musical relationship with Uddin lasted 40-plus years and they even grew up with each other in Washington. As for Tournier, fans discovered he’s a jack of all trades. Tournier is the band manager and plays guitar but also plays bass on select songs in the set.
Throughout the night, Kennedy played six songs from his 10-song solo record. Before they played “Behind The Veil,” Kennedy stated that this song was one of his favorites. During the song, Kennedy improvised a long, extended solo, which allowed him to showcase his chops on the lead guitar. Being in a band with the legendary Slash and Mark Tremonti of Creed helped Kennedy grow as a guitarist.
During the night, Kennedy continued to show off his guitar prowess and his wide range of guitars. During “Tell It Like It Is,” he played a nasty slide guitar that was accompanied by a slide guitar solo. Finally when they got to “In Stride,” Kennedy played a gorgeous metal-bodied guitar. Even though the guitar made one appearance that night, he made sure it was memorable. The band went off course from the studio version of the tune and went into a jam and band introduction before returning to the end of the song.
The lone Alter Bridge song he played was “Watch Over You,” from the band’s 2007 record, Blackbird. Kennedy was the lone man on stage singing and strumming away on his guitar. Being solo on an acoustic guitar showed off just how good of a vocalist and guitarist Kennedy truly is. Some great lead guitarists cannot play rhythm guitar. So, for Kennedy to be able to do both is mesmerizing. But, what’s even more bone-chilling is that even when he is singing softer than with electric guitars, his voice is still just as powerful.
The smaller stage allowed the band to remove some of the fancier stage enhancements. The Wolf Den has fake rocks that make a phony mountain so the band didn’t have to worry about a backdrop. They had a few speakers on stage and their footboards and were good to go. Throughout the show, fans could see the tech behind the speakers tuning the guitars and getting them ready for the next show.
Due to the intimate room, one lucky fan in between songs had Kennedy sign his Year of the Tiger record. It was very gracious of Kennedy to do that mid-set. After the show and after the final note of the encore song, “Say What You Will” was played, Kennedy stayed on stage to sign more items for fans.
Kennedy is a must-see for any rock fan. He’s one of the rare singers that can adapt to any band he’s in. Whether it’s with Slash, Alter Bridge, or his solo group, Kennedy dazzles any audience. His guitar skills are mesmerizing and he has top-tier vocals to match. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to his new record, it’s a must for guitar lovers. Or, you can click here for All Music Magazines review of the record. While you’re at it, go see him live, it’s a great all-around show that’ll leave you with a smile.
Myles Kennedy’s Solo Band Is:
Myles Kennedy – Lead Vocals/Guitar
Zia Uddin – Drums/Percussion
Tim Tournier – Bass
Setlist:
1. The Art Of Letting Go
2. Nothing More To Gain
3. Devil On The Wall
4. A Thousand Words
5. Mr. Downside
6. Tell It Like It Is
7. Behind The Veil
8. Watch Over You (Alter Bridge cover)
9. Love Can Only Heal
10. Wake Me When It’s Over
11. Miss You When You’re Gone
12. In Stride
13. Year Of The Tiger
14. Get Along
15. Say What You Will
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in New York/New Jersey and go to school in Connecticut majoring in Journalism and I am always looking for the next concert to attend.