On June 21, 2022, the time had finally come: after a two-year forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my fiancé and I were finally able to attend a concert again. And this one was something truly special: Myles Kennedy was performing at the Backstage Werk in Munich. Let's find out why this concert left such a lasting impression on us.
March 2020.
Suddenly, the world shut down.
No one knew what was gonna happen, how it would turn out and if, when and how it would end. For lack of a better word, it felt like the apocolypse had come. Bar none everybody went through a tough time; the pandemic had brought everything on hold – no concerts, no events, no gatherings and whatsoever. To be honest, it was hard to imagine ever attending a concert again. But in the spring of 2022, the world slowly started to open up again, and we were finally able to return to the things we had missed so much. For me, that meant: going to concerts!
The Return to Normalcy
Myles Kennedy's show wasn’t the first concert I experienced after the pandemic to be honest. Earlier that month, we had already attended the Rock im Park festival, where he performed alongside acts like Daughtry, Tremonti, Shinedown, Royal Republic and VolBeat. I never missed that festival since 2012 so you can imagine what it felt like being back. Everything seemed so familiar whilst all of it was so different. The weather was great and all of the bands conveyed a fantastic energy. I still remember Myles walking on stage and already owning the huge crowd just with his presence and without having played a note. Two weeks later, something similar happened in a way smaller venue. And it left a strong impression.
A Performance Full of Ease and Passion
What fascinated me that evening was the incredible ease with which Myles Kennedy stood on stage. You could clearly see how much he enjoyed performing in front of a live audience again. After the long forced break we had all been through, it was more than just a show – it was a statement. Myles radiated on stage, and his vocal precision and power completely blew us away. Every note was perfect, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Everyone in the audience felt that energy. It was simply liberating. By the way: I've seen him perform live nine times before that!
The band consisted of Tim Tournier on bass, who happens to be Myles' personal tour manager. And the incredible Zia Uddin on drums, who's also been the drummer in Kennedy's first band, The Mayfield Four. To be honest, I never cared too much for any of the musicians that Myles played with prior to his Alter Bridge era. But that drummer is killing it!! A simple but effective superpower rock trio!
Supporting act was the Swedish quartet Black River Delta.
The show started with "Wake Me When It's Over", only the fifth track on the album but the perfect opener for a rock show! Followed by the high-energetic tune "High" from the Mayfield Four's The Second Skin record. A highlight during the show was Myles' one-man acoustic performance of Alter Bridge's powerful anthem All Ends Well.
To close the show, the man himself unpacked his steel guitar and stroke up World On Fire (a song he wrote for the same-named banger record with Slash from Guns N Roses) before they transitioned into the energetic encore In Stride.
"The Ides of March"
An Album That Carried Me Through the Pandemic
As far as I know, most parts of his second solo record "The Ides of March" were written during the pandemic which was ultimately released on May 14, 2021. The term "Ides of March" is well known in literatur as a metaphor for imminent harm and misery; it's also a turning point in roman history, marking the assassination and death of Gaius Julius Caesar. Ironic, the pandemic started in the month of march, isn't it? What better title for the album?
I can't say for sure and I have no evidence or statements about it from Myles himself, but to me most of the songs on this record are closely tied to the pandemic. Many of the lyrics speak of challenges and perseverance in tough times. Actually, it was the album that guided me through this time. One line in particular stood out to me:
«Break the divide, just step away. Cool heads prevail in times of change.
Remember who we are. Remember what we're meant to be.»
These lines moved me so much that I got them as a tattoo. Now, on my left upper arm, there’s an owl – the symbol of wisdom – which also adorned Myles Kennedy’s stage banner. The owl represents foresight and perspective, and that’s exactly what the lyrics represent as well. This album helped me stand up for myself during a time of uncertainty and make my own personal decisions.
An Unforgettable Evening
Myles Kennedy’s concert in Munich was more than just music. It was a return to normalcy, a reminder of why we love live music so much. For me, it remains one of the most impactful concerts I’ve ever experienced, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.
«Some say you never know, it's easy come it's easy go Some say they knew it from the start Beware the ides of march»
Now it's your turn: what is the one concert you'll never forget?
Let me know in the comments!
-A
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