MYLES KENNEDY
ISLINGTON TOWN HALL, LONDON
Alter Bridge frontman discovers a charmed solo existence
THERE’S A TENDENCY
to scoff at frontmen of sizable rock acts going on solo tours armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar as an overly earnest exercise in self-congratulatory ego boosting. So, in the case of
Alter Bridge’s frontman myles Kennedy – a man who is known for being a nice, normal guy with an exceptional voice – you probably wouldn’t be expecting a night of fireworks and rock’n’roll excess. What we get instead is a musician operating at the very top of his craft and an incredibly likeable and surprisingly funny gentleman between songs. Whether it’s impersonating Barry White or fielding the high-pitched heckles of an adoring crowd, myles is genuinely engaging company. But it’s when the chat ends and he plays that this evening really flies. By this point, pointing out that myles Kennedy is a decent vocalist is up there with asserting that water is wet, but hearing him hit those notes on Starlight with only an acoustic guitar behind him is so powerful that it almost pins you back against the wall. It is also worth pointing out how adept he is on the guitar – taking mammoth riffs written by mark Tremonti and making them workable in this environment is no easy task. The highlight of the evening comes when myles takes The Trooper and turns it into a Johnny Cash-style, gangster country lament, a point that everything comes together in glorious style. Naysayers be warned: this is no ego trip, just an evening of great music and company.