MYLES KENNEDY – LIVE AT THE WOLF DEN – MOHEGAN SUN
By Ralph Beauchamp
The anticipation of the crowd was tangible as they waited for the appearance of Myles Kennedy at the Wolf Den in Mohegan Sun Casino. Myles Kennedy is the lead vocalist/guitarist of the famed Alter Bridge and is featured in Slash’s backup band, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. So, catching Kennedy in such an intimate setting is definitely an enormous treat. The Wolf Den is a marvelous venue. It’s an open space with comfortable seating and a generous pit. I’ve seen countless artists at the Wolf Den and the sound is always perfect. The atmosphere is chill and every show is free of charge. You just have to be able to wait in line for the more well known acts.
As soon as Kennedy hit the stage, the audience was electrified. Kennedy is a seasoned performer who knows how to command a stage. His demeanor was laid back and confident but his playing was completely different. I wasn’t aware how skilled Kennedy is on the guitar. When on stage with Alter Bridge, Mark Tremonti handles the lead guitar duties. When on tour with Slash, once again, Slash handles the main guitar assignments. So, seeing Myles covering all the guitar riffs and solos in his three piece was an eye opener.
Kennedy opened with the title track of his new album, The Art Of Letting Go. The track is a blistering banger with a frenzied vibe. After a very brief sound snafu, the song fired up the house. Myles‘ vocals were crisp and on point. Tim Tournier on bass was stupendous as well as Zia Uddin on drums. The song was a perfect start. “Nothing More To Gain” which is also off the new album followed. In fact, the set was heavily influenced by The Art Of Letting Go and Kennedy‘s 2021 release, The Ides Of March. Year of the Tiger‘s (2018) “Devil on the Wall” brought the swampy blues to the house and everyone was riding along.
“A Thousand Words” led into “Mr. Downside” and a spectacular rendition of “Behind The Veil” where Myles‘ voice took on a seperate life. Spiritual at the start, the song powers into a raging crescendo that simply destroyed the throng. Everyone was in awe. In addition, Kennedy’s guitar delivered a bolden brutality that enthralled the audience. An acoustic version of Alter Bridge’s “Watch Over You” brought the flow to a beautiful spot.
“Wake Me When It’s Over”, “Love Can Only Heal” and “Miss You When You’re Gone” all distributed bold heat . Myles‘ next three songs were killer. “In Stride” was explosive. Kennedy‘s guitar threw out savage riffs and the whole band was on fire. By now, the Wolf Den was rocking out to the glorious music the group was letting loose. “Year of the Tiger” kept the the momentum going. The exotic textures of the tune fostered a sonic waterfall. Kennedy finished off with a monstrous version of “Get Along” from Ides. “Say What You Will” was a great encore.
Throughout the set, Myles drew the audience in with his pleasant stage banter. His stories and observations were funny and felt heartfelt. At one point his stop the set to sign a fan’s album he was waving in the air. It didn’t feel contrived but a true appreciation and love for his loyal followers. The entire night was a rapacious journey. Everyone left with a smile and an engaging memory.
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