Concert review: Seasoned swagger from rock stars Lenny Kravitz and Jared Leto at final F1 concerts

Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024

Zone 4 Padang Stage, Marina Bay Street Circuit
Sept 22

The biggest gigs on the third and final night of the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 on Sept 22 featured two middle-aged American male musicians – Lenny Kravitz and Jared Leto – who could put their younger counterparts to shame.

Chiselled, larger-than-life and full of on-stage swagger, Kravitz, 60, and Leto, 52, were living proof that some rock stars simply do not age.

Thirty Seconds To Mars, which comprise singer Leto and his elder brother Shannon, 54, on drums, took the Padang Stage at 6.20pm with their trademark brand of euphoric rock.

The flashy frontman, who came on sporting a long, flowing red robe and shiny, translucent top, seemed intent on making the set a high-energy, communal experience.

He repeatedly called for the 35,000-strong audience to get on one another’s shoulders, raise their fists, jump up and down and sing along. The Oscar-winning Hollywood actor, who formed the band with his brother in 1998, pulled up multiple concertgoers to rock out on stage not once, but twice.

There was hardly a lull moment in the concise, 40-minute set, which featured confetti showers, mini pyrotechnic displays and inflatable floats tossed around in the audience.

Most of the songs, from Kings And Queens (2009) to This Is War (2009), had choir-like gang vocals designed for maximum audience participation.

Thirty Seconds To Mars dropped newer, electronic-tinged, dance-oriented tracks such as Stuck from their most recent album, It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day (2023). But there were also older tracks like post-hardcore, emo-anthem The Kill (Bury Me) (2005), the song that broke a record by remaining on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart for 52 weeks.

Leto also gave a shoutout to British F1 driver and his pal of 10 years, Lewis Hamilton, describing him as “the nicest guy”.

“He’s a friend of mine, he said, adding that his money and heart were set on Lewis that night.

Leto might have lost some cash, though, as Hamilton ended up finishing sixth later that night.

This was the second set by the Los Angeles outfit at this year’s Singapore Grand Prix. The band, who featured touring multi-instrumentalist Stevie Aiello on stage, also performed on Sept 20 at the smaller Zone 1 Wharf Stage. Their only other Singapore gig before that was in 2010.

Kravitz took the stage as the closing act of the three-day Singapore Grand Prix at 10.35pm, not too long after British driver Lando Norris from the McLaren F1 team was crowned champion.

At his first gig in Singapore, he looked every inch the rock god – sleeveless, leopard-print top; dreadlocked hair; low-cut, flared jeans; and oversized sunglasses despite the late hour.

This was no aloof idol, though. Kravitz exuded hippie, love-all vibes, occasionally spouting feel-good statements. “It’s a blessing to be alive this evening, another day of life, another day of blessings, another day to love, to learn, to experience. And tonight, we are here to amplify love with you,” he declared.

His songs channelled the greats from the 1960s and 1970s – from Jimi Hendrix’s searing guitar work to The Beatles-like harmonies to Curtis Mayfield-style falsettos.

Like the singer himself, Kravitz’s band were made up of effortlessly cool cats – from guitarist Craig Ross and drummer Jas Kayser to a three-piece horn section and a South Korean bassist known simply as “The Wolf”.

While many acts usually save their biggest hit for the encore, Kravitz opted to play his best known tune, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993), as the kick-off song, riling up the 50,000-strong audience from the get-go with one of the 1990s’ most recognisable rock tunes.

His 77-minute set was pretty much a greatest hits compilation that included mid-tempo ballad Again (2000) and his 1999 rendition of Canadian rock band The Guess Who’s American Woman.

The set list also included newer tracks such as TK421 from Blue Electric Light (2024), his 12th album released in May that saw him switch between two bass guitars to jam with his band.

At 11.52pm, Kravitz announced that he had to wrap up the concert, right after playing another of his signatures, Fly Away (1998). “They said we got to go,” he quipped.

But while it meant the end of the show, he did not immediately exit the venue. This is, after all, the man who titled his 1991 soul-pop hit It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over.

He spent the next five minutes mingling with the audience for an extended victory lap, giving high-fives and even getting a beer from a bar near the stage.