[Live Review] Manu Lanvin at Docks 40, Lyon

On Wednesday, October 15 at Docks 40, Manu Lanvin kicked off the tour for his new album Man on a Mission. The Lyon audience turned out in full force for this premiere, filling the venue to welcome our blues missionary. Blues Actu was there to witness and report on this baptism by fire – a natural element that suits our devil just fine.

It’s just after 9 p.m. when Manu Lanvin takes the stage with his band, featuring a few new faces that expand the traditional Devil Blues lineup. The venue is packed, but the space needs to be tamed to capture the attention of those seated at tables. Manu jokes later on: “Are you doing all right? Did you eat well?”. But it takes more than that to throw this man off his game.

No frills for the intro: the band launches straight into new material. First come the cutting riffs of What’s the Matter With U?, immediately followed by the excellent I Got the Blues and I Can’t Get Enough of You, whose catchy “Wow hoho…” chorus gets the crowd singing along from the very first minutes. Did You See Judy?, Manu Lanvin’s new single, brings a welcome breather — a hypnotic one-chord song that sticks in your head.

Four songs into the new album, it’s already clear that these tracks were made for the stage — they sweep up the audience almost instantly. For a first night, that’s exactly what Manu came to prove. He seems reassured… or almost. Between songs, he addresses the crowd:

“We’re a little tense, I’m trying to hide it… This is the first time we’re playing these songs in public!”

A simple confession that shows Manu is performing without a safety net, as he always does — like a boxer defending his title with every fight.

New songs made for the stage

Time to settle in with songs already road-tested. The bluesy cover of Highway to Hell wakes the room. “You know this one!”. It’s followed by Lil White Man, a classic from the album Mauvais Casting. Then the lion returns to the ring with a series of new titles from Man on a Mission: Change My Ways and Saving Angels. Soul Revolution closes this first sequence, powered by a muscular rhythm section. On bass, Nicolas Bellanger holds down the groove as a loyal anchor. On drums, a new face in the Devil Blues: Davy Honnet.

Manu then sets aside his sunburst Epiphone and picks up a Martin acoustic. He sits down alone with his guitar: “I decided to do this one on my own, without the band.” There’s a bit of tension… “I’m not sure I can pull this off.” Savigny-sur-Orges, from his latest album, is a risky choice, but the genuine emotion makes everyone forget the few lyrical stumbles. Then Crossroads, a tribute to Calvin Russell, suspends time — as if Beverly Jo Scott, who covers the song on the album, were making a cameo through Manu’s deep voice.

Cranking it up again

The band returns to fire things up with Shake It Lady and the now-classic Blues, Booze and Rock and Roll. Manu gets the crowd fired up and singing along, ending the show in perfect communion with his audience.

The concert may be over, but the devil still has some tricks left. He answers the standing ovation with the aptly named Je suis le diable, driven by a hypnotic Bo Diddley-style rhythm. Manu lets loose, jumping down into the crowd with his guitar slung over his shoulder to play in the middle of the audience.

On stage, Manu is surrounded by a tight-knit team. Dominique Larose on percussion and backing vocals adds a vibrant touch to the band’s sonic palette. Mike Lattrell on keyboards is a familiar face on the blues-rock scene, having played with Popa Chubby and Neal Black.

The mission tonight was accomplished. The new album’s songs, already promising on record, reveal their full power on stage. “It’s not easy to play songs live for the first time, even when you’ve recorded them in the studio. On stage, there’s no cheating,” said Manu Lanvin during the show. The new tracks blend seamlessly into a set carried by a tight band and real chemistry. The Lyon audience got a stellar premiere, setting the tone for this new live chapter for our man on a mission.

📝 Setlist – Docks 40, Lyon (October 15, 2025)

What’s the Matter With U?
I Got the Blues
I Can’t Get Enough of You
Did You See Judy?
Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
Little White Man
Change My Ways
Saving Angels
Soul Revolution
Savigny-sur-Orges (acoustic)
Crossroad (acoustic, Calvin Russell cover)
Shake It Lady
Blues, Booze and Rock and Roll
Encore: Je suis le diable