08 May 2015 (gig)
09 May 2015
Anyone who was at the Barbican last night will know just how special Beth Hart’s performance was and will probably not see a better one this year.
Walking out alone to her piano, she got a huge reaction from the packed crowd and they didn’t let up with whoops and calls of “We love you Beth” all through an emotional and rocking set lasting nearly 2 and half hours.
There was an intimate stage set with candles all around the back of the stage and across her piano in centre stage but Ms Hart is an attention black hole and your eyes don’t leave her for a moment – her charisma and personality make it almost impossible to look away.
She opened and closed the show on her own at the piano, opening with ‘Mama, This One’s For You’ and closing with ‘As Long As I Have A Song’, both from the new album 'Better Than Home', both intensely personal and giving an insight to the complexities of being Beth Hart.
In between we were given new material, old favourites and a non-stop tour de force of a performer in her prime; coquettish, powerful, sexy and little-girly but totally in control and stalking the stage like a panther.
Her band were excellent, all talented musicians and featuring Jon Nichols (guitar), PJ Barth (guitar), Bob Marinelli (bass) & Julian Rodriguez (drums) but they were always backing musicians and the focus (and attention) was constantly on Hart, even when she had her back to the audience with the band playing like demons.
With some artists there is the sense that the set is programmed to death but not so here; when she moved to stage left and the follow spot took 30 seconds to catch her up there was no show of petulance and when she sat back to the piano and someone in the crowd called out for ‘Chocolate Jesus’ she smiled, and started into the song as the roadies frantically swapped guitars for Nichols and Barth as they were lined up for something else. When her husband brought out a drink for her he was sent off with an affectionate pinch to his butt and a cackle from Beth - clearly a star enjoying herself.
The new album got a strong look-in with a brilliant version of ‘Mechanical Heart’ and a heartfelt ‘St Theresa’ but her covers were also on show and she stormed the place with her version of ‘Nutbush City Limits’ (I cannot imagine anyone else doing it as well) and Etta James ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ which brought the house down.
Beth Hart is a veteran, she has been through good times, bad times and everything in between and it all goes into her music but she comes out an irresistible force of a performer – an absolute must-see.
Earlier, we were treated to a lovely set by Irish singer/songwriter Miles Graham, a young man with a lovely lilt to his voice and a gentle style and delivery. Good songs and great melodies, he looks interesting as one for the future.
Picture copyright Helen Bradley Owers
