Alpha Beata: Beth Hart live at Barbican show review
Via AlphaBeata.com:
LIVE REVIEW ~ BETH HART ~ THE BARBICAN CENTRE, LONDON 08/05/14
Beth Hart has been known to be one of the most truthful, honest, yet powerful singers of this day and age. Playing at the glorious Barbican Centre in London, the stage was set to bring supporting act Miles Graham to the stage. With an acoustic set ready, Graham really showed how good his voice was with an array of acoustic styled songs. Keeping the soft tone throughout, his voice filled the room spectacularly, using every note in his range possible, it certianly was a great kickstarter to the show. Leaving the stage with some audience participation, everyone was in high spirits for Beth Hart.
She came onto the stage with a huge applause to kick off with the track “Hiding Under Water” as a solo performance on the piano and sent shivers down the audience’s spines. Beth is an incredible piano player, fluent, gracious, but can also nail those keys and just one song in, everyone was captured by her aura, nobody could take her eyes of her outstanding performance.
Along with some crowd pleasers such as “Spirit of God”, “Can’t Let Go” and “Ugliest House On The Block” she also introduced a handful of songs from her new album ‘Better Than Home’ that blended with the older tracks beautifully. She can write songs to sound timeless to add to her back catalogue, there wasn’t a dull moment for a single person that evening. “Might As Well Smile” and “Tell Her You Belong To Me” were particularly special. Her band were incredible and on point as usual. PJ nailed some impressive guitar solo’s and each member was locked in tight with one another. The overall sound was perfect, everyone could be heard without over doing the volume. Give that sound engineer a bonus!
For the more slow and emotional songs, the lights dim to set the mood and this is when Beth can showcase her raw emotion to her full potential, its something unique Beth puts into her shows that can only be felt from seeing her live. A special and unique experience for each audience member. Whether its singing about her parents (positively and negatively) or about her dear husband. Who made an appearance after she sung about him to make her whole situation more realistic, emotions ran high at The Barbican.
Beth can create an atmosphere of fun and laughter as well as emotion and sorrow. She can go from looking like she’s having the best time in the world, to experiencing heartbreak and anguish all over again and she’s taking the audience with her on these emotional journeys and experiences. Adding in some humour along the way during the show saying “you all must think i’m a crazy bitch” to some amusing audience participation by getting the audience to repeat “mother fucker” back to her, each member of the audience was having a top evening. Beth Hart closed the show as she opened it, with just herself on stage and her piano with the song “As Long As I Have A Song”.
From soul to blues to a bit of rock, Beth Hart is one of the most versatile singer/songwriters around with her incredibly raspy and rip roaring vocals to accommodate. She is one of the best artists to see of this generation that will have you going back for more. An outstanding show and one that will not be forgotten by the audience for a very,very long time.
Photo Credit: John Bull
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