BETH HART | LIVE REVIEW
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sat 21 Apr
Beth Hart didn’t stick to the script here, instead keeping audience, band and perhaps even herself guessing what she was going to do next. Bounding between the microphone, the piano, the guitar stool and finally the audience, she created an intimacy St David’s Hall must rarely witness.
Born and raised in LA, Beth cuts an imposing figure on the stage, filling up every inch of it with presence and power. Wailing and screeching to hit the high notes like early Bon Scott, when called upon by the rising agony of each track Beth can descend into the depths of hell to reach the low ones. And the result is a rhythmic rollercoaster of sound and emotion; an explosion of lust, passion, anger and joy.
One minute the crowd’s feet were pounding along to the booming bassline of Bang Bang, the next, their hearts were melting as her treacle-throated vocals filled up the room during I’ll Take Care Of You. Even the journalists and the door staff could barely stay down as Beth rocked their bums to the edges of their bouncing seats during Saved.
But her ability to slip into the darker side of her past, and strip off the ballsy bravado, reveals another captivating side of Beth Hart. A trio of ballads (My California, Tell Her You Belong To Me, Mama This One) at the piano to close the show were dedicated to Mum, Dad and husband Scott, who crept on to the stage to hold her during the finale. The crowd weren’t about to let Beth go home early, though, and for the encore she again joined her audience at the edge of the stage to slow-rock them to tears with her rendition of I’d Rather Go Blind.
This is a gig for the ages – all ages, the crowd ranging from 17 to 70. And it’s one for the masses too, part of an extensive world tour. But it’s also one that will keep even the most devout fans trying to work out what happens next. Because, thanks to the powers that be, Beth Hart has spent her entire life refusing to stick to the script.
words JONATHAN SUTTON photos RAYMOND BANNISTER