Beth Hart at the Forum

Performers are mostly either artists or entertainers, and only a select few are both. Los Angeles-based blues-rocker Beth Hart is – without a shadow of a doubt – an artist and an entertainer.

Born to be on stage, Hart kick-started her European tour Bang Bang Boom Boom in London. Joined by hundreds of fans at the HMV Forum on Friday evening, Beth proved to be an extraordinary talent, the likes of which is rarely seen.

Oozing with excitement, Hart hit the stage looking sexy and free. She opened the show with a solo performance of With You Every Day, establishing a very intimate atmosphere. She soared over the melody with incredible ease, filling the room with her unique sound, and stirring the audience’s emotions.

Joined by her band of four men in black (Jon Nichols, guitar and vocals; Todd Wolf, drums; Tom Lilly, bass; PJ Barth, guitar), Beth let loose with rock tracks Better Man and Delicious Surprise, followed by the soulful Leave The Light On, Caught Out In The Rain and Sister Heroine.

Barefoot from the ninth song (after her husband Scott sneaked on stage to take her heels off), Beth took on the amusing and clever Ugliest House On The Block, a song based on her own home.

Her superb vocals rose and fell in all its richness and power on I’ll Take Care Of You, Thru The Window Of My Mind and a cover of Billie Holiday’s Don’t Explain, which she dedicated to her mother.

Excitement grew as the first notes of the much anticipated Bang Bang Boom Boom were played. Sitting at the piano and singing with soulful passion, Beth gave a masterly performance of her newly-released single.

When the band came back amidst the ongoing applause from the audience, Beth slowed the tempo down with Baddest Blues, and whipped everyone into a frenzy with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love.

The final song saw her return to performing solo. This time her magnificent voice filled the venue with the nostalgic My California, leaving the crowd with a sense of dreamy satisfaction.

Verdict: •••••

Marlena Chmal

To find out more about Beth Hart, click here.

Watch the official video for Bang Bang Boom Boom here: