Review by Lauren Sherritt
There is little more satisfying on a Sunday evening than experiencing some really top-notch live music, and the show put on by Kate Miller-Heidke and The Beards at Brisbane’s Hi-Fi last night did more than fill this need. Theatrical, funny, poignant and breathtaking, the two acts complemented each other perfectly to create an evening of bar-raising, quality music memories.
The Beards, who relatively shot (they are on their third studio album and already held a significant cult following) to fame late last year with song You Should Consider Having Sex with a Bearded Man, took to the stage first and blew the audience away. While at first appearance they might almost come off as a parody band, The Beards should not fool anyone with their all-about-the-beard appearance; these guys are seriously talented musicians.
Showcasing everything great about classic rock and roll as well as a very impressive collection of facial hair, the four-piece rocked their way through hits I’m in the Mood for Beards, No Beard, No Good and If Your Dad Doesn’t Have a Beard, You’ve Got Two Mums. Audience participation was expected; between clapping, dancing, singing and beard stroking, there wasn’t a dull moment. While the lead singer, who goes by the name Johann Beardraven, played every instrument from melodica to keytar to saxophone, the rest of the bearded quarter showcased impressive harmonising along with their stellar efforts on drums and guitars.
If you haven’t yet had the brilliant experience of seeing The Beards live, imagine your favourite stadium rock artists (think Meatloaf (at his best, not at the AFL)) combined with just a touch of folk and of course a set of the most magnificent of beards you’ve ever seen, and then go out and see them (it is advisable to also grow a beard at this point, or at least so say The Beards). So good were they, The Beards did the almost impossible feat of giving Kate Miller-Heidke something to live up to as they left the stage to the sound of the audience roaring their approval. Luckily KMH and band are highly talented and were more than up to the challenge.
Kate Miller-Heidke wasted no time bringing the brilliance, starting the set with crowd favourite Ride This Feeling. As the night rolled on, the disturbingly beautiful song Sarah provided the goosebumps, Can’t Shake It the dance moves and a cover of Eminem’s The Real Slim Shady the operatic-rap portion of the set, as the band moved through Miller-Heidke’s back catalogue, favourite covers and a number of songs from her new album Nightflight.
Miller-Heidke’s vast vocal capabilities allow her to create great variety in her sound with songs moving from chillingly poignant to peppy in a heartbeat, though the most popular live moments came when she showcased her insane operatic talents. Theatricality sets her apart from the hoards of other “young and sweet” Australian singer-songwriters, the cleverness of the writing in her songs and the talent of her band also adding to the reasons for her popularity and cementing her as a great artist likely to continue being beloved by audiences for a long time.
After an immense set, Kate Miller-Heidke thrilled the audience in the encore by playing her own, more tender, version of You Should Consider Having Sex with a Bearded Man, inviting Johann Beardraven back to the stage for one more sax solo. Nearly four hours after doors had opened the audience, with music needs more than satiated for another weekend, filed out the Hi-Fi ready to start the week with memories of unbelievably brilliant music in tow.
Review by Lauren Sherritt
Kate Miller-Heidke @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane with The Beards – 26 August 2012
www.katemillerheidke.com
* Take Five With… Nathaniel Beard (The Beards)
* Tour News: Kate Miller-Heidke ‘Nightflight’ Australian Tour – August 2012