Seven Arts, Leeds
Saturday, 14th September 2024
A double header of the John Hackett Band and The Blackheart Orchestra. Seeing just one of them, on their own, would have justified all the travelling and the price of the ticket, but both together? I just knew it would be a wonderful night.
THE BLACKHEART ORCHSTRA
Comprising of the beautiful Chrissy Mostyn and, as my companion described him, the teddy bear of a man Rick Pilkington, The Blackheart Orchestra were first on stage. With their floor space taken up with a vast array of instruments, they are billed as the smallest orchestra in the world. However do not think that claim is just a gimmick as their musical craftsmanship is well up to the task of utilizing them all, just not all at the same time. A feat that I’d have loved to see them try, but maybe someday.
They have described their songs as being dark but do not let that put you off, I would rather say that they sing songs about the human condition which might sound bleak but, with a voice like a cross between Björk and Kate Bush, Chrissy delivered all the songs with such passion and emotion that it leaves the listener feeling uplifted and wanting more.
The set comprised of songs from their back catalogue, many from their latest album, Hotel Utopia, and a couple of new tracks that will be on the next album which I am eagerly awaiting to add to my collection. Bloodlines is their forthcoming single and is definitely worth checking out as well. And of course, they finished the set with their crowd pleaser The Flood, a true Prog classic that the audience have come to expect at every concert. What is not to love?
Africa
Raise Your Heart
A Dangerous Thing
The Tide
Under The Headlights
Stars
Astronaut
Better
Lifetime
Bloodlines
Before
Now That We Are Ghosts
Drown Me Out
The Flood
Chrissy Mostyn – Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Omnichord
Rick Pilkington – Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Backing Vocals
LINKS:
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | X | Instagram
JOHN HACKETT BAND
Next on stage were the John Hackett Band, a group of amazingly talented musicians who could quite easily show up many of the more famous names in the industry. John Hackett on flute, keyboard and vocals, Jeremy Richardson on bass, guitar and vocals, the guitar virtuoso Nick Fletcher and on drums, and comedy interlude, the irrepressible Duncan Parsons.
Although I have seen the JHB many times and enter each show expecting to see pretty much the same thing every time, I am always blown away by how they manage to make each concert seem to be fresh, as if the polished musicianship was really a newly formed teenage band chomping at the bit to be noticed.
Starting off with the rousing Spyglass/Whispers they set the tone for a high energy show that had my feet tapping all the way through. There were a few songs that addressed the world troubles and the Orwellian society we seem to be fast approaching but they were not preachy and just delivered them so that it was up to the listener to interpret the lyrics as they liked. But there was, as always with the band, plenty of humour with the song Queenie And Elmo’s Perfect Day and, rather than a long drum solo, while the rest of the band go and have a drink and catch their breath, Duncan Parsons escaped from the drum kit, came to the front of the stage and delivered his infamously cringe worthy, but hilarious, comedy/quiz routine.
After that it was back to the music, starting with Dream Town and other powerhouse songs until they got to their hauntingly beautiful rendition of King Crimson’s I Talk To The Wind.
There were a couple of tracks off their forthcoming album, including Red Institution and then they finished with the racing instrumental track Red Hair.
A tremendous set made all the more impressive because Nick Fletcher had cracked ribs, yet he battled through the pain so that nobody in the audience would have been able to tell that he was anything but fit and well.
In the words of Frankie Valli, “Oh what a night”.
[Photos by Chris Simmons]
SETLIST
Spyglass – Whispers
Theme & Rondo
The Committee
Burnt Down Trees
Queenie And Elmo’s Perfect Day
Quiz (monologue sketch)
Dream Town
Winds of Change
Who Let the Rain In
Clare’s Tango
I talk to the Wind
Red Institution
Life in Reverse/That Ship
~ Encore:
Red Hair
MUSICIANS
John Hackett – Vocals, Flute, Keyboards, Guitar
Nick Fletcher – Guitar
Jeremy Richardson – Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar
Duncan Parsons – Drums
LINKS
John Hackett Band – John Hackett Website | Facebook | YouTube | X