This is most definitely a band we like. And one of the coolest chicks ever. If you've never heard her before, you simply gotta check out Beth Hart. She's a brilliant songwriter, she's got a voice and energy like Janis Joplin, and she's the funniest girl I think I've ever heard on stage. Her show is personal. She talks between numbers, telling stories about her crazy life in a completely spontaneous and uncontrived way. I mean, this girl's brutally honest! She lets you know at the get-go she's a recovering alcoholic who used to PAR-TAY! And that's what most of her songs are based on. For example, she's got a song called "My Favorite Things" in which she talks about her fondest experiences. Included in the list is the night she climbed on top of the table during a dinner meeting at Spago with the head of Atlantic Records, the producers of Baywatch, and various Hollywood big wigs, lifted up her dress (she had no panties on), and told them all to kiss her ass! (Apparently, she didn't think the meeting was going too well!) Now, who wouldn't love a chick who did that-and still landed a deal with Atlantic?! Hart is more than entertaining but it's really the music that blows your mind. She is the reincarnation of Janis Joplin with some Bonnie Raitt and Dusty Springfield mixed in. She plays bass, piano, and guitar and is backed by a great group that features bassist Tal Herzberg, guitarist Jimmy Khoury, and drummer Sergio Gonzalez. They do mainly blues numbers but add in some traditional and even punk rock. The energy they exude is over the top and the vibe is pure and real. She is the music, she believes in it all the way-and so do you when you hear her belt out her songs. Hart is a naturally gifted performer who began playing piano at age four. She later attended L.A.'s High School for the Performing Arts, majoring in vocal and cello. In 1993 she started gigging in clubs all over LA and signed to Atlantic's Lava imprint in 1996. The band released its debut album "Immortal" that year, followed by "Screamin' for My Supper" in 1999, and began touring the world. Thanks to Atlantic Records we caught her at Chapman University Saturday night and were bowled over by her talent. She began and ended the show performing a few solo numbers, exhibiting her wide-ranging musical skills, going from piano to guitar to bass, and using her voice as an instrument too. Even though there was a "No Smoking" ordinance, she lit candles on stage and smoked nonstop, declaring, "Let's burn this fucking place down!" which is what she and her band clearly did. That stage was on fire, baby, and she had the whole crowd on their feet, screaming and dancing in the aisles. The Poorman, local ex-KROQ dj who started the MTV hit Loveline and never got paid for it, introduced the band to a diverse crowd, comprised mainly of die hard fans from all different walks of life-a true testament to their broad appeal. After Hart warmed up the audience herself, the band came out and kicked the show into high gear. Hart wriggled and writhed all over the stage and got up close and personal with the audience, both through spilling her guts in song and story, and by dangling her feet off the stage like she was kicking back in her living room, playing for friends. She was called back for three encores, as no one wanted this party to end, and when it finally did she graciously stuck around to mingle with her fans and autograph CDs.I don't become an instant fan easily but I can tell you I am definitely a fan of The Beth Hart Band, and of Beth Hart personally. She is one cool girl who puts on one helluva show.-d-grrrl