Live Review: Harts @ The Zoo
The Iron Eye opened the night with their raucous, almost-DZ Deathrays brand of rock, including a tight cover of The Presets This Boy’s In Love to break up the back-to-back assault of effect-driven noise. Mary Handsome followed on with a relaxed backyard sesh vibe coming over The Zoo, busting out a left-field cover of Kendrick Lamars Swimming Pools (Drank) getting a huge response from punters. The crowd for Mary Handsome was a solid sway, almost like we all became friends by the end of their set (I expect that BBQ invite soon, Mary Handsome).
Finally, the time came for guitar god Harts to hit the stage in eccentric guitar shredder fashion (literally), looking like a mix of Jimi Hendrix and your fave hipster mate who loves paisley more than a fresh Milton Mango. Opening with cinematic opener Smoke from his latest album ‘Smoke Fire Hope Desire’, mood was on high before busting into funky banger Leavn It All Behind. Phones soon came out in droves to capture a man who will be in the history books of modern guitar icons. From the funky jive of Leavn It All Behind to self-confessed “older song” Lovers in Bloom, Harts went from funky beat to funky beat.
Following the one-two punch of guitar shred that was Leavn It All Behind and Lovers in Bloom, Harts took a chance to play some of his more recent material in bulk. He shredding through the almost-rap of Hope, classic feet-mover All Rise, before whipping out an extended jam of Fire (Interlude). Still recovering from the face melt of these, the ominous opening notes of Red and Blue swept over The Zoo like a UFO, before the orgy of guitar fuzz shook Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to it’s dirty, dirty soul.
“More melts than a West End café on a Sunday morning.”
Ending the set with the immensely solid 1-2-3 of When A Man’s A Fool, followed by popular triple j singles Peculiar and Power, Harts gave us one last binge of his funky guitar. When A Man’s A Fool easily went over as the biggest tune of the set with it’s heap of groove, shred, and soul. The Zoo audience then frothed at the biggest guitar solo of the set as Harts played BEHIND HIS HEAD. Power was surprisingly not as strong closing the set with the tune taking on a very different vibe live, not as huge sounding but certainly as funky.
Shaping up to be the modern king of the guitar face, Harts is an incredibly emotive performer when in Shred City: population 1. Mouthing along with funky wah-wah, or having his own face melted by his red hot chops, Harts’ guitar faces were worth price of admission alone and show just how comfortable and in bliss the man is when playing guitar.
With Harts bringing The Zoo to a close it was a huge night of guitar, with solos providing more melts than a West End cafe on a Sunday morning, it’s safe to say sales at Tym Guitars down the street from The Zoo will be up in the following week from the inspiration Harts put in the hearts of punters.
Check out our Photo Gallery of Harts’ recent Melbourne show HERE
