CONCERT REVIEW: John Hiatt, Zurich, Switzerland
- Reto Koradi
Besides releasing one excellent album after the other, John Hiatt has also gained a solid (yet much too small) fan base through his live performances. This Monday night was off for an excellent start with supporting act Katell Keineg; you just can't stop wondering why she doesn't seem to hit it big.
John Hiatt entered the stage alone, starting the show with an acoustic version of "Alone In The Dark". Almost from the first second, it was clear that it would be one of those concerts where all the pieces would just fall together. An artist who is obviously in a great mood - entering the stage with a big smile - and an audience which immediately connects. The first part of the set mainly consisted of tracks from the new album Little Head . While many times people prefer to hear their old favorites, the new material was quite well received. Songs like "Pirate Radio" and "Sure Pinocchio", which sound slightly simplistic on the album, gained a good deal in their more energetic live rendition, and turned out to be immediate winners. From the slower songs, "Far As We Go" showed that it has everything to make it a new Hiatt classic.
Later in the show - and even more so in the numerous encores requested by the enthusiastic audience - Hiatt and his band performed a well balanced cross section of his output from the last 20 years. Unavoidable, and always a special highlight, was "Have A Little Faith In Me". It is simply amazing that he can still play it with so much dedication, and giving it a new twist every time, after having played it thousands of times. One reason why he never gets tired of his classic songs is certainly the possibility to play them in different ways. "Thing Called Love", which can also make a wonderful slow track, came along as punching rock number this time.
While Hiatt himself always stands in the center, his band also deserves mentioning. Each member was technically perfect, and they managed to sound relaxed and spontaneous, while at the same time being incredibly precise and perfectly in synch.
Apart from the musical output, Hiatt also captured the audience as a highly gifted stage performer. He always shows that he really enjoys playing, and his facial expressions make you feel glad that he plays in small enough venues where you can see him from 10 feet away. He smiles almost all of the time, and his wide open, burning eyes seek contact with the audience. There is really no need for gadgets like video walls; a bunch of red and blue spot lights are all they need.
The only thing left to be desired was that the show would have been longer. But even good things have to come to an end, and everybody in the audience probably felt privileged to have been part of such a special event. It was one of those rare concerts where everything fits together.
