Kaz Hawkins and Her Band, The Guildhall, Lichfield

Imagine, if you can Janis Joplin fronting Chic, and you have some idea of the level of imagination and musicianship that Kaz Hawkins and her band bought to bear for their show at Lichfield Guildhall as part of their first UK tour.

Playing songs from their recent, critically acclaimed release, Get Ready the group play a wide selection of their own songs, as well as a choice selection of covers. With a voice that was part Etta James, Janis Joplin, and part Bonnie Raitt, Kaz Hawkins lead the band through an explosive, but commercial mix of blues, rock and soul, and some disco rhythms thrown in for good measure.

Her three piece band of drummer Ross Hawkins, bassist Michael McKinney and lead guitarist Nick McConkey provide sympathetic backing that leaves plenty for the ears and feet to digest, providing funky, motown inspired riffs one moment, to heartrending ballad playing the next, but the star of the show is Hawkins herself, leading the band, and the audience through the life that had inspired her work.

‘Believe With Me’ a waltz time ballad was a song about redemption and self belief, and ‘I'm Mad, but I Love You’ looks at the trials that all relationships go through; a melodic southern rock song with traces of the Allman Brothers, ‘Drink with the Devil’ is a swing jazz number. Vocally, the highlight of the first set is ‘Born to Me Baby’, a slow blues number that shows off the highs of Hawkin’s voice, and the pin sharp playing of the group. A rare cover is thrown in with Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ which robbed the song of it usual bombast, and instead had a far more intimate treatment for this reading.

Though the set half packs in a lot more upbeat numbers, it still leaves space for a heartfelt ‘Lipstick and Cocaine’ which is a largely autobiographical song, whilst a new song ‘It Ain’t You’ is a stomping disco flavoured piece which will hopefully become a live favourite.

This was a fine concert, and hopefully the band will go on to reap the rewards that they so richly deserve.Imagine, if you can Janis Joplin fronting Chic, and you have some idea of the level of imagination and musicianship that Kaz Hawkins and her band bought to bear for their show at Lichfield Guildhall as part of their first UK tour.

Playing songs from their recent, critically acclaimed release, Get Ready the group play a wide selection of their own songs, as well as a choice selection of covers. With a voice that was part Etta James, Janis Joplin, and part Bonnie Raitt, Kaz Hawkins lead the band through an explosive, but commercial mix of blues, rock and soul, and some disco rhythms thrown in for good measure.

Her three piece band of drummer Ross Hawkins, bassist Michael McKinney and lead guitarist Nick McConkey provide sympathetic backing that leaves plenty for the ears and feet to digest, providing funky, motown inspired riffs one moment, to heartrending ballad playing the next, but the star of the show is Hawkins herself, leading the band, and the audience through the life that had inspired her work.

‘Believe With Me’ a waltz time ballad was a song about redemption and self belief, and ‘I'm Mad, but I Love You’ looks at the trials that all relationships go through; a melodic southern rock song with traces of the Allman Brothers, ‘Drink with the Devil’ is a swing jazz number. Vocally, the highlight of the first set is ‘Born to Me Baby’, a slow blues number that shows off the highs of Hawkin’s voice, and the pin sharp playing of the group. A rare cover is thrown in with Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ which robbed the song of it usual bombast, and instead had a far more intimate treatment for this reading.

Though the set half packs in a lot more upbeat numbers, it still leaves space for a heartfelt ‘Lipstick and Cocaine’ which is a largely autobiographical song, whilst a new song ‘It Ain’t You’ is a stomping disco flavoured piece which will hopefully become a live favourite.

This was a fine concert, and hopefully the band will go on to reap the rewards that they so richly deserve.