Nicole Hart Live Performance Review: Live at the Double Door Inn, Charlotte, NC, 11/6/2009

Nov. 24, 2009 - PRLog -- The history of the Blues in America started with a woman’s voice.  In 1920, singer Mamie Smith recorded “Crazy Blues.” This started a craze that was called. unfortunately, “race records.”  “Crazy Blues”  sold over a million copies and encouraged the record companies to start recording Blues. From Mamie Smith to Bessie Smith(no relation) to Etta James and Betty Lavette, the women of the Blues have strengthened and supported the foundation from which the Blues continues.

I have been lucky to have seen many exciting concerts of the ladies of the Blues. I saw Shemekia Copeland when she was just 11 years old.  I opened for Johnny Copeland in Virginia Beach, VA. in 1990.  Midway during his set he brought Shemekia out and this little girl threw her head back and let loose with a voice that made the hurricane seem tame. I saw the late, Koko Taylor burn Jimmy Vaughn to death when she opened for him in 1999 at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Charlotte’s own Robin Rogers froze the sweat on the back of my neck in 2009 when I heard her do her tune “Color blind angel.”  I now can add “Blue Leaf Records” recording artist, Nicole Hart to this list.

I went with fellow Charlotte Blues Society member Bill Montgomery to Nicole’s show at the Double Door Inn on November 6th. Nicole Hart truly amazed us both! Backed by an exceptional, crackerjack band of flaming guitarist, Sean Villere, 23 year old wunderkind drummer, Ian Carroll, funky as you please bassist, Martell Brown and genius keyboardist/arranger/husband (lucky man!) Lance Ong, Nicole added a new layer of historical smoke on the hallowed, wooden walls of the Double Door Inn!

Opening with Wanda Jackson’s “Heart Trouble,” Mr. Montgomery and I looked at each other and realized that we were seeing great Blues in action at the Double Door Inn. The stage caught fire in 8 seconds flat with the roars, whispers, shouts, and celestial movements of Ms. Hart’s voice. She is truly one of the best ladies of the Blues.

The first set was an exciting mixture of exceptional originals and sharply arranged covers.  The highlights of the set for me were the title track of Nicole’s CD “Treasure.” ( See the review in this issue) “Treasure” boasts the clever lines of “that woman’s trash is this woman’s treasure.” This tune was written by Nicole and keyboardist Lance Ong.  Another great Ong original during the set is “The other side of the world.” The chord structure of this tune reminds me a little bit of B.B. King’s the “Thrill is gone.” However, there is never any attempt to steal the thunder from Mr. B and the lyrics demonstrate one of the more interesting aspects of Nicole’s stage presence and patter which is an embracing of the spiritual side of the Blues and the humility that  it takes to perform and embrace the best aspects this music can offer.

The spiritual side of Nicole’s music also is demonstrated in her choice of covers. She covered both Stevie Winwood’s, “Can’t find my Way Home” and Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” Both of these songs are about spiritual journeys of a sort and the arrangements of these songs are stellar and totally original. ”Higher ground” opened with an incendiary keyboard solo by Lance Ong. Nicole’s stage movements are exciting and sensual without ever being crass. Her use of the microphone stand as a stage prop could rival both Robert Plant and Roger Daltrey. I suggest that they both take notes.

The second set further demonstrated the band’s abilities to make Blues classics new.  The outstanding song of this set was a swinging version of Slim Harpo’s, “Hip Shake Baby.” Nicole is a genuinely friendly person and gives everything she has to the audience both on and off  the stage.  Mr. Montgomery and I felt that we have been blessed to see this show.  I saw Blues history in the making and her name is Nicole Hart.

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The CHARLOTTE BLUES SOCIETY (CBS) is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the American Blues tradition through the presentation of concerts, forums, and educational programs in Charlotte and the surrounding areas.

CBS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors and operated by an all-volunteer staff. CBS is an affiliated member of The Blues Foundation, the umbrella organization for a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues societies and has individual memberships around the globe

Charlotte Blues Society
P.O. Box 32752
Charlotte, NC 28232-2752