News / / 12.11.13

GRANT HART

The Exchange, Bristol | November 1st

This summer, Grant Hart released his most accomplished solo album to date. Double album The Argument is an incredibly rich work condensing the religious poetry of John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Hart, best known as drummer, singer and songwriter in Hüsker Dü, came to the work via his friend William Burroughs, who produced an unpublished science fiction manuscript developing Milton’s most epic of subject matters. In the UK for a solo tour, Hart proves he can tackle the eternal questions of life, as well as dodgy amps.

Onstage, Hart is struggling through the start of his set. The amp he’s using is crackling and cutting out, but he carries on regardless. His presence alone seems enough for much of the audience, all of whom seem very familiar with the material. His words get sung back to him as he plays Awake, Arise with virtually no amplified guitar sound. The power of his words is enough, his voice sounding like Bowie at his best, with an added, Dylan-esque weight to the poetry of his songs. The simplicity of his delivery takes nothing away, each so beautifully classic.

Newer tracks like So Far From Heaven and Glorious sit side-by-side with older tracks like California Zephyr and Reflection Of The Moon from his 2009 album Hot Wax. It feels pretty special to hear these songs so stripped down and honestly sung. Even though some dynamics have been lost, the intimate nature of this set highlights the strength of the songwriting. The small and dedicated audience here tonight are basking in his performance, and as he asks them for requests, they shout for tracks already played – odd considering the vast back catalogue on offer. But Hart obliges, offering snippets until he closes with a seminal Hüsker Dü track, Green Eyes. An incredible performance by an incredible and enduring talent.

 

– – – – – – – – – –

granthart.com

Words: Philip James Allen

CONNECT TO CRACK