Beverley Knight at The ICA

On Thursday we went to see Beverley Knight play in the box known as the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) as a prelude to her new album due out next week. We saw Bev a few weeks back doing a short acoustic set at the National Portrait Gallery so it was nice to see her new show, all ready for touring over the autumn. And she is *hot*!

On came the band, her usual trio of backing singers and then on strode Beverley, wreathed in smiles, waving at the crowd and then launched into the music. The band were tight and the singers a fun occasional foil for Bev striding round the stage, throwing her head back and giving it some heavy lung action, pointing and high kicking, the woman was tiring to watch but a fantastic sight. She looked like she was having the time of her life up there on stage and giving us her full "100%" which is the title of the new album.

The set was a mix of oldies and newies from the new record, a setlist to please everyone and remind us what a great back catalogue she has. 'Made It Back' and 'Flavour Of The Old School' got us off to a great start, a great extended moody, blues version of 'Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda', and an extended version of 'Piece Of My Heart' (always best live) with Bev giving it some heavy rock vocals and throwing herself round the stage. She also gave us the perennial favourite 'Gold' and a version of the Bee Gees' 'Too Much Heaven'.

The new songs were really excellent, fit right in with the rest of the set but sounding fresh and new. There's the new single (out on Monday), 'Beautiful Night', the great 'Soul Survivor' (which Bev said summed up her feelings over the past 15 years of her career) and what I think is my new favourite, 'In Your Shoes' with the great message of 'get a life and make it work'. I'm looking forward to hearing the album versions of these songs. The encore was, of course, 'Come As You Are' with some great funky guitar-work with flashes of Shaftesque riffing which sounded great.

Beverley has a great voice, a lovely personality, some excellent songs and she never gives less than 100% in her shows so it's a bit of a puzzle why she isn't bigger. She certainly sent me home happy and sweaty after her show at the ICA, and looking forward to the new record. Maybe this will be the record that does it for her. And this time I brought my camera ...