Beth Jeans Houghton relaxes upstairs in the Slaughtered Lamb with her band, the Hooves of Destiny, donning layers and layers of black eyeliner and covering her short pixie cut with a massive backcombed blond wig. She’s not quite a star yet, even though this, her first headlining show in the capital, is sold out.
Her popularity, helped by the ‘Golden’ single she released a few months back, millions of live performances and the variety of skimpy outfits she wears on stage, doesn’t seem to phase her. The 19-year-old is full of chat, wit and observation. The costume and joking could quite easily be a front for her nerves, but there’s no need – she has her audience captivated and they listen, quiet as mice, to every song.
The sound isn’t the best in the Lamb’s basement and it’s difficult to hear to lone violin and trumpet over Beth’s soothing, breathy vocals and guitar, especially when the reverb is layered on. “We’ve just discovered reverb,” she tells the crowd, asking for more, more, more. But luckily, she keeps it simple and light enough to let her intricate and old-fashioned melodies shine through.
‘Lily Putt’, the last song on her new ‘Hot Toast’ E.P., launched at the gig, is the first tonight. It starts sweet and soft, like some 60’s French pop song before galloping into its upbeat verses and its hugely catchy chorus.
The catchiness continues with an old song, ‘Harlequin’, not available on this new E.P. or her ‘Golden’ single. It’s a great song though, full of rich harmonies. It really brings the band together and shows that Beth isn’t scared of showcasing her past triumphs to a new audience. A violin solo in the form of the Antiques Roadshow theme is a sweet addition, although a little tricky to hear. Better mics next time please.
From old to new…incredibly new! ‘Dodecahedron’, written just two days before, is beautiful. Although it obviously needs work, it shows Beth’s grasp on complex harmonies, making a simple, repetitive song full of life.
Swapping guitar for keyboard she performs ‘Night Swimmer’, looping her vocals to bring the audience the layered harmonies they’ve been missing until now and, after a bit of ‘Ding Dang Dong’, she sings her best-known song to date, ‘Golden’, through gritted teeth. “I really don’t want to play it”, she says, and her smile-less face shows her revolt, but it’s still lovely, with looped three-part harmonies working beautifully together. Let’s hope she doesn’t turn her back on it just yet.
E.P. producer Mike Lindsay from Tuung joins the Hooves for ‘I Will Return, I Promise’, while Beth dons banjo. It’s raucous and fun, coming across better than the recorded version, and ends Beth’s headline debut on the perfect note. Try and see her soon because she’ll be selling out bigger venues before too long.
Words by Gemma Hampson
