THE HEAVY HITTERS – LIVE AT BARTLEM BEATS

AMP doesn’t feature many cover or tribute bands as the website is many dedicated to up and coming original artists but occasionally we make an exception if the band is remarkably singular. And the Heavy Hitters based out of Ct. is one of those first-rate ensembles that rise above.

Fronted by the amazing Heather Joseph (who AMP had the pleasure of previously interviewing), The Heavy Hitters are a group whose members are extraordinary musicians. Each player is a master on his instrument. Guitarist Chuck Beckman is outstanding. He can easily segue from a dynamic guitar riff to a funky interlude with little hesitation. Chuck’s guitar solos are emotive with a rich intensity. Robert Liptrot handles his bass with a smooth precision and delivers a cool and brazen edge. Drummer Steve Cioppa is impressive. His percussions deliver an explosive barrage of sound while remaining in impeccable harmony with the band. Glen Masso’s keyboards are the glue that holds their sound together.

Heather is a story by herself. Her voice is massive with an enviable range. Her powerful vocals transcends genres. She can effortlessly sing touching ballads that soften the listeners hearts as well as rocking classics that have the crowd dancing in the aisles. The soulful timbre of her voice is monstrous. It’s a cross between Janis and Amy Winehouse, yet better. This lady can belt it out. On top of that, Heather’s showmanship is deliriously propulsive. She makes sure the audience leaves totally satisfied.

AMP recently caught The Heavy Hitters at the Bartlem Beats Concert Series in Cheshire, Ct. This is a local town show but taken to the max. The staging and lightening were spectacular. The sound was just as vibrant. All courtesy of Powerstation Events, a local full service entertainment and event production company. They were just as formidable as the band was majestic. They produced the perfect sound for a perfect band on a perfect night.

The Heavy Hitter played a wide array of tunes at Bartlem. They rocked out to such classics as “Barracuda”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Hard To Handle”. The funked up the house with “Play That Funky Music” and “Uptown Funk”. And soulified Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie”  and Joplin”s, “Take A Little Piece of My Heart”. The band played wonderfully, never missing a beat. The Heavy Hitters switched gears constantly, always keeping the attendees guessing what was coming next. It didn’t matter. The audience ate it all up. Kids were dancing. Adults were hooting and clapping and all the while Heather was pulling the strings.

You could see that the band was really getting into the night as their playing displayed a killer force growing after each song. They felt the energy of the crowd and morphed that into kinetic heat. Beckman’s guitar flashed with a dramatic burn. Liptrot’s bass got bolder with an avalanche of aural keenness. Masso’s keyboards hit new highs and Cioppa’s drumming had a ruthless determination. The Heavy Hitters were hitting on all cylinders. All this and Heather was a human dynamo. She flung herself into the audience to even heighten the electricity further. It was a pleasure to watch. And again, Powerstation Events powered through an incredible display of light and sound.

The Heavy Hitter ended the night with Journey’s, “Don’t Stop Believin”. It was the ideal finish to a fabulous evening of music. Everyone was totally contented and all I heard from the people around me was how wonderful the show was. Like I said, we don’t do a lot of cover bands here at AMP but this is beyond cover. The Heavy Hitters are one of the best. If you get a chance, please catch a performance. They are just that good.

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To learn more about The Heavy Hitters., check out their website

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