The Ben Harper experience
Thu 10 August 2006
Gemma Colvin, Communication
Ben Harper and his band the Innocent Criminals, toured Australia in June to promote their new two-disc album Both Sides of the Gun, which debuted at number one on the Australian music charts.
Harper's seventh album, is divided into hard and soft, the tough and the sweet.
But as the Californian multi-instrumentalist says on his website: “I hate to call it the hard disc and the soft disc because sometimes the soft stuff hits you harder than anything else.”
His first Queensland show on Saturday, June 24, 2006 sold out so fast that a second show had to be added to accommodate all those fans who missed out first time around.
This came as no surprise to his many loyal fans, as many will remember that all Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals' shows in Australia, sell out in record time with Queensland usually being the first. This may have something to do with our laid-back, coastal lifestyle that is reflected in Ben Harpers smooth, bluesy folk-rock music.
I met Ben a few hours before the start of his second Brisbane show on Saturday night. He stated that he was really pleased with his first Brisbane show, and said he had received a warm reception and positive energy from the audience. When complimented on his music, Harper said he liked to see personally how his music reflects on the world and on people. He also said he loved to get out and meet his fans, and was always humbled that people love his music and can get something out of it. For that he declared, he was very grateful and blessed.
Harper treated his fans to a show filled with lights, laughter and great music. The Innocent Criminals, a tight knit, five-man unit provided the perfect backdrop for Harper's soulful voice.
The crowd, made up of everyone from young teens to mothers and sons, sang along to tunes such as Diamonds on the Inside, With my own two hands and Mama's got a girlfriend now. Harper sat under a single spotlight, mesmerizing his fans as he played his quieter, slower songs such as Forever.
He continued to sit with his slide guitar positioned on his lap, for his song Whipping boy, in which he played an extended version of the chorus, drawing cheers and whistles of appreciation from the crowd.
However, the song that I felt stood out was a revised, longer version of Burn one down which saw Harper accompany his drummer on the bongos for the best drumming performance I have ever seen.
Mid way through his performance, surprise guest and close friend of Harper's - Jack Johnson made an appearance on stage, drawing loud cheers from the excited crowd.
Harper finished off with a long encore. Before walking off stage he thanked his audience for coming – to which the audience responded with cheers of appreciation that lasted long after he had gone.
Image(s) designed by Ben Harper.net
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Submitted Comments
This is a well written article with good use of interesting quotes from Ben Harper. Gemma is lucky that she met Ben!
Lucy