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It’s not an exaggeration to say that music has been a key part of Harper’s life right from the very get go; when he was growing up in Pomona, his grandparents ran a revered music store, The Folk Music Center and Museum. It was frequented by genuine musical luminaries, including Leonard Cohen and blues legend Taj Mahal; the latter was surely an influence in Harper’s teens, when, after playing his first-ever gig at the age of just twelve, he became deeply enamoured with the music of blues forefather Robert Johnson.
Harper’s never just been a straightforward bluesman, though; the first concert he ever attended, at the age of nine, was headlined by Bob Marley, and he’s often spoken of the importance of reggae to his own sound, which also incorporates funk, soul and folk.
Harper – who has a diverse CV that includes amongst his achievements the discovery and signing of Jack Johnson as well as a cameo in the David Lynch film ‘Inland Empire’ – released a slew of well-received records in the nineties, often backed by his band, The Innocent Criminals, but it’s actually been since the turn of the century that he’s enjoyed most success; he’s scooped three Grammy Awards, two for his collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama, ‘There Will Be a Light’, in 2005, and another for ‘Get Up!’, the record he released with Charlie Musselwhite in 2013.
American singer-songwriter Ben Harper is one of those artists that hasn’t quite managed to capture the magic of his live performances on his studio recordings. It’s not that his albums are in anyway bad (far from it, he has created many of my favourite albums), but that he is so exceptional live that his recordings pale in comparison.
I first saw him at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, back in 2004 with his backing band The Innocent Criminals. From the opening of "Take My Mind" to closer "With My Own Two Hands / War," he was absolutely incredible, his distinctive voice impassioned and his guitar skills far more electric than you’d imagine. His more rock-inspired songs, like the funky "Brown Eyed Blues" and the stoner rock of "Temporary Remedy," were accentuated with otherworldly guitar solos and near-screamed vocals.
However, I have always been a bigger fan of his softer side, and he often dedicates large segments of his concerts to an acoustic section. On this particular night in London he performed delicate solo versions of "Waiting On An Angel" and "Walk Away," both beautiful, but the best song was a moving rendition of "Amen Omen."
Ben Harper has had a long and versatile career, performing in different projects and trying his hand at a variety of genres, but the one thing that has remained consistent is the quality of his thrilling and intimate live shows.
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