|
|
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals @ Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, Feb 3, 2001Feb 04 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Music
The Bottom Line A good show that dragged in spots, but roared in others. Catch Ben when he comes to your town, no excuses.
I was introduced to Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals a little over two years ago, when they opened for Pearl Jam. I was mildly impressed by Harper and his deft guitar work, and his very capable backup band the Innocent Criminals. Fast forward two years, and I still don't own a Ben Harper CD. How I don't know, what with all the music I buy. But when I found out Ben was playing here in my hometown of Waltham, I couldn't resist going. The venue was Shapiro Gym on the campus of Brandeis University, and it held about 2000 mostly college kids in a wonderful night of music. The show didn't start off too hot with opener Jack Johnson. I had heard he was a Dave Matthews ripoff, and I can safely say that that critique is very true. His songs were for the most part sublime acoustic numbers that tended to be heavy on the bass in parts. The bassist was about the only redeeming quality of the band. Between Johnson's own wannabe Dave Matthews attitude, and the utter lack of talent behind the drumkit, I don't know who was worse. Finally they left the stage after 45 minutes (my remark being "Ben gave them 45 minutes? Ben has to be smoking some strong sh*t to give them 45 minutes!) and within a half hour, the stage was set for Ben. Walking out to a very noisy crowd response, the band wasted no time in ripping into Alone, and then heading into Burn One Down, which many people did, as the exhales of smoke up into the air towards the ceiling signified. After Burn One Down, Ben finally acknowledged the Penguin that someone was holding up (it originally appeared during Johnson's set) and told them to pass it up. I happen to love penguins, as some of you undoubtedly know, and seeing Ben Harper nuzzle a penguin to his cheek was classic stuff. He told an amusing anecdote about a penguin nipping at him in Australia, then said "the penguin's cool, but he ain't getting no prime stage spot, he ain't going on top of the amp." Harper constantly changed guitars, from acoustic to electric, to his custom and textbook slide guitars, with just about every song. Sadly, Harper made it tough on himself to build any momentum, as just when he had brought the house down with a blistering rocker, he would quietly retreat back into an acoustic number or two. This sapped the early energy of the show, and made it quite jarring in places. Ben can recall the attitude and pomp of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan in a single show. Harper sits for most of his set, very rarely standing, but one wishes he would get up and throw out some more energy to the crowd. You could sense a general feeling of restlessness in the crowd by the time the set closer I Rise (with a deafening chant on the chorus) was played, although Harper did get up and did rock out with his band. The first encore saw Harper come out and play acoustic guitar solo for 4 numbers. While the crowd seemed kind of bored, each song got a deafening response as it ended. Perhaps the biggest cheer of the night was for Harper's rendition of Pearl Jam's Indifference, a bluesy number that Harper has just about made his own. With the crowd wanting a rocking ending, Harper obliged, and he seemed to be in an excellent mood all night long. He came back out with his band for a second encore that began with his first real hit so to speak, Steal My Kisses. What's interesting to note is that there were many very young girls there, and I'm wondering if they actually stuck around long enough to hear the one song they actually may have known. When the slide guitar came back out, you knew Faded was coming out, and sure enough, Harper brought the house down right, throwing in a near full rendition of Whole Lotta Love into the middle, before letting his slide guitar sit on his chair while he stood and danced with the penguin in his hand to the delight of just about everyone in the audience. Ahhhh yes, the audience. I haven't seen more annoying people at a show since my Ani DiFranco experience back in October. I was surrounded by a bunch of morons who decided a concert was a good place to take group pictures of themselves, not to mention screaming asinine, inane things, and making fun of other audience members. One kid had a digital camera that I seriously wanted to break. Sorry bout this rant, had to get that off my chest. Overall, this two and a half hour show was pretty damned good, even if slow in spots. Harper's tour has only just begun (he still has 2 or 3 New England dates left this week!), so you should be seeing him soon. The tickets are cheap, and you will be seeing an amazingly talented man with his equally talented band. Ben Harper setlist for 2/3/01, Shapiro Gym, Brandeis University, Waltham MA (from benharper.net) set: Alone, Burn One Down/With My Own Two Hands, Burn To Shine, Excuse Me Mr./Burnin' & Lootin', Ground On Down, Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave/Concrete Jungle, Show Me a Little Shame, Forever, Please Bleed, intro/Forgiven, drums/Like a King/I'll Rise E: Walk Away, Not Fire Not Ice, Pleasure and Pain, Indifference, I Shall Not Walk Alone E2: Steal My Kisses, Faded/Whole Lotta Love/Faded  |
| Read all comments (1)|Write your own comment |
|
Ads by Google
|
by starcollector
by George_Chabot
![Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast Reviews](http://di2.shopping.com/images/pi/95/a4/8a/2006752046-100x100-0-0.jpg?p=p9.4d8439902b044d111d63&a=2&c=1&l=8071320&t=120603065518&r=1)
