Ben Harper
27th February 2020
Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Andre Fleming. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.
I have a confession to make…
Thursday night, inside a rather hot and sticky Logan Campbell Centre was where I was finally able to see Ben Harper. Live. For the first time. A regular visitor to Aotearoa, there is much love and respect for Harper, a feeling that appears to be reciprocated tenfold from the man himself.
Performing with a small band which included Juan Nelson on bass delivering some of the funkiest damn notes I have ever had the pleasure of being in the presence of and Leon Mobley on percussion – a man who just beams unparalleled joy – Harper performed a set two hours in length and filled to the brim with both originals and outstanding covers. Having entered the music scene in the early nineties, Harper has both an impressive back catalogue and a few shiny trophies commonly known as Grammy’s tucked away in the cupboard, a testament to just how widespread his music is valued across the world.
Taking to the stage in a camouflage print style jacket and wide-brimmed hat, Harper began his set a little earlier than expected for a few patrons who came in around songs three and four, the missing of ‘Gold to Me’ and the ever popular ‘Steal My Kisses’ causing a few looks of annoyance for the late arrivals; the songs for me bringing back memories of summer evenings and family dinners. I particularly loved the summer vibes this intro brought to the room, even though I was cursing the oppressive heat under my breath.
‘Burn One Down’ with its reggae rhythms delivered so joyfully by Mobley had the entire crowd feeling the love, the words of the song ones that more people should take on board in this world today. Sliding straight into a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Are You Experienced?’ and then from there into one of my favourite tracks to have ever been gifted to my ears – Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’ – Nelson demonstrating just what he could do with that bass guitar, I was in seventh heaven. This was a trio of songs that uplifted, entertained, and brought the room together as one, a smattering of individuals on the edge of the crowd only doing themselves a disservice by incessantly talking through most of the show.
While I have been informed this is one of the smallest bands he has ever appeared on stage with here in New Zealand, it certainly didn’t sound like it. Each track was rich with layers of sound, and feelings of closeness, roots that ran deep between artist and fans reflected in the eyes of many parents who had brought their children to witness what fulfills their hearts and souls. Something I could relate to greatly coming from a home that was never silent, music of all genres filling the rooms almost day and night. The moments where Harper stripped it back and went solo, either on his acoustic, electric or iconic slide guitar just as – if not more – satisfying as the rest of the show.
One last cover of the set came in the form of ‘Them Changes’ by Buddy Miles; it wasn’t a track that I have to admit I was overly familiar with, but again Harper made it his own and I found myself hunting down footage as soon as I got home, a sign of good performance if ever there was one. Only one thing seemed strange to me, and that was the fact that Harper seemed a little distant, at times his demeanour almost closed off to those that were in front of him. This was later explained towards the end of the set as Harper spoke of his love and connection to Aotearoa and his desire to “make a record” every time he steps out onto the stage, his apology for seeming distant unneeded once I realised how much he desires to give his all every single time. In fact, I was deeply touched and honoured to be present in that moment.
‘Diamonds on the Inside’ was of course another favourite of the crowd, the communal singalong once again uniting the room before an encore of the moving ‘Welcome to the Cruel World’ and ‘Glory & Consequence’ with a middle section that saw Harper and crew cover ‘Jeremy’ from Pearl Jam (you have no idea how euphoric I was when he began to sing it!) finishing the night off perfectly. There was even a request from Harper to help him sing Happy Birthday to Leon Mobley!
Harper is a true performer, his connection to New Zealand imbuing his sets here on our lands with something that I believe would never be able to be replicated anywhere else in the world.
Were you there at the Logan Campbell Centre for this Alternative Blues Rock gig? Or have you seen Ben Harper perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Gold To Me
- Steal My Kisses
- The Woman In You
- Burn One Down
- Are You Experienced? [Jimi Hendrix cover]
- Superstition [Stevie Wonder cover]
- Walk Away
- Roses From My Friends
- When It’s Good
- Forever
- Fight For Your Mind
- Them Changes [Buddy Miles cover]
- Ground On Down
- Diamonds On The Inside
- Better Way
- Welcome To The Cruel World [encore]
- Glory & Consequence/Jeremy [encore]
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