Harper Saves Some Soul For Florida – Goes FUNK on stage

Harper Saves Some Soul For Florida
Jeff Vrabel, Jacksonville, Fla.
Billboard.com
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals shaped their new record, “Lifeline,” during several months’ worth of soundchecks and knocked it out during one busy week in a Paris studio. So it couldn’t be less surprising to see that it migrates back to the stage with an assured, groovy ease.

Billboard has a great review of the November 1st show… Here is a small excerpt:

On stage, Harper always keeps one foot in the new record, which was played nearly in its entirety — this isn’t a show for “Steal My Kisses” or “Burn One Down” or the ambitious sprawl of “Both Sides of the Gun” or “Diamonds on the Inside.” But the name’s also a bit of a head-fake. Though the show is heavy on the warm, Stax-y tracks that make up the bulk of the record, there are moments when the notorious genre-jumper lets his crack band bring the funk, as they say.

A sprawling cover of “Use Me” turned into an extended funk-soul vamp that found Harper howling at the moon while guitarist Michael Ward went nuts all around him. A Florida-ready cover of Tom Petty’s “Breakdown” was more straightforward but just as welcome.