Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals

On the surface it may seem that Jeff Buckley and Ben Harper have nothing in common. In fact musically they're nothing alike. But what they share is a commitment to and respect for music. They not only perform but live their music. Words barely whispered but spoken from the soul straight to the audience's heart. The ability to hush a crowd without raising voice. And what a voice. Harper's warm, husky "cracked coffee bean voice" against the backdrop of his honey sweet 1920's Weissenborn lap slide guitar.

Anticipation to see the man and his band who last year managed to sell out shows on their first Australian tour based purely on word of mouth, was further heightened when we were left waiting for 45 minutes between sets. Support act 17 year old Ben Lee experienced "technical difficulties", but not for want of trying on his behalf. Warily telling us before he started, "we're all going to have a nice time, it'll be a nice night if we're all just nice to each other and get along," Lee stood alone on stage with nothing but his voice, his acoustic and his homemade brand of songs. The crowd appreciated his courage and indeed were "nice" to him but it was soon ended after he busted a string, making a brief return before leaving the stage with apologies.

Harper and The Innocent Criminals launched into a set with old favourites from his first two albums Welcome to the Cruel World and Fight For Your Mind as well as a few to look out for on new album The Will To Live, to be released in Australia in May. Easing us in with Roses From My Friends and the rocking first single from the third album Faded, Harper showed us not only could he put a sweet satisfied smile on our faces, but also rock us out with a burning cover of Voodoo Chile that would have had done Hendrix proud.

The diversity of the set was trademark for Harper, a unique fusion of blues, reggae, rock, R&B, funk and soul. On stage he seemed at times in a trance: eyes-closed, sitting low crouched over his lap-slide, absorbed by the rhythm, sheltered in the cocoon of the songs, he delivered his spirited poetry which explores politics and religion as thoroughly as it does relationships and the inner most thoughts of the individual's mind.

Juan Nelson showed us what he's made of with some of the most amazing improvisations I have heard come from any bass, and the appreciation of the crowd, not to mention of Harper was loudly demonstrated. Fight For Your Mind and Ground On Down couldn't have lasted long enough. The acoustic only made its way into Harper's arms twice that night, further heightening their quiet impact, for some stirring performances of Forever and first encore Widow of a Living Man. If you listened hard enough, you could hear the crowd sigh.

The crowd were treated to two encores. Pure joy radiated from both the bands' and the audiences' faces. And after uniting us with Harper's people power anthem I'll Rise, Harper thanked us while we all stood wondering how long we will have to wait for another experience like this.

Hopefully not too long. Rumour has it he may once gain bless us in October.