Pearl Jam with Ben Harper and Relentless7 & Liam Finn - Aust & NZ Tour

Pearl Jam have just announced that they are returning to Australia to tour their upcoming album Backspacer, due out on September 14th. To make the gig even more enticingthey have brought along Ben Harper and Relentless7 and Liam Finn to support them. All shows will be held at larger stadium venues with only one show for each city. This will be my second time seeing Pearl Jam after catching their epic two and a half hour show at the Myer Music Bowl in 1995. I was one of the few who had actually purchased a ticket after about 10,000 charged into the gig through a knocked down fence. It was one of my first concerts and I managed to get right up the front which was quickly abondoned when Pearl Jam got on stage as I was getting crushed. I managed to crowd surf (my first and only experience) my way further back for a better position and was treated to an excellent set of hits lasting 2 and a half hours including a great cover of "Throw Your Arms Around Me".

Ben Harper is one of my favourite artists and I am looking forward to seeing him for the sixth time, this time with a new backing band and new songs. Unfortunately his excellent back catalogue will most likely be left behind for his new material but I did enjoy the new direction of White Lies for Dark Times. My first time seeing Ben Harper live was at the Offshore Festival at Torquay in 1999 and I became an instant fan when he opened with Pearl Jam's "Indifference". Hopefully Harper will join Pearl Jam on this tour to colloborate on one of my favourite songs on this tour. The version they did together (see below) on Triple J in 2001 is my favourite live performance ever.
Liam Finn will be opening all the shows in Aus and NZ bringing some new tracks from forthcoming EP Champagne in Seashells which includes the catchy new single "Long Way To Go". See below for dates and be sure to get in quick as they will be sure to sell out fast.
Tickets go on Sale Monday 17th August.

Tour Dates:
Friday, 20 November, 2009: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Ticketmaster - www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100
6pm - Liam Finn
7pm - Ben Harper and Relentless7
8.30pm - Pearl Jam

Sunday, 22 November, 2009: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Ticketek - www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Wednesday, 25 November, 2009: QSAC Stadium, Brisbane
Ticketek - www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Friday, 27 November, 2009: Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand
Ticketek: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842538

Sunday, 29 November, 2009: AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ticketek: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842538

Ticket Prices are about $125 for Gold and $99 for Silver + BF.

New Music - July 2009

Here is what I have been listening to over the past month and some new releases.

Ben Harper and Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times - Album Review

1. Number With No Name
2. Up To You Now
3. Shimmer And Shine
4. Lay There And Hate Me
5. Why Must You Always Dress In Black
6. Skin Thin
7. Fly One Time
8. Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
9. Boots Like These
10. The Word Suicide
11. Faithfully Remain
Rating: ****1/2

Ben Harper's new band Relentless7 has given Harper a new spark and he is showing some of the passion of his earlier releases. The album begins with "Number With No Name" featuring some trademark Harper slide which is good to hear again, especially with distortion. White Lies for Dark Times is Harper's heaviest album to date with his lyrics illustrating some of the anger that the title hints at. "Shimmer and Shine" shows off the talents of his new band with drummer Jordan Richardson adding some excellent percussion fills. As good as his slide is to hear again, Harper's greatest instrument though is his voice which is in fine form as usual. "Keep it Together (So I Can Fall Apart)" has Harper wailing over his wah driven slide which is featured again on "Boots Like These". The slower numbers like "Up To You Now", "The Word Suicide", "Faithfully Remain" and "Skin Thin" work on the album to show off Harper's songwriting talents. " The bluesier rock numbers "Why Must You Always Dress in Black", "Boots Like These" and "Lay There and Hate Me" have Relentless7 in their comfort zone and are a perfect fit for Ben Harper's style. White Lies for Dark Times is a return to form by one of the best musicians of our time and hopefully it will not be the last we hear from Relentless7.

Ben Harper - Triple J's Like a Version

Here is the audio from Ben Harper's recent visit to Triple J's studio to perform "Number With No Name" and a cover of David Bowie's "Under Pressure" for Like A Version. It also includes an interview discussing the new album White Lies for Dark Times,the Bluesfest shows, his recent time on stage with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and the his new band Relentless7. Also included is the video of "Under Pressure" and "Number With No Name" from JJJ's studio without the interviews.

Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times

1. Number With No Name
2. Up To You Now
3. Shimmer And Shine
4. Lay There And Hate Me
5. Why Must You Always Dress In Black
6. Skin Thin
7. Fly One Time
8. Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
9. Boots Like These
10. The Word Suicide
11. Faithfully Remain

Ben Harper has a new band called Relentless7 and the forthcoming new album White Lies for Dark Times is due out May 5th. After hearing a few live versions from the new album it appears Harper's new band will have a more straight forward rock sound compared to his usual multi genre eclectic sound with the Innocent Criminals.
The first single from the album called "Shimmer and Shine" has just been released and it is good to see Harper trying something different.
A Sydney show at the Metro has just been added to his upcoming Bluesfest shows planned at Easter and I am hoping he will add a Melbourne show to the tour so I will get a chance to witness the new band first hand. If not, no doubt he will return later in the year as Australia is one his biggest markets and has toured here nearly every year since his first tour in 93.

Ben Harper and the Relentless7

Here are some cool live clips of Ben Harper with his new band Relenless 7 from a club in California called Spaceland in December last year. Hopefully they will play some extra shows around Australia when they come down in Easter to headline Bluesfest in Byron Bay. Their new album White Lies for Dark Times is due to be released on May 5th. Go to their My Space page to hear "Shimmer and Shine", the first taste of the new album as well as covers of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times" and Prince's "Purple Rain".

http://www.myspace.com/RELENTLESSSEVEN

Under Pressure (David Bowie Cover)


Lay There and Hate Me


Skin Thin


Boots Like These