The vibe, creative soul, and twisting guitar wizardry of Ben Harper is rolling into The Ritz in Raleigh this Saturday and Sunday. Anyone who hopes to hear the humble espouser of eclectism share his gospel is cordially invited to attend.
Harper's music draws from a melting pot of styles and emotions that create a musical and lyrical experience that's aesthetically removed from modern mainstream music. Harper's timeless songs, which span several acclaimed albums, ring as true and timeless as Bob Marley, sing as convincingly as Muddy Waters and speak with the social conscience of Maya Angelou. He's no classic rock cover band, but Harper has one eye on the past as he keeps his outlook on the future. And while his albums can deliver both pleasure and pain, Ben Harper's live performances offer far more.
It usually goes like this. Ben ambles onto stage, eyes belying nothing but a calm and tranquil expression. The crowd roars. Then, he sits down, ready to wrest every possible twisting note from his classic German guitar that requires the position.
In a time of artsy glitz and glamour, Ricky Martins and Christina Aguileras, where flashiness and displays are everything, Harper brings a welcome serenity to his live shows. He avoids on-stage antics and sticks to simple "thank yous" in between songs. His shyness exudes sheer humility. Once he gets going, his sets range from warm acoustic solos to powerfully brazen songs, each weaving a distinct mosaic of color to his inspired narrative. Both passionate and deliberate, Ben keeps all eyes on him even without laser lights and electric-blue hot pants.
Ben Harper wants to tell you a story. Do you want to listen?
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