Ben Harper - True Legend

drop-the-leash
drop-the-leash Posts: 190
edited November 2009 in Other Music
Ben Harper @ Sydney Airport - 24-11-09

Why did I have a Magnum Ego for breakfast? Commonsense seems not to be so common from where I sit...

So upon checking into my flight home @ Sydney Airport it was off to peruse the insanely overpriced farsicle known as the airport food court. Maccas, Red Rooster, Krispy Kreme... Just looking at this crap made my stomach churn.

Subway...eat fresh! Wait up, it's Relentless 7! Sweet, those guys rock! So I make a bee-line for Subway, chickening out of making contact at the last second. Suck it up princess!

So, standing around aimlessly...appearing more and more like a groupie...I looked around in desperation, "someone get me outa this awkwardness!!"

Hallelujah! Sitting at a bench, all incognito in his slick black leather jacket and funky yellow cross-hatched cap was the cool cat himself, Mr. Ben Harper.

Mission target change. Lock on. In for the kill!

I walked up to him from the side as he was finishing his lunch. "Sorry to interrupt your lunch Mr. Harper", as I thrust out my hand to shake one of the most badass strumming hands in all of rock.

As he chewed down the last of his roll he waved his hands around apologetically as if he were the one to be sorry for eating while another fan waited to harrass him.

I waited for him to swallow the remnants of his meal, "I just wanted to thank you for an amazing 4 shows so far, and another one to come tomorrow night".

Graciously he turned the thanks back around on the fans with such poise that I felt as though I was receiving a personal thank you from the man himself. He expressed his amazement of the crowd on the tour, and how much energy there was at each gig. I informed that being up the front for most of the gigs I could indeed confirm there was a lot of positive energy in the air, and that everyone was looking after each other. Ben was so happy to hear that, he stated that he would pass it on to Ed.

I then went on to say how blown away I was upon seeing the lineup with his band supporting Pearl Jam, and again he stated that they were the blessed ones to be able to play with such a great group of guys as Pearl Jam, and to perform for the amazing crowds in Australia.

So humble, so gracious, so genuinely blown away by the tour...

Just as I bid him a farewell so the man could have some peace, he asked me MY name, and shook my hand again, thanking ME for helping to make an amazing tour...for without the fans there would be empty space.

A Legend for the ages...Mr. Ben Harper.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • ArmchairJammer
    ArmchairJammer Posts: 294
    Thats awesome dude! :D

    Sooo wish he was supporting back on the UK tour, seen him twice and each show was incredible!!
    2009 - Shephards Bush, Manchester, London
    2010 - Belfast, London, Berlin, Arras, Werchter
    2012 - Manchester 1+2, Berlin 1+2, Stockholm, Oslo
    2014 - Berlin, Leeds, Milton Keynes
  • pjfan021
    pjfan021 Posts: 684
    never seen him...i need to though. he's one of the best slide guitar players around no doubt. that's an awesome story.
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    That's fucking awesome, dude! Ben Harper is the MAN!!
  • Thoughts_Arrive
    Thoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    Some guys in front of me in the line at Adelaide said they met him the night before and that he's a good bloke.
    Very easy to chat to.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • Random_Wookie
    Random_Wookie Posts: 1,099
    wow thats amazing
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  • dimitrispearljam
    dimitrispearljam Posts: 139,725
    awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • samjam
    samjam New York Posts: 9,283
    That is so very awesome!
    "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
    ~not a dude~
    2010: MSGx2
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  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,865
    Saw Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals last night.

    Really didnt know any Ben Harper stuff at all and wasnt expecting much. Kind of thought it would be relatively boring folky stuff.

    But it was pretty awesome. Some really groovy, funky, bluesy tracks. I dug it.
  • kasedoug
    kasedoug The Golden State Posts: 3,016
    Going to back-to-back shows next month. Through all of his incarnations, I believe Ben Harper is the artist I've seen live the most. So glad be brought back the Innocent Criminals because the show last year at the Greek was one of the best of his that I've seen.
    Actually won tickets and a meet & greet for the Santa Barbara show so I'm really excited for that one.
  • JH6056
    JH6056 Posts: 2,437
    kasedoug said:

    Going to back-to-back shows next month. Through all of his incarnations, I believe Ben Harper is the artist I've seen live the most. So glad be brought back the Innocent Criminals because the show last year at the Greek was one of the best of his that I've seen.
    Actually won tickets and a meet & greet for the Santa Barbara show so I'm really excited for that one.

    I don't know how you do it Kasedoug, but I know you have SOME strategy because you win a ridiculous number of free ticket/meet and greet contests! Like, it's statistically gotta be unheard of!
  • kasedoug
    kasedoug The Golden State Posts: 3,016
    JH6056 said:

    kasedoug said:

    Going to back-to-back shows next month. Through all of his incarnations, I believe Ben Harper is the artist I've seen live the most. So glad be brought back the Innocent Criminals because the show last year at the Greek was one of the best of his that I've seen.
    Actually won tickets and a meet & greet for the Santa Barbara show so I'm really excited for that one.

    I don't know how you do it Kasedoug, but I know you have SOME strategy because you win a ridiculous number of free ticket/meet and greet contests! Like, it's statistically gotta be unheard of!
    Ha. It's mostly persistence. This was my third time trying for the Ben Harper tix + meet & greet, and it turned out to be the charm. :)

    Looking forward to it because the Santa Barbara Bowl was actually where I saw Ben Harper for the first time back during college, so it'll be nice to make a return visit.
  • buck502000
    buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    A couple videos from last night!!!!

    https://youtu.be/LJhq4TqJFl4

    https://youtu.be/UAn4x5XiR7A
  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,462
    Red Rooster is fucking amazing. Best Aussie junk food ever. Chicken salt for the chips!? Yep!!
    www.cluthelee.com
  • LukinFan
    LukinFan Florida Posts: 29,121
    Anyone check out Ben Harper on Sportscenter last night?
    www.RLMcDaniel.com

    1996: Ft Lauderdale
    1998: Birmingham
    2000: Charlotte, Tampa
    2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
    2004: Kissimmee
    2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
    2010: MSG2
    2012: Music Midtown
    2014: Memphis
    2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest
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  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,883
    I dont generally watch ESPN any longer (for lots of reasons) but am sorry I missed the great Mr Ben Ahhhhper. 
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • my2hands
    my2hands Posts: 17,117
    Ben is the man
  • LukinFan
    LukinFan Florida Posts: 29,121
    F Me In The Brain said:
    I dont generally watch ESPN any longer (for lots of reasons) but am sorry I missed the great Mr Ben Ahhhhper. 
    He played the SC theme song on the slide guitar. The dude is badass. 
    www.RLMcDaniel.com

    1996: Ft Lauderdale
    1998: Birmingham
    2000: Charlotte, Tampa
    2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
    2004: Kissimmee
    2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
    2010: MSG2
    2012: Music Midtown
    2014: Memphis
    2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest
    2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
    2022: Nashville
    2023: Ft. Worth II
    2024: Baltimore
    2025: Hollywood II
  • KC138045
    KC138045 Columbus, OH Posts: 2,716
    I'm not a fan.  I've tried to listen to his music but I just can't get into it and I find myself turning off a lot the songs he's done with Ed over the years.  The only one I like is Daughter/With My two Hands at MSG.
    Columbus-2000
    Columbus-2003
    Cincinnati-2006
    Columbus-2010
    Wrigley-2013
    Cincinnati-2014
    Lexington-2016
    Wrigley 1 & 2-2018
  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,883
    KC138045 said:
    I'm not a fan.  I've tried to listen to his music but I just can't get into it and I find myself turning off a lot the songs he's done with Ed over the years.  The only one I like is Daughter/With My two Hands at MSG.
    Have you tried White Lies for Dark Times? 

    The R7 are when he is at his best, for me....as a rock fan. 
    https://youtu.be/kjB1SOPhfeo


    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • KC138045
    KC138045 Columbus, OH Posts: 2,716
    F Me In The Brain said:
    KC138045 said:
    I'm not a fan.  I've tried to listen to his music but I just can't get into it and I find myself turning off a lot the songs he's done with Ed over the years.  The only one I like is Daughter/With My two Hands at MSG.
    Have you tried White Lies for Dark Times? 

    The R7 are when he is at his best, for me....as a rock fan. 
    https://youtu.be/kjB1SOPhfeo


    I'll give it a listen
    Columbus-2000
    Columbus-2003
    Cincinnati-2006
    Columbus-2010
    Wrigley-2013
    Cincinnati-2014
    Lexington-2016
    Wrigley 1 & 2-2018

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