Customer Reviews

Ben Harper - Live at the Hollywood Bowl

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this DVD on a whim being a slight fan of Ben Harper's music (i.e. owning one CD). This is a great show that shows up perfectly on DVD with great sound and camera work. The show opens up smashingly with Glory and Consequence, that guitar work by Ben is awesome. However, my favorite track by far is Amen Omen. The opening piano is wonderful and the lyrics are beautiful. Amen also has a couple of great guitar solos; it is simply a stunning song that I watch it over and over. Blessed to Witness is another great song. This DVD is just a great bargain for any audiophile.

This is what I've been hoping for for a while now. A DVD of one of Ben's live performances. This man has built his reputation based on his live shows, and this one doesn't dissapoint. The show starts out pretty typical, but Ben's energy and emotion seem to build as the show progresses. This is a great place to see him perform lots of his classics as well as many of his newer songs from Diamonds on the Inside, and quite honestly I think these songs are better in the live format. This line-up of the Innocent Criminals is really good, with an organ and a second guitar which leave Ben more space to concentrate on his singing. Although not as much as before, Ben still is able to showcase his incredible guitar work along side Mark Ford who's style of guitar seems to be strait from the late 60's early 70's. Now we need to get older shows on DVD also, or a Solo show would be nice.

This DVD rocks! Any true fan knows in their mind and heart that Ben Harper stirs the soul, especially in his live performances. This show is even more special as it is near his hometown in California. With a few of the newer songs, along with his personal narratives, this DVD shows the spectrum of his music. From 'glory and consequence' to 'amen omen', it is amazing to see the breadth of musical tastes that this music reaches. Check this DVD out - for the fans it is what we know and love. For those of you who are new to Ben Harper, grab this DVD and find out why the following of Ben Harper is so loyal. We search for something and someone real in our lives, and Ben Harper shows us a form of art that stirs in us so deep and pure.

I had been a fan of Harper for several years before I bought this DVD. I never saw the point of watching DVDs of concerts until I saw another Harper concert DVD at a friend's house. I was entranced. I had to go buy my own. I also never watch movies over again, but I watched this one a few dozen times. If you are a Ben Harper fan, you won't regret buying this DVD. I only wish he would come out with more DVDs of his live shows.

As a side note, I think that first DVD I saw was Pleasure & Pain. The reason I never bought it is I felt Harper whined too much about not making enough money. This DVD is more positive.

What an amazing DVD. Not only does Ben give a great performace, there are a number of great instrumental performances by members of the Innocent Criminals. All and all this is a great DVD, with great songs. This is Ben at his finest. The Malloy Bros did a fantastic job putting this video together. My only complaint, is that at times, Ben's acoustic lap guitar is not quite loud enough, and sometimes the crowd gets a little noisy. Besides that, this is a great buy.

Ben Harper is a rare and extremely talented musician. On this DVD, Ben and his solid band The Innocent Criminals deliver an impressive set of rock/blues/reggae/funk/folk/R&B, and make it clear that they refuse to be put in a box or labelled in any way. Their range of musical stylings takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of soulful tunes, soaked in the honest emotion only roots music can offer. Whether the tunes are inspired by Hendrix, Marley, Dylan, Marvin Gaye, or Mississippi John Hurt, their energy is contagious. Ben showcases his talents as a vocalist, guitarist (lap slide and standard styles, electric and acoustic!), percussionist, songwriter, social activist, and even as a surfer. This DVD truly captures the power and excitement of their live shows, and leaves no questions as to why this talented band has such a loyal following.

I have been a huge fan of Ben Harper for a long while now. I must say that I'm not the biggest fan of his newer material. I really loved his earlier albums which in my mind were extremely unique in sound and soulfull. Even more so, I miss the way he used to sing as well. His newer recordings/performances just don't stand out. Some of the songs on this DVD seemed as though he was really trying hard. But then he sang the older songs really well. All in all, I really enjoyed his older (more acoustic) performances. This DVD was kind of a let down for me. This is just my $.2 so take it as just that. You may in fact love it.

Don't you know Ben Harper??? You should know him!!! And this DVD is the perfect opportunity for these...
And... Do you love Ben Harper??? This DVD is a MUST!!!

Harper is a strange artist. I mean: he's a rocker but sounds bluesy. He looks like a reggae singer without the smoky issue and effects, if you know what I mean... He doesn't look like a pop star but he's handsome and you'll like to see him performing. His songs have strange structures and can be as longer as ten minutes, including funny but not exceptional improvisations, and they aren't bored...

He is a very good songwriter and performer. I always say that Ben Harper is what Lenny Kravitz should be without the haircuts, the make up, the commercial sound, the overproduction, the pretentious sexy looks... In add, you can find in Harper a little bit of Prince (the masculine part) and tons of Marvin Gaye!!!

Harper has songs about love and politics issues, always from his own experience. You can notice these when he is singing, specially if you are seeing him sing. And this DVD gives you this possibility. When he is singing about freedom, social problems or life-stories, you believe him, you believe that he is honest and that's enough to be into his mood. And when he sings about love, he'll turn you up (as Marvin Gaye does it).

In my opinion, Harper is the best Marvin Gaye's disciple. Gaye was a "socially conscious sex machine"; in add he was a extraordinary musician-performer-songwriter. He was a conceptual and a commercial genius, so is Harper.

This DVD is a sort of introduction of the Harper's Opus and a sort of promotional presentation of his 2003 album "Diamonds on the Inside". I think this DVD is better than the others(especilly PLEASURE + PAIN) because you are in contact with his music and not with his biography (you could buy the biography after see him acting).

Here are the songs on the DVD:

IN CONCERT:
01 Glory and Consequence (from "The will to live", 1997)
02 Excuse me, Mr. (from "Fight for your mind", 1995)
03 Brown Eyed Blues (from "Diamonds on the Inside", 2003)
04 Temporary Remedy (from "Diamonds on the Inside", 2003)
05 Gold to Me (from "Fight for your mind", 1995)
06 Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye). A very good cover (available on "Live from Mars", 2001).
07 Steal my Kisses (from "Burn to Shine", 1999)
08 Diamonds on the Inside (from "Diamonds on the Inside", 2003)
09 Amen Omen (from "Diamonds on the Inside", 2003)
10 Burn One Down (from "Fight for your mind", 1995)
11 With My Own Two Hands (from "Diamonds on the Inside", 2003) / War (both songs also available on "Live from Mars", 2001)
12 Walk Away (from "Wellcome to the Cruel World", 1993)
13 Waiting on an Angel (from "Wellcome to the Cruel World", 1993)
14 Blessed to be a Witness (from "Diamonds on the Inside", 2003)
15 Like a King / I'll Rise (from "Wellcome to the Cruel World", 1993) (both songs also available on "Live from Mars", 2001)
TT: 1 hour 53 minutes.

BONUS TRACKS:
"With My Own Two Hands" and "Diamonds on the Inside" videos. And, of course, backstages and others...

Harper won the Grammy with his gospel album "There will be a light" (featuring The Blind Boys of Alabama, 2004), topped the charts with "Both Sides of the Gun" (2006) and still is topping the charts with any new material.

Well, I hope you find this review helpful. This is a good DVD concert, a good songs compilation and a good introduction into Harper world. Even if you dislike his music, I think this DVD has the best songs from the 1998-2003 period. I my opinion, you must try this DVD, specially because in the future, Harper will be a music referent for rock, blues and gospel.

This DVD is saved by its great content. Not only do you get the concert which is great by the way, but you get 2 music video's that are great, I wonder if they were shot by Jack Johnson?, you get an awesome version of "Ground on Down" from soundcheck that is mindblowing. The way he plays those slide guitars are just sick! The only reason I docked it one star was the backstage footage was so boring. All it shows is Ben primping infront of a mirror not saying much. They actually look kinda nerveous. The setlist page is hard to see and navigate through as well. Function over form people!! I will say that it is great to see all of Ben's custom guitars in action.

This dude rocks. His music meshes reggae beats with the soul of Mowtown combined with blues from deep within. Even if you've never heard his music, it only takes seconds to understand Ben's genuine musical talent. He displays incredible slide guitar style, with unique fingerpicking riffs that can be heard in a cocktail of electric and acoustic songs. From start to finish Ben puts forth passionate energy, that simply "brings down the house" Its refreshing to know that ben sings with a love for music heard in his passionate tones. You will feel like your a long time friend of Ben's by the end of this dvd.