The Bowdoin Orient

February 2, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 14

Ben Harper Comes to Bates

by MASHALL ESCAMILLA - CONTRIBUTOR

Next Thursday, February 8, the very highly-acclaimed Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals are performing in the Clifton Daggett Grey Athletic building at Bates. As far as I can tell, this present tour is in further support of his most recent album, "Burn To Shine," which came out in 1999.
Some of you may still remember the song "Steal my Kisses," which, as I recall, got a fair amount of radio time this past summer. Some of you may still have it stuck in your heads.
For those of you who haven't heard anything else on Harper's latest album but still have a hankering to get off campus on Thursday night and see what will certainly be an incredible performance, don't expect him to stick exclusively to the cheerfully chill acoustic vibe that rings so clearly throughout "Steal my Kisses." While his performance will certainly be intimate, and will certainly be more laid back than your average rock show, Harper's versatility and wide range of influences are his most signature traits.
The influences on "Burn to Shine" range everywhere from soulful songwriting to straight-ahead rock, from poppy bass grooves to melancholy guitar-and-voice songs, from the politically active to the emotionally stimulating.
Whatever his influences, though, you can certainly count on Harper to give a great show. Says his official website: "You will never forget the experience of Ben Harper live in concert." He began performing at the age of sixteen at various blues clubs around his native Claremont, CA and mesmerized his audiences with the emotional intensity of his playing. He quickly made a name for himself and at the age of 24 signed with Virgin Records, who now proudly sponsors his website.
For the first few years of Harper's touring career, his performances were made up of Ben and his acoustic guitar, an instrumentation and intimate setting that drove fans everywhere he went absolutely wild. His popularity steadily grew, and on a tour in support of his album "Fight for Your Mind" introduced his band, the Innocent Criminals, with whom he has been playing ever since.
Unfortunately, last time I checked at the Smith Union Info desk, there weren't any tickets left for this event. But I vaguely recall them saying something about ordering more, so if you can, get down to the Union today between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and pick some up. This is definitely something you don't want to miss.