Private debut at KCRW, broadcast 8/26/2010

Joseph Arthur, Dhani Harrison and Ben Harper chose KCRW’s signature music show Morning Becomes Eclectic to debut their new project – Fistful of Mercy. The band performed an intimate, secret show for a small group of friends and family at the Village Studios earlier this week for broadcast on Morning Becomes Eclectic today. You can stream it live at 11:15am or check it out now on demand here: http://tinyurl.com/KCRWFistfulofMercy

Jason Bentley interviewed the trio between sets, delving into the formation of Fistful of Mercy, named after one of their own songs, and discovered it was conceived in the studio in just three days. The band joked about Arthur keeping them working until 5am but they all agreed the quick turnaround only enhanced their creativity and determination and allowed no time for egos to get in the way. According to Arthur, they never planned on the three-part harmonies, it just happened organically and “they all picked a note.”

The project is a true collaboration between three extremely talented musicians –and friends – which was highly evident in their live performance, as they joked around on stage in front of an audience that included Tom Morello, Michael Ostin, Rosanna Arquette, Lauren Graham, Paul Krauss, Sal Masakela and more.

After their marathon recording session, Harrison called legendary session drummer Jim Keltner into the studio to add his touch to the recording. The album – “As I Call You Down” –which will be out October 5 on the label founded by his dad, Hot Records.

(please visit KCRWfor lots of pictures)

Another review of the KCRW show:

L.A. supergroup alert: Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison debut Fistful of Mercy on KCRW
August 26, 2010
Steve Appleford

Fistful of Mercy is a new band with an intriguing pedigree, embodied by a trio of distinctive singer-songwriters: Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison. From the first moments of the band's debut performance Tuesday night at The Village studios in West Los Angeles, the sound could be unruly or tranquil, unveiling a modern, quirkier take on the Crosby, Stills and Nash model, colliding folk, blues, eccentric pop and gorgeous three-part vocal harmonies.

The eight-song performance for about 100 invited guests was hosted by KCRW, which is broadcasting the concert at 11:15 a.m. Thursday on “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” previewing material from the trio's new album, “As I Call You Down,” set for an Oct. 5 release on Harrison's Hot Records West label. The songs were agonized and joyous, impulsive and restrained, exploring themes that Harrison listed as “love, God . . . music, peace.”

During much of the set, the trio sat with acoustic guitars, strumming jangly steel strings, with elegant slices of violin from Jessy Greene, who also appears on the album. Harrison moved to piano for the album's title song, as he, Harper and Arthur sang in warm harmony: “When I fall inside a hole I can't crawl out of / better give up my control as I call you down.”

The group then dove into some tough, agonized blues with “Father's Son,” a song inspired by Robert Petway's ancient “Catfish Blues,” harmonizing as Harper sliced away on an acoustic Weissenborn lap-slide guitar.

For the moment, Fistful of Mercy has yet to announce any tour plans, and remains a compelling side trip for the three artists: Harper already has another album completed with his band Relentless7, and Harrison's group thenewno2 just performed at this summer's Lollapalooza fest. Arthur is a post-modern folk-rocker who has known Harper for years, and they often spoke of collaborating one day; and Harper met Harrison only recently by chance at a local skate park. The new band wrote and recorded its debut suddenly over three long days.

They were joined in the studio by the acclaimed rock drummer Jim Keltner, who has performed with a long list of classic rock artists, including Harrison's father, the late Beatle George Harrison. “I haven't seen him since my old man was around,” the younger Harrison said between songs, “so it was heavy sessions.”

During the final minutes of Tuesday's show, there was a Beatles-like pop swirl on “Things Go 'Round” and a raw, cascading pattern to the instrumental “30 Bones.” Harper ripped and slashed on electric lap-slide for “Restore Me,” unfurling a tense, shimmering sound of melody and feedback, blending into the cooing of their voices: “You want it all, but you got to forgive. . . .”

The night closed with the urgent jangle of “With Whom You Belong,” and sounded the most like classic Crosby, Stills and Nash as they harmonized on words that could easily describe the roots of this new trio: “You find your way, to write your song / and come what may, I hope you find friends with whom you belong.”

Set list:

“In Vain or True”
“As I Call You Down”
“Father's Son”
“Fistful of Mercy”
“30 Bones”
“Restore Me”
“Things Go 'Round”
“With Whom You Belong”

A recording of the performance is streaming at KCRW.com.

(fromL.A. Times)

Fistful of Mercy (that’s Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison) throws its first punch

by kevin on August 26, 2010

"What do you get when you combine a funk-folk journeyman and an indie rock singer-songwriter with the son of a rock music icon? A hell of a lot of secrecy, apparently. At least that was the case Tuesday night when KCRW music director Jason Bentley welcomed a star-studded audience to The Village Recording Studios for a hush-hush taping of today’s Morning Becomes Eclectic guest artist, Fistful of Mercy.

Fistful of what? ... "

(read the rest of the review at Buzzbands)

An elegant evening with Fistful of Mercy
By Travis Hay
– November 10, 2010

Fistful of Mercy kicked off its tour with style at Showbox at the Market Tuesday night.

The band — consisting of Ben Harper, Dhani Harrison, Joseph Arthur — covered just about every song from their debut album As I Call You Down while throwing in a few pleasant surprises during a 90-minute set. Earlier this year Fistful of Mercy made its official public debut at Easy Street Records in West Seattle so it was fitting the group started its tour at the Showbox, which was dressed to the nines for the occasion.

Instead of the typical open floor GA setup, the floor of the Showbox was littered with tables and chairs as were the bars with each table lit by a votive candle. The atmosphere classed up the already pretty classy Showbox quite a bit and gave the show an feeling of intimacy and elegance which was a perfect fit for the band’s mostly acoustic brand of folk.

The three-part harmonies of Arthur, Harrison and Harper were in full effect from the beginning of the show, which started with “I Don’t Want to Waste Your Time.” A few songs later Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain,” the first of several covers, made its way to the set. The other covers included PJ Harvey’s “To Bring You My Love” and the Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes,” both of which popped up during the encore. The latter was one of the more impressive songs of the evening. Rounding out the setlist were songs from each individual members solo careers.

The instrumentation was sparse with mostly guitars and a keyboard on stage which allowed for the harmonies to soar through the Showbox. The group was accompanied by violinist Jessy Green whose contributions helped make the Fistful material stand out from the covers and solo numbers. Her playing was definitely a subtle highlight. Other highlights included Harrison’s playful and bouncy keys on “Things Go Round,” which saw Harper on bass and Arthur playing a drum and a blistering lapsteel solo by Harper during “Restore Me.”

While the harmonies were great and the musicianship excellent, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the night was seeing how much fun the threesome were having on stage together. The bond between the three was clear throughout the set and it was summed up perfectly at the end of the aforementioned solo by Harper on ”Restore Me.”

At song’s end Arthur stated “It’s cool to be in a band with Ben Harper.” That led to a round of compliments between the three men with each expressing his admiration for his fellow bandmates. The band even ended the night on a note of friendship with “With Whom You Belong.” It’s been pretty well documented that egos often come into play with most supergroups and if Tuesday’s show was any indication egos won’t be a problem for Fistful of Mercy. They seemed more like a musical brotherhood on stage than a supergroup.

Alain Johannes, guitarist for Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures and formerly of Eleven, opened the show with a set of delicate and beautifully sparse songs from Spark, his first solo record, and a few Desert Session cuts including “Making A Cross.” Johannes performed solo using only his custom cigar box guitar and voice to fill the room. The guitar made a very distinct sound similar to a ukulele with a bit more of a kick. Think Zeppelin’s “Black Mountain Side” and you’re coming close to Johannes’ guitar sound. His songs of love, sorrow and grief (Spark was written after the death of his wife, former Eleven vocalist Natasha Schneider) were perfect table setters for Fistful of Mercy.

(from Guerillacandy.com)

Live Review: Fistful of Mercy @ Showbox at the Market 11/9
By Jim Beckmann

On Tuesday, Fistful of Mercy began their first official tour at the Showbox at the Market. This somewhat of a supergroup — comprised of Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur, and Dhani Harrison — chose Seattle specifically as their launching point because of how comfortable they felt when they first announced their project and performed live on KEXP and at Easy Street Records in West Seattle this summer. But rather than packing the Showbox with a standing room only crowd, which they easily could have got based on Harper’s fans alone, they decided to turn the space into an elegant dining room with the audience seated at candlelit tables, making for a unique and intimate experience.

It was easy to see why the band chose Alain Johannes to open the show. The musician and producer, who has worked with Chris Cornell, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Mark Lanegan and The Desert Sessions, Jason Faulkner and many others, took the stage with just a rectangular, homemade-looking guitar and proceeded to mesmerize the audience with his deft, classical/flamenco hybrid fingering. It didn’t take long to get past the initial disconnect between this large, bald figure and the plaintive songs he sang, but as the set drew on, Johannes’ reedy voice, which sounded uncannily like Elvis Costello at times, and the overall sameness of the songs themselves, could get a little fatiguing. Still, Johannes is a guitarist of the first rate and a wonder to watch and hear.

Without much delay, the Fistful of Mercy came out and took to the three stools front and center of the stage. Joining them, as before, was Jessy Greene, the stunning fiddler who has toured with the likes of Foo Fighters and The Old 97′s. If the stools and the ol’ timey hats worn by Ben and Joe weren’t a strong enough hint, set opener, “I Don’t Want To Waste Your Time,” set the tone (and mission) for the night: it would be a kicked back night of beautiful harmonizing in a relaxed environment — as if they were playing in your living room… your really big living room.

Since their recent debut, As I Call You Down, contains only nine songs, all really good and all performed that night, the guys brought songs of their own — Ben with “Please Me (Like You Want To)”, Joseph with sing-along “In the Sun”, and Dhani with “Another John Doe” from his band Thenewno2. And the Dylan cover of “Buckets of Rain” early in the set would be the first of four covers, including PJ Harvey’s “To Bring You My Love” and Prince’s “Scandalous” (a song that they were “told not to play” and “probably shouldn’t play”). One high point of the night for sure was the encore’s “Pale Blue Eyes” with Alain Johannes backing on guitar. Another show stopper had to be the band’s title song, “Fistful of Mercy,” featuring Jessy possessed.

At times, the between-song banter was a bit stiff and the guys are still trying to find their ease on stage, but throughout their camaraderie and musicianship made for a terrific tour starter. If Fistful of Mercy is heading to a town near you, this isn’t a show you want to miss!

Setlist:

I Don’t Want To Waste Your Time
In Vain or True
As I Call You Down
Buckets of Rain (Bob Dylan cover)
30 Bones
Fistful of Mercy
Please Me (Like You Want To) (Ben Harper cover)
Restore Me
In the Sun (Joseph Arthur cover)
Another John Doe (Thenewno2 cover)
Things Go ‘Round
Father’s Son

Encore:
To Bring You My Love (PJ Harvey cover)
Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground cover)
Scandalous (Prince cover)
With Whom You Belong

(from KEXP)

Fistful of Mercy makes friends in San Francisco (11/11)

When a band opens up with a song called “I Don’t Want to Waste Your Time”, you normally become a little cautious. When that band has Ben fucking Harper in it, there’s nothing to worry about.

That is, at least, what everyone at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall discovered Thursday night. Harper’s newest project Fistful of Mercy, an acoustic rock trio with singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison (George’s son), has no business being as good as it was after less than a year in existence.

After the crowd frustratingly chattered over a melancholy opening set by Them Crooked Vultures/Queens of the Stone Age collaborator Alain Johannes, FoM came out to a huge ovation, and the love remained throughout the evening.

With help from As I Call You Down violinist Jessy Greene, the trio strummed through all nine tracks on its October debut album, and then some. And “then some,” of course, means lots of bonus material. FoM kept the show fresh with plenty of crowd-pleasers, including covers of Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain”, PJ Harvey’s “To Bring You My Love”, and The Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes”. The band also threw in a new piece called “Scandalous” (sample lyric: “Scandalous /You’re so motherfuckin’ scandalous”).

The high point, for better or for worse, consisted of FoM playing a string of non-FoM songs. Halfway through the main set, upon finishing “Fistful of Mercy”, Arthur blurted out a request for a Harper song. Harper, a Southern California native, stalled by addressing the crowd: “How about some hostility for the San Francisco Giants?” After some extended screaming and a “Let’s go, Giants” chant, Harper, with his friends’ help, transitioned into his “Please Me Like You Want To”. His buddies traded the spotlight from here, with Arthur busting out his early single “In the Sun” and Harrison taking a seat at a grand piano for thenewno2 number “Another John Doe”.

While the performance was marked by plenty of impressive musical improvisation — several shining moments from Greene, a duel between Harrison and Arthur, and as expected, Harper’s lap slide guitar — the verbal improv did its part in making this a memorable show. All three members made cracks about the amount of weed in the air; someone apparently even threw a joint at Arthur. The band played a game of rock, paper, scissors, and joked about Harrison’s backstage skateboarding. Best of all, they were really proud of their Conan appearance — “Y’all see us on Conan last night?” quipped Arthur at one point, out of the blue. And introducing “Father’s Son”, Harrison said, “We did this song with Tom Morello last night and it sounded like ‘Killing in the Name of’. That wasn’t really our intention.”

Harrison, playing in San Francisco for the first time, showed some nerves; his eyes never fixated on the audience, and he had to restart “Another John Doe”. Still, he came through and was, needless to say, a crowd favorite.

None of what FoM did was more or less than what you’d expect. No theremin experiments, no heavy metal. The only surprise was how well these three synchronized all night. There’s no doubt these three are good friends and enjoy being on stage with each other. Fistful of Mercy is essentially just three dudes who happened to get together and jam, and now they have a solid album and a hell of a live show to boot. There’s just something so right about this.

Setlist:
I Don’t Want to Waste Your Time
In Vain or True
As I Call You Down
Buckets of Rain (Bob Dylan cover)
30 Bones
Fistful of Mercy
Please Me Like You Want To (Ben Harper)
Restore Me
In the Sun (Joseph Arthur)
Another John Doe (thenewno2 cover)
Things Go ‘Round
Father’s Son

Encore:
To Bring You My Love (PJ Harvey cover)
Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground cover)
Scandalous
With Whom You Belong

(from Consequence of Sound)

Fistful of Mercy 11/13/10 (Early Show): Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Hollywood, CA

Words/Photos by Reverend Justito/concertconfessions.com

The entire process of getting into the first of three sold out shows for Fistful of Mercy at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery could be a post on its own. So instead of wasting three paragraphs allow me to thank Steve, Melina and the World Champion San Francisco Giants for not only a wonderful evening, but easily one of my top three shows of 2010. Fact is that as I write this, I have not fully processed what I experienced inside the historic cemetery’s Masonic Lodge last night. The show was so hauntingly beautiful, perhaps I never will.

Before we discuss the music, it is important to discuss the venue. This was my first trip to the Masonic Lodge, and I hope it is not my last. The old hall is painted blood red and lined with one-sheets from classic Hollywood films. With a small stage below the peaked roof, artists must walk through the crowd to take the stage. With an already eager crowd going nuts as the hanging chandeliers dimmed, the foursomes walk through the hall sent the 200+ individuals in the crowd into overdrive.

Made up of Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison (with Jessy Greene on Violin) the group got the first of two shows on this particular evening underway with “I Don’t Want To Waste Your Time.” With cameras clicking and glasses clinking, the room took on a whole new energy as the collective conscious realized just how lucky we were to see the powerful band in such a delicate venue.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit that it took me a few songs to realize why Fistful of Mercy was performing in this location. As a huge fan of Joseph Arthur, I should have realized that with his lyrical emphasis on spirits Hollywood Forever was a highly appropriate location. In fact Arthur and Harper discussed the “floating” spirits who were amongst us all night. Hell, one could argue that songs like “As I Call You Down” managed to take on new meanings due in part to the shows location.

While set mainly consisted of material from the trio’s debut record, however each individual performed a sample of their solo work. While I do not know the name of the Harrison number, he did dedicate it to a couple somewhere in the crowd who are about to welcome a baby girl into the world. Following a long-winded (a theme for the night) yet hilarious story about days of touring in a van by Harper, Arthur lead to group through a spot-on take of his hit “In The Sun.” However, the highlight of the night was Ben Harper performing an emotionally charged version of “Please Me Like You Want To.” While TMZ can tell you all the latest on Harper’s personal life, watching the man perform this song in this city and this moment in time – words simply can’t express the emotions within that moment. The Harper led Fistful of Mercy original “Restore Me” followed as an exclamation mark to the “Please Me.”

With a heavy musical mood all night, the group loosened things up with “Things Go ‘Round.” The song featured Harrison on piano, Harper on Bass and Arthur on a tiny drum kit. As was prevalent all night, you could see that the band that formed 10 short months ago was having an absolute blast. Other late set highlights included the song “Fistful of Mercy” and “Father’s Son.”

With the band exiting the stage and the lights coming back up, I had assumed the show was over. As soon as the lights went back down, the crowd noise doubled in decibel level as we all realized the band would return. We were treated to a two song encore that kicked off with an emotionally charged cover of the Velvet Underground classic “Pale Blue Eyes.” After one final round of lengthy-yet-hilarious stage banter, the early show ended with “With Whom You Belong.” As proof to how powerful the performance was, the band actually managed to get the entire crowd to join in a sing along at the end of the song. As anyone who has ever attended a concert in Los Angeles is well aware, this is no easy task. It really was the perfect ending to an amazing show. Fingers crossed we see future US dates for Fistful of Mercy, as this is one band you can’t afford to miss out on.

(from Concert Confessions) - visit for videos!

Fistful Of Mercy Recruits Tom Morello For Conan

"With a brand new late night show on TBS launching this week, Conan O’Brien has brought in some seriously big guns from the music world to rock his little Burbank sound stage. After blistering performances by Jack White and the recently reunited Soungarden, O’Brien welcomed the All-Star trio known as Fistful of Mercy to his late night cable talk show – with a little added six-string spice.

As if a lineup featuring Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper & Dhani Harrison was not enough star power for one tiny sound stage, the trio welcomed Tom “The Nightwatchman” Morello to join in on the Harrison-led Father’s Son. Perhaps the most compelling part of the immensely captivating performance was watching the live wire that is Mr. Morello calmly perform amongst Fistful of Mercy’s backing band."

(From Antiquiet)

Fistful Of Mercy Haunts Hollywood Forever
by CJ Gronner

Sunday night found us trekking over to Hollywood to see the beyond sold-out Fistful Of Mercy show at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery's Masonic Lodge. We parked among the gravesites and walked in the moonlight to join the extra-loooooong line waiting to get inside. And waiting ... and waiting ... so it's a good thing people REALLY wanted to see this band, as it is not usual for L.A. people to hang out late, especially on school nights. Listening to people around us made it clear that these were BIG fans ... some drove down after seeing F.O.M. play in Seattle the other night, and just had to catch them again. A whole slew of people would walk by with the "Got an extra ticket?" pitch, which no one did. After the wait stretched on and on (for no apparent good reason) I was amazed that everyone was still super polite and in high spirits - which I would attribute to the fact that they love this music, and that's the kind of fans these musicians draw.

These musicians ... Fistful Of Mercy is Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison. The term "Supergroup" keeps being thrown around, which I'm not sure applies until you don't have to explain to people that Dhani is George Harrison (Yes, the Beatle)'s son, Joseph Arthur sings that beautiful "Honey and The Moon" song from a bunch of years back (among many others, but that's the one people seem to know), and Ben Harper is ... well, Ben Harper. They are Musician's Musicians all, and super, for sure ... so ... there you go!

The Masonic Lodge is a lovely old place, with red walls, a wood beamed ceiling, with dim chandeliers and candles casting shadows all over. Old movie one-sheets hang around (Hollywood, remember, even in a cemetery), and there is an overall spooky-in-a-good-way vibe. Another long line for the bathrooms had strangers making friends, discussing other shows they've seen (like the same one here the night before - I told you, FANS), holding each others' places in line, one lady bouncing her two month old baby that HAD to hear Ben, and even she, standing for hours with her very well behaved infant, said, "The lines are totally worth it to see them in such a small venue". Which (almost) everyone seemed to agree with, happily chatting, until one guy said, "There's such a warm feeling here, isn't there?" Yes, Sir. There was. Which I think comes from that elusive but crucial element of RESPECT. For the band, sure, but also for each other, since we shared that love of the music, and therefore, must all be cool.


Cool would aptly describe opening act, Alain Johannes. He has played with Eleven (founded with his late wife, Natasha Schneider), Chris Cornell, Queens Of The Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Desert Sessions, to name SOME. He took to the moody stage with his cigar box guitar, with its wholly original sound, and his deep, confident voice, and frankly, nearly stole the show. Each song was lushly arranged, and with the resonant sound of the Lodge, would build to an otherworldly sound that was hard to believe came from just one guy. The songs from his album Spark - a tribute to Natasha - particularly "Speechless", "Make God Jealous", and "Gentle Ghost", were so lovely that I came directly home and ordered that thing. They also earned him a standing ovation from the same people that were previously impatiently wanting the main event to begin, saying "Who is this guy?" Well, now they know. Very impressive.


More waiting was finally rewarded with that main event, as Fistful Of Mercy walked through the crowd to take the stage, each guy (and gal, violinist Jessy Greene) taking his spot on a stool among a vast array of guitars. "Howdy", said Joseph Arthur, giving the night a casual feel right from the get-go. They opened with "I Don't Want To Waste Your Time" (to which one near me said, "Then you shouldn't have made us wait for 3 hours from Doors open" - true enough), which shows off their harmonies, but gets a bit repetitive when they keep repeating the title over and over. They might want to open up with something a bit more up-tempo to rile up the up late audience, but then, most in the crowd would listen to them chant the phone book and be thrilled.


The banter and camaraderie between the guys is tangible, and sort of makes you feel like you're on a couch watching them jam together in someone's living room. Ben threw out a little Ghostbusters theme chorus, considering our surroundings, and the jokes and cracking up all further endeared them to the audience of true fans. "In Vain Or True" and the title track of their debut album "As I Call You Down" were next, and as lovely as they were, they seemed a little loose, or unsure, when it came time to end them, which surprised me, considering who we're talking about.

Ben and Joe looked at Dhani for a beat, prompting him to ask "Why are you looking at me?" Joe replied, "Because you're the Counter" ... so Dhani counted down the 1,2,3 for the first cover of the evening, a spirited hoe-down of Bob Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain", which elated the entire room. It was like a kick in the pants to the night, and had everyone happily bouncing in their chairs from beginning to (tight) end. After Joe (Cowboy-like) and Ben (Mountie) traded hats (somehow causing feedback - Loose Spirits?!) the sublimely gorgeous instrumental track from the album, "30 Bones" was next. It's tied for my favorite, and clearly also had a fan in Alain Johannes, who was now sitting in front of me, nodding his head appreciatively throughout. The guitar talents of these guys is a wonder to behold, and swept you up and away, only to be jolted back to reality by the thunderous applause that met its end. Simply beautiful.


The tune that gave the band its name, "Fistful Of Mercy" followed that, and sounded a lot heavier than as recorded. Ben was BEATING on his signature Weissenborn, and as the guys harmonized, and the violin wove it all together in such a lovely fashion, it was no wonder they went for naming the band after it.


Joe then said, "I don't know about these people but I'd like to hear a Ben Harper song right about now", which freaked the crowd out, and started a little comedy routine between the guys, joking that they sounded like an old time-y country act, ala "Wanna play one with me?" "Why sure, I'd love to!", like they didn't already know they were going to. Then Joe cracked, "What's the last thing you want to hear after sleeping with Willie Nelson?" "I'm not Willie Nelson." Once the laughs died down, Ben started the opening notes of his classic, "Please Me Like You Want To". Love. It. Dhani and Joe might need to practice that one a little more, as their guitar parts were somewhat scattered, but overall, Wow.


Also WOW (as exclaimed by the guy behind me) was Ben's a cappella intro to "Restore Me". Like many of their songs, its lyrics feature references to ghosts and death, making it all the more fitting to be played in a building smack in the middle of tombstones. As slow and plaintive as this one is, the end featured a ROCKOUT, with hands flying over guitars so fast they blurred. The crowd leapt to its collective feet, clapping their heads off, until they went back to the slow, gentle part and finished the mind blow. Which rewarded them with another well-deserved Standing O.


Joseph took the spotlight next with his beautiful song, "In The Sun", which features the chorus, "May God's Love Be With You ..." and had these brethren singing together like they have all their lives. Really, really moving, to where I'll admit to a lump in my throat from just listening. Phew.

Then Dhani took the lead with a song from his other band, Thenewno2, called, "Another John Doe". He switched to the piano for this one, and it was haunting (you can't get away from the graveyard references at this show, at this place, sorry!) and really showed the talents that led these three to find each other and unite as a trio.


After a little skull tossing (you had to be there), Joe switched to a little drum set, and they played "Things Go 'Round" next. This is my least favorite one on the album - I feel like the harmonies are too high and it bugs me - but I liked it much better live. But not nearly as much as my other tied-for-favorite - and everyone else's too, as nuts as they went for just the opening notes - "My Father's Son". It's a complete barn-burner, and they completely threw it DOWN. BadASS style. (They played it last week on Conan, with guest friend, Tom Morello, and you need to take a break now and just GET IT here.) Another, wilder, standing ovation, and that was it for the regular set, and the guys walked back through the tripping out happy audience to await their encore.


And await ... so long that the clap-along died down and astoundingly, I saw three people actually asleep around me. They finally returned, and when the noise died down, Ben thanked his long-time mentor, Bernie Larsen, who was down front, and cited him as one of the most influential people on his music, after his own family. Cool. They began the encore portion with PJ Harvey's "To Bring You My Love". Which brought them MY love, as I adore PJ, and have missed her lately. They did it bluesy jam extended style, which I adored, but might have been too late on a Sunday, particularly for the head in her lap asleep girl in front of me. (Her loss).

Alain Johannes returned to join them ("By the end of the tour, hopefully he'll be IN the band" - Joseph Arthur) for The Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes". Ben played bass on this one, Jessy had a shining moment with a violin solo, and Alain again impressed with his textured guitar solo. Complete symbiosis was attained with this one, which made it the perfect lead-in to the night's last song, "With Whom You Belong".


As Joe said to start it off, this song is about friendship, community, and love, and all of that is plain and clear, from the glances they all exchange while playing it, to the lyrics that exemplify those qualities:

Make sure you stay
When you find love in your heart
And as it lights up your way
Don't let your friends fall apart
I said I hope you find friends with whom you belong
I said I hope you find friends with whom you belong

People shared their own glances, singing along, feeling special to be there, among friends of their own, and in the presence of Fistful Of Mercy, who reflected every word of what they said was the last song they wrote in their 3 Day (!) writing/recording marathon for their first album together.

Everyone in the band (and in life) has their own stuff going on, and their own ways of loving and being. It's a tribute to the quality of the band members themselves as humans, and of course, their music, that they can come together to be more than the sum of their parts. But more importantly, that they, and subsequently, WE, can lift each other up to that abstract but tangible feeling of belonging together.

Mercy, me!

(fron No Depression)

Fistful of Mercy Perform at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Over the weekend Fistful of Mercy played their first set of Los Angeles shows at the sold-out Hollywood Forever Cemetery Masonic Lodge.

Ben Harper played a vintage ‘60s Precision Bass for this cover of Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes,” while Dhani Harrison took over the bass for this cover of Prince’s “Scandalous.” Harrison also played acoustic guitar, piano and his new Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster during the performance.

(For more see Guitar Emporium Online)