Ben Harper 3rd show @ Folies Bergère, Paris May 19 2014

Ben Harper 3rd show @ Folies Bergère, Paris May 19 2014

Last show for Ben Harper in Paris, his third and last one on the European Tour.

There's a special poster for tonight's gig , like they did for the others, a beautiful one with the Eiffel Tower,still signed by Ben unfortunately it's on very thin paper so we didn't get it.

They still had lots of posters from the previous nights including the awful one from the first show.(see pic below)

Another sold-out concert tonight with the classical Quartet opening. Roughly the same gig and the previous ones with some changes with the setlist, Ben is playing a different guitar for each song.
Strangely enough for the last show not a lot of talking between songs, considering what he said yesterday and the day before that's a good thing. -Less talking More music-
And we'll get more music tonight... of course the quartet is back on stage to play with him 3 songs, his mother is also playing two songs... same as usual but we're having extra songs tonight including one with the Quartet with each musician being introduced to the audience, his mother is back for the encore (see video below).
As always with Ben Harper the atmosphere is very relaxed with a very respectful audience.
For all shows we had a private box on the left but we decided to go upstairs for the encore, just in case Ben played like he did yesterday on the edge of the balcony... he didn't but we had a nice view of the theatre (see pics) never thought it was so big with a second balcony in the back. Beautiful place.

Once again Ben played a song without amplification on the front of the stage, you could hear a pin drop. H thanked the audience for the nice time he had in Paris, signed a few records and that was it.
170 min concert, almost 3 hours of a faultless concert.

sorry couldn't get a picture of the setlist tonight

Ben Harper 2nd Show @ Folies Bergere, Paris May 18 2014

Ben Harper 2nd Show @ Folies Bergere, Paris May 18 2014

2nd show @ Folies Bergère theatre in Paris for Ben Harper, basically the same concert with a different setlist. He started the show with "Jah Work" that was on the setlist yesterday night as the last song but wasn't played. The quartet played 3 songs with him and his mother played 2 songs, he then called her back at the end of the set for another one.

Tonight we had Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" . At the end of the concert he came back to play a song on the ukulele from the balcony dressed up with a cape (here below on video).
I have to say that tonight's was better, maybe the setlist pleases me more that yesterday, or maybe I knew what the expect from this acoustic show. Still lots of talking between some songs.
Her mother played one more song tonight, hope she will be back for more tomorrow night for the last show.
They're selling posters for each night, each one is signed by Ben Harper.

setlist for the 2nd show (if you can read it)
from selistfm:
 Jah Work
Excuse Me Mr.
Fight Outta You
Another Lonely Day
Diamonds on the Inside
Don't Give Up on Me Now
Welcome to the Cruel World
Homeless Child
I Trust You To Dig My Grave
Farmer's daughter (feat. Ellen Harper)
Born To Love You (feat. Ellen Harper)
Morning Yearning (feat. The Lyris Quartet)
Amen Omen (feat. The Lyris Quartet)
I shall not walk alone (feat. The Lyris Quartet)
Trying Not to Fall in Love With You
All My Heart Can Take
Lifeline
Walk Away
Encore:
Forever
City Of Dreams (feat. Ellen Harper)
By My Side
Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)
Encore 2:
Suzie Blue (from the balcony)

Ben Harper solo acoustic @ Folies Bergere, Paris May 17 2014

Ben Harper solo acoustic @ Folies Bergere, Paris May 17 2014

Tori Amos was playing nearby at the Grand Rex

Ben Harper playing 3 sold-out shows in Paris @ Folies Bergère theatre, it's probably the first time that he's playing an all acoustic show in Paris. He has always play acoustic numbers with the Innocent criminals...

This he's alone sitting down on a chair with all his guitars behind him , a bit like Neil Young for his acoustic concerts.

First song is a long instrumental on the Wesseinborn, maybe not the best way to start the show. We're treated to a best of of his career. He's using a different guitar for everysong Acoustic, Weissenborn, or electric...

The Quartet which was also the support band tonight came back on stage to play 2-3 songs with him.
He also had his mother to play (only) two songs with him, she could have stayed a bit longer as the whole new album is with her.
Ben is in a chatty mood, with sometimes long talk between songs ( see video below with only the last part of the speech) even to say stupid things like "you're the best audience" or "this is the most beautiful theatre I have ever played"... anyway.

It's the first time that I see him playing piano on stage, first with his mother and then for for a new song to be on his next album with Charlie Musselwhite.

 

Ben Harper solo acoustic...with a quartet !

Lots of respect from the audience, when he's playing you could hear a pin drop, with the usual "We love you" once between two songs, Ben pointed out the guy and went into the audience to shake his hand...

We had a cover of Neil Young's "Heart of gold" (not on setlist) as well as Leonard Cohen's "hellelujah" (here on video) with a long introduction on when he met Jeff Buckley @ The Eurockéennes festival.
Also had a brand new song "Dig Grave"
Overall good show but I prefer when it's rocking...

Incorrect setlist & merchandising

setlist: (from setlistfm)
 Strut
Welcome to the Cruel World
Number Three
Diamonds on the Inside
Better Way
Excuse Me Mr.
Fight Outta You
City Of Dreams (feat. Ellen Harper)
Born To Love You (feat. Ellen Harper)
Morning Yearning (feat. The Lyris Quartet)
Waiting For You (feat. The Lyris Quartet)
Amen Omen (feat. The Lyris Quartet)
Waiting on an Angel
Trying Not to Fall in Love With You
Power of the Gospel
All My Heart Can Take
Lifeline
Heart of Gold (Neil Young)
Walk Away
Encore:
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen )
Burn One Down
With My Own Two Hands
Encore 2:
I Trust You To Dig My Grave

Red Dragon Cartel (Jake E Lee) @ Forum de Vauréal, May 15 2014

Red Dragon Cartel (Jake E Lee) @ Forum de Vauréal, May 15 2014

First time that JAKE E LEE, guitar player on OZZY's "Bark at the Moon" & "The Ultimate Sin", is playing in France since Dec 22 1983.

Can't believe I've finally see JAKE E LEE playing live
I've played "Bark at the Moon" to death, still one of my favorite album

Jake E Lee has a new band Red Dragon Cartel, I have to say that we didn't have the time to listen to any songs from the album, we're her to see Jake who hasn't played in France since 1983. OZZY didn't bother playing in France for "The Ultimate sin".
The club is celebrating its anniversary: 20 years, so there is a photo exhibition, you can play kids games outside on the terrace and there is a lottery...
Opening band is Jupiter falls, English playing classic Heavy Metal, not bad at all.
After a short intermission with have the main attraction for tonight: RED DRAGON CARTEL.
The band is starting with Ozzy's "The Ultimate sin", Can't believe we're standing just in front of Jake E Lee, " Bark at the Moon" is probably the first record I've ever listen to of OZZY.
Jake hasn't changed, same face, same white Charvel guitar. Sound is loud and clear and the club has a very good lightning.
The band is playing some songs from Jake's previous band BADLANDS and of course songs from the new album, classic heavy Rock...
Not too sure about the singer but in fact we don't really care as we're focusing on Jake 's guitar playing...he'll treat us with a couple of extended soli...

The show couldn't be complete without final songs "Bark at the moon" ( poeple were screaming out for that one) and last song "Rock n Roll Rebel" with the band having a bit of fun with the singer playing drums and the drummer on vocals.
Just on time to catch the last train to Paris

Jake E Lee 's setlist and my "Ultimate sin" completed (after Ozzy's, Phil Soussan's and Randy Castillo's -who signed with red ink on the upper left corner-)