Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite @ Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Well, what an amazing end to a wonderful weekend!

I started the day at Pancake on the Rocks for breakfast and the walked around to the Opera House to pick up tickets for tonight's show.  I'm still amazed I have never seen a concert in this room (there was the 1996 Crowded House fiasco on the steps), though I vaguely remember seeing the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform on a Year 10 excursion.  But that was 30 years ago.

A arrived in Sydney just after 1pm and we spent the afternoon walking around the Rocks Market before coming back to our magnificent room (32nd floor Harbour View of the Four Seasons) to relax as she is still struggling a little with the time change.

Our plan was to walk to Otto and meet the Barnes' and Cammells' for dinner.  Unfortunately I forgot about the Botanic Gardens shutting their gates each night.  But a quick Uber rectified that problem and it wasn't long before we were sitting outside catching up for the first time in 4 - 7 years.  The fact we were sitting outside, even though under a gas heater, is a testament to the wonderful weather we're having during the Sydney "winter".  Dinner was outstanding, and the company as fun as always.  Then to top off dinner we caught a water taxi back to the Opera House - acting like that's how we get to every concert.  Many a photo was taken using this spectacular harbour as a backdrop.  I truly count my blessing for the friends and life I have.

We got into our seats and literally moments later Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite and band walked onto the stage.  I had seen them 5 years ago at The Fillmore and had a blast.  Tonight was going to top that.  While it took a few songs for Harper to acknowledge the crowd, when he did, he shared the love.  He seemed happy with the reaction, more than happy to share the adoration with his great band and be completely humbled by the room.  And let's talk about that for a minute.  The sound was shear PERFECTION.  In complete contrast to the mixing disaster that was Tumbleweed last night, I am not sure I have had better sound at a gig before.  So good were the acoustics I, and everyone else in the audience, were afraid to talk in fear of interrupting this most beautiful of sound.  

This set of songs were also amazing.  Between Harper's voice, the unreal band Musselwhite's harmonica and occasion blues-graveled voice each song was better than the last.  The Trump dedicated I Don't Believe A Word You Say received a rapturous welcome and then a fantastic follow up of I'm In I'm Out and I'm Gone were the 2 songs which really set the tone for the rest of the night.  Trust You To Dig My Grave was a great song and of course everyone was super pumped for the finale - When The Levee Breaks.

A five song encore made you wish this night would never end.  Long Legged Woman was fantastic.  A cover of the Beatles Yer Blues was a song I didn't recognize but still very bluesy.  However the show stopper was All That Matters Now.  Like the Charlotte show, Harper sang this without the aid of a microphone.  Unlike the Charlotte show where we fought to hear the song, Harper's voice carried perfectly to all corners of the room and left everyone stuck in their seats when it was done.

When I was home and looking for something to take Amy to the Opera House to see, I was blown away that Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite was an option.  The fact we could get 6 good seats together was more amazing.  But there was nothing that could prepare me for how good the performance was - I'd hate to be the next show I see at the Opera House as standards have been set super high.  I read a review a couple of days later that also summed things up well in another perspective.  People coming to see Harper play his well known Innocent Criminals songs may have been initially disappointed, but would have left with a whole new respect for this great music.

The Crap Facts:
This is my 444th concert.

Concert Hall is the 122nd venue I've seen a concert in.

This is my 50th concert in Sydney.

This is my 184th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 187th concert in Australia.
This is my 2nd Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite concert.