Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2019
Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island served up a healthy dish of top-tier musicianship on Saturday night (Aug. 17) as Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue treated fans to an eclectic double bill of epic proportions.
From an all-out southern-style street jamboree to an intimate club-like folk rock experience, both groups put a distinctive spin on the 30,000 capacity venue, uniquely shaping the space to suit their sound. And while the co-headliners inarguably own two starkly different sonic styles, the duo united through a common thread of individual artistic expression and musical improvisation, satisfying the midwestern crowd through the collective power of collaborative song.
Brooklyn-born, Nashville-based Jessy Wilson kicked things off with an opening set of tunes, warming up early arrivers with a soulful arrangement of rock-infused R&B. Shortly thereafter, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews & his band Orleans Avenue took the stage for an ensuing set of high-energy tracks that instantly brought the entire venue to its feet.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2019
Backed by nine incredibly talented artists, including two drummers, two guitarists, two sax players, two backup vocalists and a bassist, Andrews led a Mardi Gras-like bash that had the crowd moving and grooving to tracks like “The Craziest Thing” and the Treme soul tune “One Night Only.” From the band’s opening number, “Where It At?,” featuring Andrews taking on both vocal and trombone duties, to their closing tune, “Hurricane Season / Do To Me,” which saw the group’s pair of backup singers Nell Simmons and Tracci Lee take a soulful lead, it was clear top-notch musicianship was of the essence.
And while Andrews — expertly specializing in both the trombone and trumpet — was clearly the star of the show, the multi-instrumentalist and singer continually found ways to showcase the extensive talents of his expansive backing band.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2019
Drummer Joey Peebles’ tight timing shined on “It Ain’t No Use,” while guitarist Pete Murano’s seemingly-effortless solos dazzled fans during the group’s later rendition of “On Your Way Down.” One of the more engaging moments of the set came during the band’s take on “No Good Time,” with Andrews improvising along with saxophonists Dan Oestreicher and BK Jackson, prior to captivating the crowd with some jaw-dropping fluttering trombone solos.
The improvisational nature of the night didn’t stop there, as Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals began their headlining set with a loose take on “Gold To Me.” Harper led the fan favorite, setting the tone with some choice solos on lap steel guitar, prior to jumping into a twangy, bass-heavy cover of Chris Darrow’s “Whipping Boy.”
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2019
Whereas Trombone Shorty’s set embraced the party style atmosphere, Harper’s felt more intimate in nature, as the singer-songwriter delivered track after track in a humble, storytellers-like fashion with his longtime Innocent Criminal bandmates; bassist Juan Nelson, percussionist Leon Mobley and drummer Oliver Charles.
“I’m very relieved to be playing outdoors tonight,” said Harper, as Mobley smacked the instantly-recognizable opening notes to “Burn One Down” on his conga, which ultimately turned into a venue-wide sing-along. Harper went on to explain how he got high during their last show due to all the weed smoking. “I was lit,” joked the singer.
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2019
Harper frequently bounced between instruments throughout the course of the night, trading out the lap steel for his acoustic guitar during a soft and sweet solo performance of “Walk Away,” from his 1994 debut album Welcome To The Cruel World. The frontman returned to the lap steel for a crushing rendition of “Ground On Down” which, after almost 25 years, still continues to pack a powerful punch in the live setting.
The group’s set carried a communal vibe, particularly during the always-inspirational “Better Way,” on which the band came together like a well-oiled machine. Like Trombone Shorty‘s Andrews, Harper was more than willing to share the spotlight with his fellow bandmates, most notably during a battle jam with bassist Nelson on the title track from 1995’s Fight For Your Mind, gripping spectators with a spontaneous back-and-forth. The moment was made all the more special thanks to some not-too-distant fireworks from Chicago’s Navy Pier. Nelson, further, spread his wings on the soulful take of “Them Changes,” prior to joining drummer Charles on backup vocals for a gentle rendition of “Diamonds On The Inside.”
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2019
Other highlights from Harper’s set included a pair of choice covers including a politically relevant take on the Jimi Hendrix original “Machine Gun” and a funky reimagining of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” which saw Harper reworking the song’s iconic horn riff on his lap steel guitar.
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (along with opener Jessy Wilson) will remain on the road with their Summer U.S. Tour throughout mid-September. Visit Harper’s official website for more information and to pick up tickets in a city near you.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
