Fistful of Mercy, the new acoustic rock “supergroup” of sorts which features Ben Harper, Dhani Harrison and Joseph Arthur landed at the Somerville Theatre touring behind their debut album As I Call You Down.
Less than two weeks away from their first ever gig in Seattle on November 9, (apart from a debut at Easy Street Records in August) it was a very much relaxed band that took the stage, more at ease with each other than reports from initial gigs had indicated. Seated on stools at either side of the stage with third member Arthur positioned in the middle, they were three equals; more like friends jamming together at a local bar; with not Harper or Dhani being the focus of the evening. If anything Arthur played perhaps the larger role, handling a good deal of the vocals and banging occasionally on drums when not playing his guitar.
Although the set list and some of the stage banter remain the same on each stop on the tour, likely due to their need to limit variables as they get comfortable with each other, the music they delivered was anything but stale. Their voices blended in smooth harmony and it was clear they relished their time together onstage, each finding ways to play off the others.
After playing all nine songs from the As I Call You Down, the two hour show needed additional songs. The band chose them well, each member bringing one of his own tunes. For Harper it was “Please Me (Like You Want To)”, Arthur sang his “In the Sun”, and Harrison moved to piano for one from his band Thenewno2 “Another John Doe”. The sixteen song list was filled out with intelligent covers, The Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes”, P. J. Harvey’s “To Bring You My Love” Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain”, and a bit of Prince’s “Scandalous”.
The songs were played with a much harder edge than on the album, where they had sounded more muted, perhaps a bit tentative. Here they rocked harder and with more confidence, a good omen for more to come. By the time they got to Philadelphia two days later, they had jelled further and the songs were both tighter and rockier. Standout moments include Harper’s a cappella intro to “Restore Me” with his intense lap steel solo midway through the song. There was also “Father’s Son” which ended the main set, rocking much harder than the album version, and the entire encore, particularly “With Whom You Belong”, the band singing together at the lip of the stage, encouraging the audience to join.
Filling out the band was Jesse Greene, whose violin playing gets big praise at every stop so far. Standing to the rear of the stage, she improvises seamlessly with the three front men, drawing out and finding nuances to add to their instruments, particularly on the band’s namesake tune, “Fistful of Mercy”. Garnering praise as well was opener Alain Johannes (Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age, etc), seemingly at first wash to be out of place, a large bald man playing what can best be described as a cigar box shaped instrument with a neck, sounding like a cross between a ukulele and a guitar. His virtuosic playing and soulful lyrics gradually won over the crowd as they filtered to their seats. By the end of his set, they were on their feet applauding with heartfelt praise. The band brought him back out for the encore and his presence added another welcome dimension to the music.
Set list:
Waste Your Time, In Vain Or True, As I Call You Down, Buckets of Rain, 30 Bones, Fistful of Mercy, Please Me (Like You Want To), Restore Me, In the Sun, Another John Doe, Things Go ‘Round, Father’s Son
Encore:
Bring You My Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Scandalous, With Whom You Belong
