I know there are alot of incredible songs and uniting of artists around the globe for “Artists for Peace and Justice Haiti Relief” to raise much needed funds for Haiti, but I just had to bring your attention to Ben Harper’s incredible cover of Bruce Springsteen My Father’s House.

Here’s the video performed live at the Kennedy Center Honors, Dec 6 2009 with Bruce himself watching on:

You can buy it now at iTunes as part of a split digital single released with Eddie Vedder’s version of My City of Ruins.

Thanks for your support.

The Max Sessions have had a 6 year history, kicking off with a little band called Coldplay back in 2003. Tonight is performance #40 for the Sessions and the guest of honour is Ben Harper & Relentless 7.

Over the years these sessions have been held in different intimate venues in cities around Australia but it’s spiritual home is the Sydney Opera House and that’s where we were last night to witness a truly special performance.

Ben Harper has been on a mission. To establish his new band, Relentless 7 and showcase another side of his musically ability, to rock out. Studio A at the Opera House is a small room with a capacity of around 250 people. As I enter I’m taken aback at how amazing the crew at Max have set the room up, with beautiful lighting, audience members sitting right up close to the stage and a standing room only section right behind, surrounded up seats on an upper level. The entire audience is as close as you can be to a stage and I know we’re in for an amazing show.

Ben & R7 didn’t disappoint. I love their White Lies For Dark Times album and to me, this is the ultimate way to seeing this album live. Kicking off with Number With No Name and into Shimmer & Shine the band are on fire and have stepped up another level since they played some of their first shows in OZ last April. Time on the road with Pearl Jam hasn’t hurt either. Amps weren’t held back in this small room either. Guitarist Jason Mozersky asks the audience “is it too loud? Do you want it louder?” to which be obliges.

After a short Q&A with Jon Farris (who’s a bit of a hero to R7’s drummer Jordan Richardson), what a better time to play the new cover in their repertoire, the INXS classic Never Tear Us Apart, amazing. Most of the White Lies… album was given a work out including new single Lay There And Hate Me which really showcases Harper‘s amazing soul vocal.  At the end of the set the audience wanted more and we were treated to an unexpected two song solo acoustic set featuring Another Lonely Day and Morning Yearning. It was the perfect end to an amazing experience.

Ben Harper & Relentless 7 Max Session will be screened on Max on Foxtel January 2010.

You would have heard that Ben, Jesse, Jason and Jordon (who make up the Relentless7) are heading back to Australia after their amazing Bluesfest shows AND touring with Pearl Jam! Tour dates are here.

Of course this is not the first time Ben and Eddie have been on stage together…here’s one of my favourite moments

Liam Finn (yes Neil’s son) will also be joining them. He is amazing, check out his Letterman performance and make sure you watch til the end, it’s worth it

Tickets on sale August 17