Earlier in the week I had planned to go with a different concert for this episode but it seems that Santa had an early present for me. Last year around this time I featured Warren Haynes’ 19th Annual X-Mas Jam and I decided to continue the tradition when I came across multiple concerts from the 20th X-Mas Jam. The lineups are always so good that I might have to make this a yearly tradition.

The music for this show will feature a new band with a familiar lead singer. During the Beastie Boys recent “Get Out and Vote” tour, Ben Harper debuted a new lineup, Relentless 7. The beginnings of the band’s formation date back to 1998 at a concert Ben played in Austin. While on the way to the show, the guy driving Ben’s van asked to play a demo tape. Ben was so impressed that he got the band a record deal and continued to work with their guitarist on several projects, including one of the tracks on Both Sides of the Gun. The band was Wan Santo Condo and guitar player Jason Mozersky, is now playing lead for Relentless 7.

This concert begins with a track called “Number With No Name,” which is from their debut album, White Lies For Dark Times, which will be out in May of next year. The limited tour stops they have made so far have been at smaller venues than typical for the Innocent Criminals. The reason for this can be attributed to the following quote from Ben Harper: “I wanted us to earn it, this is where it needs to be for it to be sincere”. I for one am hoping they stick with this philosophy on their album tour next Spring, just be sure to get your tickets early.

Song listing
1) Number No Name
2) Shimmer
3) Lay There & Hate Me
4) Better Way
5) Fly One Time
6) Keep It Together
7) Dressed in Black
8) Boots
9) Up to You Now
10) Good Times Bad Times w/ John Paul Jones

If you enjoyed this podcast click the following link to download the the show in lossless format
Ben Harper & the Relentless 7 - Asheville, NC - 12/13/08 

Also check out some of the other bands from Warren Haynes' 20th X-Mas Jam
Derek Trucks Band 12/12/08
Del McCoury Band 12/12/08
Dumpstaphunk 12/12/08
Warren Haynes & John Paul Jones 12/12/08
Joan Osborne 12/12/08
Gov't Mule 12/12/08
Travis Tritt 12/12/08
Johnny Winter 12/13/08
Coheed & Cambria 12/13/08
Michael Franti & Jay Bowman 12/13/08
Steve Earle 12/13/2008
Christmas Jam Band 12/13/08

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Check tour dates and band information for Ben Harper and the Relentless 7.