Ben Harper at the St James

Ben Harper

If Ben Harper cleared his throat we'd clap for him. Actually, we'd cheer for him, and give big ups to our brother from California. We love him and his music.

And, as he showed on Monday night at a sold-out St James, he loves us, too.

However, if he truly loved us he would have brought a band with him.

Instead, he was accompanied by another guitarist and a string quartet. (Who were great, by the way).

This was billed as an intimate acoustic night with Ben Harper and the majority of the crowd lapped it up. It was a gig for devoted fans who, no doubt, will call the experience spiritual. In fact, it's hard to know if the three people who were carried out were overcome with emotion or just too wasted to stand.

But, despite Harper playing a good selection of his songs, he needed a band behind him because this performance was often plain dull.

Many in the crowd were restless and wanted to rock out. And even though they should have known what to expect, you wanted Harper to be better. Acoustic doesn't need to mean solemn, sombre and sad.

"We paid $78 for this," yelled one frustrated punter.

With the hint of something upbeat, on When It's Good, the crowd started clapping. They were gagging for it. But, no sooner had they started and the moment was gone.

The first signs of real life came on Diamonds On the Inside, from his 2003 album of the same name. That song was a highlight of the night, along with Please Bleed, from 1999's Burn To Shine.

Surely, with the number of albums he's sold here, Harper can afford to bring a full band over because, without them, he didn't pull it off. Never fear, he is returning in December with the real deal.

In the past, even though he mostly sits down and plays his many guitars, he has rocked the roof off venues around New Zealand.

On Monday night, though, he just rocked the cradle.