Odds & Ends: Ben Harper, Paul McCartney, David Crosby vs. Neil Young

Fans of Ben Harper’s work with The Innocent Criminals will want to be in San Francisco in March.  That’s when Harper and his former backing band will reunite for four nights at The Fillmore, March 25-28.

The shows will mark the first time Harper and the band have performed on stage together since 2008.

“I have always loved the Fillmore and its history,” Harper said.  “San Francisco is one of the greatest cities in the world and it felt like the right place for us to set sail.”

The Innocent Criminals – percussionist Leon Mobley, bassist Juan Nelson, drummer Oliver Charles, keyboardist Jason Yates and guitarist Michael Ward – toured with Harper for 15 years.

“The Innocent Criminals are a family,” Harper said.  “We’ve remained very close over the years and it seemed like we couldn’t wait another minute.  It’s time for us to get back on the stage together.  We’ve all come full circle in our own ways and it is time we pick up where we left off.  It’s creatively time for us to do this.”

Harper and The Innocent Criminals are currently rehearsing and working on new music in a Los Angeles recording studio.  Although no onsales for the Fillmore shows have been revealed, word is more dates will be announced.

Paul McCartney will return to South America in November.  The former Wings bassist/singer who took his “Out There” tour to Chile, Peru and Ecuador in April has slotted Brazilian cities.  Macca will play Estadio Estadual Kleber Andrade in Cariacica near Vitória Nov. 10, Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasilia Nov. 23, and Allianz Parquet in São Paulo Nov. 25.

Presales for Vitória begin Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. local time.  Ticketing info for Brasilia and São Paulo to be announced.

Last week during his first show of a two-night stand at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music, Neil Young reportedly said “CSNY will never tour again, ever,” according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

“I hear Neil said ‘there will never be any more CSNY shows. That’s like saying there are mountains in Tibet. We know Neil … we already knew,” David Crosby tweeted Oct. 10.

Young didn’t exactly give his reasons for proclaiming a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tour may never happen.  But Crosby thinks he knows the answer.

“He is very angry with me,” Crosby tweeted in response to one fan’s question about Young’s announcement. 

Crosby didn’t offer any particulars as to what sparked Young’s ire.  However, that quote Crosby gave the Idaho Statesman in early September just might have something to do with it.

The interview took place shortly after the news broke about how Young had filed for divorce from Pegi Young, his wife of 36-plus years.  When asked about the breakup, Crosby remarked that his former bandmate was “hanging out with somebody that’s a purely poison predator now,” evidently referring to Young’s reported relationship with actress Daryl Hannah.  Why can’t everyone get along?