There’s Fire in Harper’s Songs, If Not His Palace Performance

Ben Harper is a young songwriter with an old soul, an up-and-comer with a strong sense of history. Like Meshell Ndegeocello, he has been pointed to by critics as part of a new breed of artists eager to resurrect the sharp sociopolitical commentary of artists such as Curtis Mayfield and Bob Dylan.

During a homecoming show at the Palace on Tuesday, Harper showcased the transformation that he made from neo-folkie to rocker on his latest album, “The Will to Live,” and proved that, overall, he remains a soulful rebel at heart.

However, Harper looked weary after a monthlong tour. This set didn’t approach some of the remarkable highs that have made past performances transcend a typical concert setting and approach spiritual rapture.

Backed by his band, the Innocent Criminals, Harper alternated between quiet folk and blustery high-energy songs.

Wrapping searing fretwork a la Jimi Hendrix around reggae and folk as he played acoustic guitar, Harper thematically revisited the Rodney King beating in “Like a King,” attacked greed in “Excuse Me Mr.” and delved into the uplifting blues of “Homeless Child.”

Harper’s music still carries an inspiring punch, but he himself seemed less dynamic. Perhaps Harper, in experimenting with a harder musical style, is focusing too much on the instrumental dynamics at the expense of his own performance passion.