Anticipation was high when Dhani Harrison released his debut album IN///PARALLEL in 2017. Prior to that, he had already established himself as a thoughtful and accomplished musician through his work with bands like The New No. 2 and Fistful of Mercy alongside Ben Harper.
Despite the brilliance of IN///PARALLEL, Harrison didn’t capitalize on all the opportunities to promote the album, nor did he extensively tour in support of it. However, with the release of his sophomore album, Innerstanding, in 2023, Harrison has embarked on several international tour dates, including this standout performance at EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney).
Opening the evening was Queen Kwong, the moniker of American multi-instrumentalist Carré Kwong Callaway, who was discovered by Trent Reznor. Kwong delivered a performance brimming with raw intensity, her vocals evoking the wild energy of Karen O. Her DIY approach—tuning her own guitar and managing her sound engineering—added a gritty authenticity to her set, seamlessly blending genres as diverse as grime and punk.
When Harrison and his five-piece ensemble took the stage, the excitement in the room was palpable. There would be no encores, as Harrison opted to present his music in a more fluid narrative, performing the majority of songs from both of his albums in chronological order. He opened the set with “Never Know,” the first track from IN///PARALLEL. It was the only song of the evening that ventured into the psychedelic territory reminiscent of his late father, George Harrison, with its mystical undertones.
From there, the set shifted into the darker, more dystopian sounds of Innerstanding. “War on False” stood out with its fusion of EDM beats and distorted guitar riffs, showcasing Dhani’s ability to merge electronic and raw rock elements. This fusion reached new heights with “Úlfur Resurrection,” where the influence of Massive Attack’s “Angel” was evident, blending brooding atmospheres with sharp guitar tones.
One of the night’s most intriguing features was the use of AI robotic voices, which added a futuristic layer to the performance. On “Poseidon (Keep Me Safe),” Dhani’s duet with Australian singer-songwriter Mereki was enriched by a robotic vocal that echoed the stylings of Daft Punk, perfectly complementing the song’s electronic core. Later, in “Dangerous Lies,” Dhani adopted a more commanding vocal presence, delivering the line “These are our days now. Too late to wise up” with a Zeus-like authority that left the audience visibly awed.
Harrison’s live interpretation of his Innerstanding material continued to build on the electronic-rock fusion, especially with “New Religion.” In an unexpected twist, he introduced saxophone into the mix on tracks like “Damn That Frequency” and “Ghost Garden,” adding a layer of rhythm and dynamism that enriched the live experience.
Lyrically, Dhani proved to be a sharp social commentator throughout the set. His song “The Dancing Tree” offered poignant observations on human suffering and societal indifference, with lines like “Beneath the dancing tree, there is a bird who sings, waiting there, he has gone and told me everything about the people who were starving for some lovin’, and all the horrors that they faced, just for nothing.” The evening closed with “Wolves Around the City,” a powerful anthem of unity, with Harrison singing, “I’m calling you in, breaking the heart that I’m trying to mend.”
The unity of Harrison’s band introduced cheekily as “The Dhani Harrisons, ” was evident from the start. Their spontaneity and interplay made for a captivating live show, with Dhani himself, unassuming in all black, maintaining an understated yet commanding stage presence. His unique style of connecting with the audience, not through spectacle but through sheer musical innovation and sincerity, left EartH buzzing with excitement long after the final notes faded.
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