To be honest, I have not listened to John Popper at all. At all. I was aware of who he is, but my listening to newer (meaning recently created) music greatly narrowed and focused after 1990 and went in reverse to primarily more traditional jazz and blues.
Popper's solo runs from about 3:45 to about 4:50 of this clip. I like what I hear on harp, even though I think Dave Matthews is one of the most overrated and boring musicians I have ever heard in my lifetime.
The sound quality is awful on this clip; maybe it sounded better live. I don't know Dave Mathews work and I certainly can't play like Popper, but that clip reminds me of moments at open mics when I wished I hadn't been invited to join somebody at the mic because it turned out I had nothing to contribute, but had to play something anyway. This particular example just serves to reinforce a frequent criticism of Popper's playing, that it's repetitive and lacks soul (which comes, I think from listening to him out of context). When you hear him play with Blues Traveler his harp fits, and says something. In this instance it sounds like an example of shoe-horning the harp into a song where it doesn't belong. The solo fits the song like a motor home fits a parallel parking slot.
I am a fan of DMB but that comes from getting to see them for $5 at the Flood Zone here in Richmond VA every other week, back in the day. (a bit of nostalgia for me) Popper is on the studio cut of this song so it doesn't sound complete without the harp,go figure. I like the second clip too. I do agree however that DMB are an acquired taste and have run their course but I'll still go see John Popper whenever he comes to town. Cool clips!!
