The blues took hold during the waning hours of opening night at Toronto's Virgin Festival as Ben Harper and Relentless7 drenched the venue in swampy walls of sound.

Harper's band kept the atmosphere electric throughout the set. The Texas-based trio -- guitarist Jason Mozersky, bassist Jesse Ingalls and drummer Jordan Richardson -- provided a perfect southern-rock backdrop for Harper's crunchy, sleazy slide guitar.

The band stuck mainly to songs from Harper's May release, White Lies For Dark Times, delighting the audience with such songs as "Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)," which turned into an extended jam that allowed each group member to flex his musical muscles.