Michael Franti and SPEARHEAD

helplessdancer

besides gunderp(is it that obvious?? lol) I wonder how many other PJ fans have seen this band?

sign up here!

i'm seeing my first headlining show tomorrow and I gotta say this is one concert I am pretty damn excited about

and a question for the peeps that have seen him...does he usually play 2 sets?

i can't get the song hey world out of my head...and that's a good thing!!

JL19851

I have seen them something like 4 or 5 times. Awesome band. Seeing them at Governor's Island this Thursday. Kinda bummed that the last time I saw them at Nokia Theatre a few years ago he only played for 2 hours when I was used to the 3 hour show.

helplessdancer

JL19851 wrote:

I have seen them something like 4 or 5 times. Awesome band. Seeing them at Governor's Island this Thursday. Kinda bummed that the last time I saw them at Nokia Theatre a few years ago he only played for 2 hours when I was used to the 3 hour show.

cool

2 sets usually, or 1?

musicismylife78

ive seen them 13 times. i first saw them in 2001, and my interest in them was initially because they were political, and that was around the time when i was an activist. i just think michael franti is a real guy. he isnt living in some mansion, and buying ferraris or whatever, he doesnt even wear shoes for godssake, and still lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods in san francisco.

anyways, i havent listened to their last few album as much because i have become non political. but i find it completely bizaare he is so big right now. i have a conservative friend, he listens to anything on the radio and no way in hell would he ever buy a hip hop cd, but abiut 7 months ago, i was riding in his car, and Say Hey came on the radio and he knew all the words. and Spearhead opened for John Mayer on this tour. Say Hey made it to like number 3 or 4 on the Vh1 top 20 video countdown.

So I am a fan, but dont listen to him much anymore.

musicismylife78

in 2003, he stopped by a little cd store in my hometown to chat and do some cd signings. i shook his hand, told him i was inspired to be an activist because of his music, he signed my cd, and the cd store itself took a picture of me with michael.

seems like he is almost the modern day bob marley or something

samjam

Michael Franti is awesome and puts on a really great show! Definitely a very fun one.
I Got Love For You is one of my favorites by him & now will most likely be stuck in my head for the rest of the day
Saw him open for John Mayer at MSG in February & he got most of The Garden standing by the end- lots of fun!

helplessdancer

cool notes. thanks! anyone seen him this past year, other than on the mayer tour. i'm still interested if he does 2 sets or 1.

i also just found some live shows on http://www.archive.org (an endless supply of great free live music there!)

anyways...i'm giving it a try...going in with an open mind/heart. i'm not a fan of hip hop at all and i do get that there are some sounds/songs(?) that might be classified that way...but, overall i just get the great vibe/reggae/rock feel, so that's why i'm diving in to give it a real test. i was impressed enough with his set opening for mayer but i need more, just to make absolute sure

for what it's worth i really think All Rebel Rockers(2008) is a very accessible cd. i dig almost every song on that.

g under p

musicismylife78 wrote:

ive seen them 13 times. i first saw them in 2001, and my interest in them was initially because they were political, and that was around the time when i was an activist. i just think michael franti is a real guy. he isnt living in some mansion, and buying ferraris or whatever, he doesnt even wear shoes for godssake, and still lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods in san francisco.

anyways, i havent listened to their last few album as much because i have become non political. but i find it completely bizaare he is so big right now. i have a conservative friend, he listens to anything on the radio and no way in hell would he ever buy a hip hop cd, but abiut 7 months ago, i was riding in his car, and Say Hey came on the radio and he knew all the words. and Spearhead opened for John Mayer on this tour. Say Hey made it to like number 3 or 4 on the Vh1 top 20 video countdown.

So I am a fan, but dont listen to him much anymore.

I've seen the band over 50 times now and I've really lost count. The only band i've traveled to Europe to see live. Partied gone clubbing with them, eaten and bought dinner for them. All are some of the most fun loving people I've ever been around, so generous to me and my friends that we've become friends.

I've been a fan of his since 1992 when he was a rapper with Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy loved the political angry aspect of *Hipocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury*. Then went on to start up Spearhead and the album Home which I didn' like at first. :( I couldn't get used to the change from political to more spiritual and peace loving songs. I first saw them when he opened for U2 on the ZooTV tour then later in B-more for my real first exSpearence. My first 3 hour show and witnessed Micheal playing drums for the first time 2003. Later got a call with a strange husky voice on the line which turned out to be Micheal whom I refused to believe it was him till we started to talk about that amazing show in Baltimore.

Even though he doesn't do any 3 hour shows anymore (we are all getting old) he still puts on a solid 2 hour show and on occasion surpasses that. Oh on his last album a complaint from his long time fans was that he's gone somewhat away from his political stances and to some extent it's true. I think he'll return fully to those political stances with his new album in a few months along with the peace loving songs too.

Shiningstar I hope you will enjoy the show but it will only be one show one set but on the John Mayer show he did play an acoustic set outside the venues or in a local pub for fans so get there early you never know what he may do.

peace

vedder_soup

seen them 15-20 times, and met various members of the band on several occasions.
they never fail to disapoint live, and are all very genuine people when you meet them.
I saw a 3 hour 45 minute show in 04 or 05 - Michael Franti and friends. quite unbelievable

Pepe Silvia

i saw them last week, they were great! a lot of energy and pretty sly how he had all these young girls in the audience come up on stage to jump around for the last song

he walked through the crowd playing once then later he ended up at the very back of the venue with a guitar and mic and walked around the crowd making his way back to the stage which was pretty cool

JL19851

The last time I saw them was in 2007 or 2008, with Blue King Brown as the opening act, so can't say for sure whether he still plays 1 or 2 sets. I always walk away drenched in sweat anyway. Saw them at BB Kings in 2003, Prospect Park (Big Summer Classic) in 2005, Nokia in 2006 (I think), Nokia in 2007, and maybe somewhere else sometime. I've only really missed them when they were opening for someone else (i.e., John Mayer, Counting Crows) since 2003 when they have played NYC.

JL19851

My Governor's Island experience was very similar to what's been said. Almost all new songs (@ 60% was new), a little sad he did not go over 2 hours, but could be attributable as much to a curfew as anything else (the ferries have to take people back off the island...so there's no breaking curfew unless we are talking a huge sleepover since there's no way off the island except by boat).

Fantastic show...check em out if you can.

helplessdancer

$40 ticket and worth every penny

a 2 hour show, including a 3 song encore

absolutely incredible is all i can really say, nothing like it out there, imo

do not miss this band if/when you get the chance

i need more sooner

peacegirl

saw him for the first time in Philly on Saturday....one of the best shows I have ever seen

PearlOfAGirl

I'll hopefully see him some day. I've heard really good things...

g under p

I hope my buddy has recovered from his latest health issues and is strong enough for the riggers of the road.

Peace

PearlOfAGirl

g under p wrote:

I hope my buddy has recovered from his latest health issues and is strong enough for the riggers of the road.

Peace

Wishing him a speedy recovery...

:wave: g under p BTW I love your new avatar! :thumbup:

JzP

HOW YOU FEELIN'

Just seen 'em a handful of times, but I heard that a lot. One of my favorite albums is "Chocolate Superhighway". It's an earlier more rapish album but if you're into them and haven't heard it, you gotta.

g under p

HeartShapedBox wrote:

g under p wrote:

I hope my buddy has recovered from his latest health issues and is strong enough for the riggers of the road.

Peace

Wishing him a speedy recovery...

:wave: g under p BTW I love your new avatar! :thumbup:

Mis you, I wanted one that was one of a kind. Even on the RUSH site no one has this one.

Peace

helplessdancer

no kidney stones would cancel this show, this time
one more show this year(4 total)

partial setlist:
love dont wait
the thing that helps me get thru
rude boys
only thing missing
hello bonjour
anytime u need me
shake it
stay human
everybody deserves music
sound of sunshine
hey world
yell fire
hey hey hey
ill b waiting
i got love 4 u
say hey

one of the greatest musical experiences i have had this year
politics and music belong together
get out to see him if u get that

music is my religion
love is my religion

Cree Nations

This would be a good show

http://www.livenation.com/event/0F0046A ... dma_id=523

g under p

Yes my friend is teaming up with some major players in the last few years...first John Meyer, now SANTANA. Hopefully my friend will become a major act someday with these tours. He told me these kind of tours with majors acts are the easiest with only playing 60-70 minutes with most of the stress and pressure left to the major band.

He says....we come in jam 100% and leave the crowd wanting more.

Peace

samjam

Saw them open for John Mayer last year, excited to see them again at Mountain Jam a week from today!

helplessdancer

A Home For The Holidays with Michael Franti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjudwy9Ebvc

musicismylife78

g under p, i was hoping you could shed some light on some of this for me. I was turned onto MF and Spearhead in 2001, a few months before Stay Human came out. I was an activist then, just starting out, and saw him play a show in front of about a thousand, maybe less than that, seemed alot of empty seats, but it was a political awareness benefit show.

And right around that time, with 9/11 happening and stuff, and all that, he seemed to attract a jam band type crowd, but also a heavily political crowd, one that followed underground and politcal hip hop.

Im curious to hear how he feels about the transistion from those early days, to now. I know he is still an activist, but im also hearing alot of non political stuff work its way into the music. The sound of Sunshine and the singles for those, are alot different than Stay Human era, or even Chocalate supa highway, or disposable heroes of hiphopracy era MF. Whats his view on politics and music nowadays? Does he see it as important now to focus more on activism outside his music, and have more fun catchy but still positive type songs like Say Hey, or The Sound of Sunshine?

I get the sense not that he's moved away from activism, but more that he wants to explore more territory outside that in the music. of course he had non political songs on Stay Human and Everyone deserves music but i sense a shift. Not a bad shift, but a shift nonetheless.

Certainly his audience is way different now. I have no doubt hippie jam band types and political activists attend the shows, but i also think hos audience is alot bigger now, and more broad. And probably includes teeny boppers, parents, grandparents, and even people who are non political or who are not necessarily in agreement with his political views.

I saw him 13 times from 2001 to 2006 or 2007, but since i left activism behind unfortunately havent listened to him much, and havent been to a concert since then,

helplessdancer

still one of the greatest feel good shows you will ever go to. IMO
he's playing a bunch of new songs now and they all sound amazing. saw him friday night(july24)
am still loving 11:59
and good on jay for playing seated while in a cast. if grohl can do it anyone can!

g under p

musicismylife78 said:

g under p, i was hoping you could shed some light on some of this for me. I was turned onto MF and Spearhead in 2001, a few months before Stay Human came out. I was an activist then, just starting out, and saw him play a show in front of about a thousand, maybe less than that, seemed alot of empty seats, but it was a political awareness benefit show.



And right around that time, with 9/11 happening and stuff, and all that, he seemed to attract a jam band type crowd, but also a heavily political crowd, one that followed underground and politcal hip hop.



Im curious to hear how he feels about the transistion from those early days, to now. I know he is still an activist, but im also hearing alot of non political stuff work its way into the music. The sound of Sunshine and the singles for those, are alot different than Stay Human era, or even Chocalate supa highway, or disposable heroes of hiphopracy era MF. Whats his view on politics and music nowadays? Does he see it as important now to focus more on activism outside his music, and have more fun catchy but still positive type songs like Say Hey, or The Sound of Sunshine?



I get the sense not that he's moved away from activism, but more that he wants to explore more territory outside that in the music. of course he had non political songs on Stay Human and Everyone deserves music but i sense a shift. Not a bad shift, but a shift nonetheless.



Certainly his audience is way different now. I have no doubt hippie jam band types and political activists attend the shows, but i also think hos audience is alot bigger now, and more broad. And probably includes teeny boppers, parents, grandparents, and even people who are non political or who are not necessarily in agreement with his political views.



I saw him 13 times from 2001 to 2006 or 2007, but since i left activism behind unfortunately havent listened to him much, and havent been to a concert since then,

Wow, this is a blast from the past. I don't how I missed your post to answer your question and concerns. Well you have pretty much hit the nail on the head in your feelings of a shift from his early political messages to more fun loving songs. I think it 2004 he went to Iraq, Isarel and Palestine to see for himself what was happening there instead of what he heard on the news. He played for the soldiers and the people of Iraq and documented it in the DVDs I Know I'm Not Alone....A Musicians Search for The the Human Cost Of War. This led to Yell Fire, what I think is his best work since the classic Stay Human.

Since then however it appears he gradually made a shift towards love, peace and happiness songs which are great but I started to miss those strong politically motivated songs. Many of his long time fans miss that side of him too. With the change he has brought in more young fans who aren't interested in the his old political side he once had. I can understand the change, I don't blame him in getting his dew for the long months and years of touring which takes it toll on the mind and body. Some of his older fans have said he has sold out....whatever....it's his music, his life he can do whatever he wants with it. I'll say walk a mile in his bare feet and they might see a different point of view. It's a fun life but a hard one being away from home so much. I toured with him for almost two weeks and I got burned out just from the city to city...tour bus life.

Now you can hear his music in commercials, radio, everywhere. So now he doesn't have to tour 10 months a year and has more time for himself. I yearn for the days of political, songs with stories with an hard edge. I miss them, many times NOT looking forward what he's created in his new songs. However, it is what it's is , he's STILL brings it LIVE and one is guaranteed a good time and show. He's getting married on 9/11-12 in SF I can't go but wish him well.

PEACE

g under p

helplessdancer said:

still one of the greatest feel good shows you will ever go to. IMO
he's playing a bunch of new songs now and they all sound amazing. saw him friday night(july24)
am still loving 11:59
and good on jay for playing seated while in a cast. if grohl can do it anyone can!

That song from the last album is by far my favorite and he really jams singing that one live. I can remember he played that song here in South Florida at Revolution on Halloween night two years ago.....just another great live show with a tribute to Bob Segar.

Peace

samjam

samjam said:

Michael Franti is awesome and puts on a really great show! Definitely a very fun one.

I Got Love For You is one of my favorites by him & now will most likely be stuck in my head for the rest of the day

Saw him open for John Mayer at MSG in February & he got most of The Garden standing by the end- lots of fun!

Blast from the past is right! I've seen MFSH quite a few times since posting that, and the band remains one of the most uplifting, fun, carefree shows you can possibly go to. I'm always looking forward to the next time I see MFSH!

helplessdancer

here's a new song. great great video this guy took!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKIWdyKMV5k

helplessdancer

He recently met and played for the Dali Lama's 80th birthday and he played this song, called Once A Day. Saw it played this summer and it was powerful then but now after reading this ... wow

"Through music, dance and gratitude for this life we can all ‘Rise Up’!”

“‘Once A Day’ is about unexpected moments in life. Some days we have unexpectedly beautiful moments and others that are unexpectedly challenging. Last year I had a really challenging moment when my son was diagnosed with a kidney disease called FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis). We thought it would break our family apart, but moving through the initial tears, it made us realize life is precious and that we need to hug, kiss and be close to each other every day and through that we could ‘rise up’ and face his illness together. I hope that Once A Day brings inspiration to anyone in this world who is going through challenging times. Through music, dance and gratitude for this life we can all ‘Rise Up’!” - Michael Franti

http://tinyurl.com/nv4c8fk