In Concert: Michael Franti & Spearhead

Michael Franti & Spearhead Grinders at Crossroads; Kansas City, MO July 11, 2017

image from entrepreneur.com Opening Act: Kawehi Review: Wow. Wow. Wow. I posted earlier this week about the dilemma of whether to see Robert Cray or Michael Franti tonight. I chose the latter and, boy, did I choose right. I've seen maybe 40-50 shows in my life - more than some people, a lot less than others. This, however, was a transformative experience. I've never seen a performer more dedicated to making a connection with the audience. He had maybe an 8YO kid up on stage with him about 2 songs in singing and dancing. I figured it would be the highlight of the show. Boy, was I wrong. There was much more to come. He told plenty of stories which evoked both tears and laughter. He wandered out into the audience for about a six-song set and then came back out again several more times during other songs. He often asked the crowd to raise their hands in the air, jump up and down, hug someone, or introduce yourself to a stranger. At one point he pulled nearly a dozen kids on stage to sing and dance with him. Oh, and this was all done as he sang songs with a very distinct "let's all love one another and get along" hippie vibe. After the show, as the crew packed up the stage, Franti hung around talking to fans and taking selfies. When I left he was still at it and I imagine he doesn't leave until anyone who wants to hug him, take a picture, or share a story gets their chance. Sorry all other performers I'll see in the future. Michael Franti has set a new bar which none of you may ever reach. Click here to see other concerts I’ve attended. Set List * 1. Light Up Ya Lighter 5 2. Hey Hey Hey (No Matter How Life is Today) 7 3. Yell Fire! 5 4. Hello Bonjour (w/ I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For) 5. The Sound of Sunshine 7 6. Stay Human (Family Affair) 3 7. I Got Love for You 9 8. Crazy for You 9 9. Good to Be Alive Today 9 10. Summertime Is in Our Hands 9 11. Get Myself to Saturday 9 12. We Are All Earthlings 9 13. Hey World (Don't Give Up Version) 6 14. Enjoy Every Second (new song) 15. Life Is Better With You 8 16. I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) 8 17. 11:59 8 18. I Don’t Belong (new song) 19. Say Hey (I Love You) 6 20. My Lord 9 * Setlist for show at Rose Music Hall in Columbia, Missouri on July 10, 2017. Discography: 1 Home (1994) 2 Chocolate Supa Highway (1997) 3 Stay Human (2001) 4 Everyone Deserves Music (2003) 5 Yell Fire (2006) 6 All Rebel Rockers (2008) 7 The Sound of Sunshine (2010) 8 All People (2013) 9 Soulrocker (2016) Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Michael Franti Setlist.fm (setlist for 7/10/2017 show at Columbia, Missouri’s Rose Music Hall) Last updated 6/14/2022.

Michael Franti Soul Rocker released

Soul Rocker Michael Franti & Spearhead

Released: June 3, 2016 Peak: 38 US, -- UK, 96 CN, 65 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: alternative rock

Tracks: Song Title [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Crazy for You [3:39] (5/8/17, --) My Lord [3:55] Get Myself to Saturday [4:18] Summertime Is in Our Hands [3:48] (5/27/17, 28 AC) We Are All Earthlings [3:44] Still Standing [3:46] Good to Be Alive Today [4:14] (5/29/16) My Favorite Wine Is Tequila [4:08] Once a Day [3:57] (6/22/15, 30 A40, 17 AA) We Do This Every Day [4:14] I Got Love for Ya [3:58] Do You Feel the Way That I Do? [4:56] Love Will Find a Way [3:42] (11/5/16, --) All songs written by Michael Franti. Total Running Time: 52:19

Rating: 3.952 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: A reviewer on Amazon called Michael Franti “the Bob Marley of our times,” AZ praising him a “a champion for peace, love, veterans, and all ‘earthlings’ in general.” AZ Another reviewer said, “there’s really NOTHING that can compare to a live Michael Franti and Spearhead show. You will leave that show a better person. You will want to help others. You will want to make a difference in the world.” AZ I saw him in concert for the first time in the summer of 2017 when he was supporting the Soul Rocker album. The reviewers on Amazon nailed it. Michael Franti is a modern-day Bob Marley, desperately trying to bring the world together through his message of peace in his music and the communal spirit of his concerts. It is the best show I’ve ever seen. The album is stocked with songs begging to be played in front of an audience. My Favorite Wine Is Tequila has a definite party vibe. It “may go the full Jimmy Buffett, but a classic, vintage reggae sample makes it the right kind of cheeky.” AMG Get Myself to Saturday showcases “honest and vulnerable lyrics coming from a man who kicked off his career with the political attack squads the Beatnigs and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.” AMG Franti is also a consummate activist using his songs to spotlight various causes. He somehow manages, however, to keep the atmosphere light and fun instead of preachy. “We Are All Earthlings is like a Greenpeace sticker plastered over a Recycle sticker stuck on a flyer for clean water, and Franti covers the same ground (grew up confused, got mad at the world, then things got better) on a couple autobiographical songs.” AMG Perhaps no song showcases Franti’s message of peace and love more than Once a Day. The lyrics have a positive, hippy vibe that dares the listener not to sing along: “Everybody oughta hug somebody, at least once a day / And everybody oughta kiss somebody, at least once a day / Everybody’s gonna miss somebody, at least once a day / And everybody gotta love somebody, every day.” Franti seamlessly melds multiple genres together, tapping into reggae, hip-hop, alternative rock, and even electronica. My Lord, a “chugging EDM-meets-rootsy-music tune.” AMG “Bright dance music is an easy fit” AMG for Franti considering how much he is “aiming for a crowd singing in unison.” AMG “If the strings on Love Will Find a Way are synthetic, the song and the performance are still angelic, connecting immediately and giving Franti his own ‘Redemption Song.’” AMG The album is “inspired, warm, and inviting, plus in parts, it is diminutive in the best sense of the word.” AMG

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Michael Franti Dave’s Music Database (7/11/2017). “In Concert: Michael Franti & Spearhead” AMG All Music Guide review by David Jeffries AZ Amazon WK Wikipedia First posted 8/20/2021; last updated 2/5/2022.

Michael Franti “Once a Day” released

Once a Day Michael Franti & Spearhead with Sonna Rele

Writer(s): Michael Franti (see lyrics here) Released: June 22, 2015 First Charted: August 1, 2015 Peak: 30 A40, 17 AA, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.6 video, 3.53 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Michael Franti was born in 1966 in Oakland, California. After high school, he went to the University of San Franciso on a full basketball scholarship. While at school, he started writing poetry after a priest taught him to write stories. He also started making music inspired by the campus radio station, KUSF. His music was a blend of alternative rock, reggae, hip-hop, and punk. In 1986, he launched his career with the Beatnigs, an industrial punk/spoken word band. After releasing an album in 1988, Franti went on to be part of the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy from 1991-93 before forming his own band, Spearhead, in 1994. They released their debut album, Home, in 1996. Franti didn’t reach the Billboard album chart until 2006, when Yell Fire! reached #125. His next four albums reached the top 40. The last of those was 2016’s SoulRocker, an album which AllMusic.com’s David Jeffries referred to as Franti’s “electronic effort, where bass-drops and EDM ideas mesh with guitars and flip-flop music.” AMG “It is electro, but SoulRocker is also inspired, warm and inviting.” AMG The album featured the song “Once a Day,” which Franti explained was “a mantra within my own family, as a way to approach the unexpected moments in life.” WL He talked about his son being diagnosed with kidney disease and thinking it might pull the family apart. Instead, he said, “We all decided to celebrate and love life. A reminder to hugh, kiss and cherish each other every day.” WL He said the song then “transformed from a hopeful personal message for our family into an actual daily practice of gratitude and celebration of life throughout our social community. I love when the message of a song takes on an even bigger message than was originally intended. That is the awesome power of music.” WL Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Michael Franti AMG All Music Guide review of SoulRocker by David Jeffries WL Wanderlust.com “Put Your Best Love Forward: Michael Franti’s ‘Once a Day’” Related Links: First posted 2/22/2024.