Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Michael Franti & Spearhead 2/23/07 San Diego

caught Franti & Spearhead friday night at 4th and B in San Diego... had not seen him in a number of years and was absolutely blown away by how good the show was. a great well-paced show that appealed to a diverse audience, from the reggae party types to the serious liberal activists. Franti has fully realized his potential to captivate and motivate an audience, singing about serious world issues but never making you feel bad about them, or that any given situation is hopeless. the music itself is a bit more rock-tinged than in the past, to a positive.

show was sold-out, crowd was full of gorgeous, friendly san diego women. no security or bad-crowd issues. super positive evening, far exceeded my expectations.

special thx to JC from Mad House for the guest list spots.

and some good recent SBDs on LMA if you want to check out the current Spearhead vibration....

YMMV, KK

Spearhead is great music. Just that simple. I was at the first gig ever at Slim's in SF and have loved the group ever since.

is it reggae ?

Wino,

There is some reggae to it, yeah, but it is soooo much more. It's sort of hip-hop, but only in the best possible sense. Yes, the bass does BOOM, and the lyrics rhyme, and there is a DJ sometimes. However, Franti is incredibly MUSICAL. Buy the first album HOME or SUPER CHOCOALTE HIGHWAY and get a dose of something different. It's just good tunes whether you are black, white or center. Certainly, it's different than our PHILZONE usual bands, and we ALL need a little something different.

Basically, if you buy an album and don't like it, I'll send you a bottle of 05 De Tierra Silacci Pinot. Deal?

Deal !!
thanks

Atta boy Wino! Take the Pinot Challenge...wait, that doesn't sound quite right...

Franti & Spearhead was recently added to the spring Strawberry Music Festival. The band's politics are way left of my beliefs but the band does kick ass. It will be interesting to see how long I last in the audience when they perform.

this tour the music is a bit more reggae-rock w/ a hip-hop undercurrent, with some great solo Franti on acoustic guitar as well. like a younger Bob Marley in some ways...no DJ this tour, the band is tight and the show is even tighter. ultra-positive vibe, Franti is an activist that can motivate his audience...

saw him at vegoose 2 yrs ago...good time...I'm not totally sold but do generally dig it....

...but stop telling me to put my hand in the air.

<<...but stop telling me to put my hand in the air.

also, stfu and play some music. if i want to hear political ranting crap i can turn on the tv

I like the messages Franti says...I just wish I was a fan of his music, which is just not my thing. YMWV here, and quite greatly.

>>>>saw him at vegoose 2 yrs ago...good time...I'm not totally sold but do generally dig it....

...but stop telling me to put my hand in the air.





thats funny stuff, I saw them last year at Mt. Jam, and had a good time, but we extremely tired after the show b/c "I kept taking him to the bridge", and it just wore me the hell out..

HOW YA FEEEEELIN!!!!!

As a Spearhead fan I have to say that they simply lost their edge over the past couple of years and peaked with Stay Human and Everyone Deserves Music. Then Franti started playing acoustic and writing the music as well as the lyrics instead of using his writing partners in the band (Dave and Carl). It resulted in a CD that was never released because the songs were so bad and then the rest went into Yell Fire which was a pretty marginal release, certainly when you compare them to the previous releases.

I can deal with the How Ya Feelin, but the put your hands up every 5 mintues kinda bugs me too. Still they were one of the best live experieces I ever had .... in 2002 and 2003. From there onward its just a shadow of their former self.

Having said all that, i still love those two releases.

hmmm, some interesting comments, somewhat typical of what I would expect on the Zone, that's not meant in a negative way.

as far as the comment from Jellyroll, I'd have to say that if a positive message intended to bring folks into contact and communication with each other doesn't connect with you then I feel you are missing the point. there was nothing that even closely resembled a political rant at the show...

the thing I appreciate most about the music I caught was that it connects with more mainstream music fans than, say, Phil & Friends. having a good time is definitely part of the reason for going to a Spearhead show, and if in the course of doing that even a single person leaves the show thinking about some of the topics Franti brings into his music then the world is a better place...

Franti & Spearhead have definitely not lost their edge at all, I was part of a sold out show [2000 folks] that absolutely had the room levitating, arms in the air too!

personally I think Franti intimidates those of weak character and insecure with their own trip, the man definitely walks his talk, barefoot and straight into the streets of Baghdad armed with only a wooden guitar... you have to respect that even if you don't like his music or message.

dig it! KK

"personally I think Franti intimidates those of weak character and insecure with their own trip"

Hmmm