Go see Michael Franti and Spearhead
We do Date Night every Friday, and got tickets for this show about a month ago. 🙂 It was SO GOOD.
Patrick introduced me to their music when we first met, and I still don’t know exactly what genre they fit into. A little rap/hip hop/reggae in some albums (Home and Chocolate Supa Highway) but this recent album (Yell Fire) has more of the reggae style. Michael Franti is a social commentator who can make me laugh and cry both (just like any good writer). He is also incredibly sexy to watch. (as Catie would say *RAaR*)
Beartooth’s parking is tight at any time, but we suspected it would be worse for the concert (opening act scheduled for 8), so we went to the restaurant to eat at 5. Had a nice dinner (resisted dessert) and walked over to Title Wave, then to Kaladi Bros Coffee and back. The theater opened at 7, so we waited in the lobby for a few minutes and then went in.
I was surprised that they had taken so many seats out, but I don’t know how many tickets there were for the (sold out) show. We got some seats (yay! My arthritic feet and Pat’s still recovering from surgery knee wouldn’t have made it) and people watched for an hour or so. All ages, apparently all income levels. The beer flowed early and often. The opening act was “Spiff” and Melissa Something (I think they maybe used to be White Stripe). Not bad. Spiff had some funny Alaska songs. I didn’t get to see them much, due to the wall of backs in front of us. I was REALLY afraid I wouldn’t be able to see the main show. Being short has some definite disadvantages. Pat said that he heard a lot of the people there say that they hadn’t heard any of Spearhead’s music, but it was a show, so why not. Disposable income, indeed.
Finally the main show…bass heavy enough to make my heart beat to the same rhythm, shrill screaming voices, dim hazy lights, sour beer smell with a little pot smoke added in. Not being able to see was not that much of a problem. I was up out of my chair from the beginning. I spilt my water the first time Michael said “everybody bounce!” There is a freedom in feeling the music so much that you don’t care what you look like dancing. There wasn’t a lot of room (the tables were still in place in front of our seats), but there was enough room to wriggle. The sound was muddy and very loud, but infectious. The band was fantastic, and Michael Franti LOVES what he does. He uses his hands and body as well as his voice. He is 6 ft 6 and thin. The paper said he has pogo sticks for legs :). He can do a fluid wave with his arms that involves his chest and stomach to make it look like he has no bones. Would I go again? In a heartbeat. Next time they are up, we are already there.
We didn’t get home until 1:30, which is v. late for this old woman. I barely remember eating a bowl of cereal and taking my pills before we went to bed.
I was not as muscle sore as I expected, but my feet still hurt. 🙂 And I have had their music running in my head constantly, even in dreams.
I can’t do justice to how much fun I had. 🙂
The creative side of Melissa
