Get Into The Spearit with Michael Franti & Spearhead

The first – and only – time I have seen Michael Franti & Spearhead perform live was in 2006, at the Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, NY.  Having been to Grassroots many times I was accustomed to finding new (to me) musical acts to fall in love with, but this was the first time I found one that changed my life in a deeply powerful and meaningful way; their music has gotten me through some of the worst times, and helped me celebrate some of the best.  We even played several of their songs at my wedding last fall!  I was thrilled to make another Michael Franti & Spearhead discovery today: I will finally get to relive that experience of seeing them live when they come to Houston’s House of Blues on Saturday October 2, 2010.  Tickets go on sale tomorrow, July 21, so I’ll be online at 12:01 AM hitting the “refresh” button until the “Purchase Tickets” link becomes active!  After missing several shows performed near me in the last few years (one in Anchorage, another in Upstate New York, both of which I missed due to travel) I will not be missing this one.

At the aforementioned 2006 Grassroots Festival I was wandering around with a few family members when my uncle said, “You have to come and see this band called Spearhead.”  I was happy to follow his lead, as he had already been there for a few days and knew which acts were worth watching.  “Lead the way, Uncle Jim,” I replied.

We were fortunate enough to have all-access passes to the festival, which meant we could head “backstage” and avoid the crowds.  When it was time for Spearhead’s set my uncle, cousin and I headed over to check out the band.  “What are they called again?”  I asked.  I must have asked ten times, because I just couldn’t remember the word “Spearhead”.

Their set had begun when we waded through the other backstage pass-holders and climbed up the stairs at the side of the stage.  I will never forget the moment when I first laid eyes on the group and laid ears on their sound; I had never heard anything like it in my life.  Sometimes it sounded like reggae, sometimes like rap, and other times like great soul/blues/jazz/rock … but on steroids or something.  I looked out into the crowd – Grassroots is an outdoor venue and the night was clear, the sky dark and open wide to receive the music – and saw hundreds of people moving and dancing, but more importantly, smiling and laughing; young people and old people of all shapes, sizes, and colors, moving together in unison.  I get goosebumps just thinking about that moment.  Of course, I can’t fail to mention how completely riveting the music and the performances are.  Michael is mesmerizing and enthusiastic, as is the rest of the group.  The quality of their live performance blew me away so I am eagerly anticipating this latest tour to promote their new album, The Sound of Sunshine.

Franti & Spearhead have a decidedly positive message of love and unity.  After the first couple of songs that night at Grassroots, they took the crowd up a big notch and performed “Hello, Bonjour”, which eventually became one of my favorite songs of all time, off of their Yell Fire! album.  Here is the opening verse, but click through to listen to the album in its entirety:

I don’t need a passport to walk on this earth
Anywhere I go ‘cause I was made of this earth
I’m born of this earth, I breathe of this earth
And even with the pain I believe in this earth
So I wake up every mornin’ and I’m steppin’ on the floor
I wake up every mornin’ and I’m walkin’ out the door
Got faith in the sky, faith in the one
Faith in the people rockin’ underneath the sun

“Hello, Bonjour” rocks a call-and-answer chorus of greetings in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese, and it gives you an idea of Michael’s message – that we’re all more alike than we are different.  Although I have downloaded every Michael Franti, and Michael Franti & Spearhead album on iTunes, Yell Fire! is my favorite because it’s the one I heard and saw first.  I cannot recommend them enough, both because I adore their music and because I know from first-hand experience they put on an all-out live show.

Who: Michael Franti & Spearhead

Where: Houston House of Blues, 1204 Caroline St. (map)

When: Saturday October 2, 2010; click here for a full list of tour dates.  Tickets go on sale 7.20.10.

Additional Info: Spearhead fans often call themselves “Spearits” – hence the name of the article.  Franti & Spearhead have an active and thriving online community of fans.  You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and on their website, where you can listen to music, view lyrics, read their blog, interact on their fan forum, and otherwise experience an incredible amount of access to their music and their message.  Ticket prices range from $23.25 each (4-pack, general admission) to $40 for balcony.

Photos and lyrics courtesy the Michael Franti & Spearhead official website.