Jam Central Station 9.04.10: Michael Franti & Spearhead

Posted by Jeff Modzelewski on 09.04.2010

By blending strong politics with diverse musical influences, Michael Franti & Spearhead have grown from an underground festival act to a mainstream sensation.



Here I am, back again. I know you missed me. Things are starting to settle down just enough for me to get back to work here at 411. New job is going well, the new city is nice, etc… But I think I'd be perfectly satisfied if I never had to move again for as long as I live. I really, truly hate that process. Crap is still in boxes, and we still have stuff in Columbus to pick up. Oh well, we'll get it all done eventually.

Of course, I come back with very little time on my hands, and instead of going with an easy CD review or something like that, I decided to tackle an artist that I knew I was going to have to put a lot of time and effort into. Frankly, I just have too much respect for Franti and Spearhead to give anything but my best. I hope that this profile lives up to the work that the man himself does. Enjoy!





Over the past two years, Michael Franti and Spearhead have gone from underground festival band to become a mainstream radio success story. For most people, this was an overnight success, a band appearing out of nowhere to have a massive hit single. Appearances can be deceiving, however, and Franti and his band bad been mixing rock, reggae, and hip-hop for 15 years before ever coming close to the mainstream. With the upcoming release of their next studio The Sound of Sunshine, the band is poised to make a jump that will land them solidly in the mainstream. But it was anything but an overnight success.

The band's journey starts with Michael Franti himself. As a biracial child adopted at a young age by a white family, Franti was pulled and influenced by a variety of elements and cultures. By the time he graduated high school, he had lived throughout most of California, although primarily in Davis. Franti described in an interview as a place where "white kids didn't hesitate to call me nigger." He fought back, but avoided getting in any real trouble. At 6"6', he was an avid basketball player, and he played well enough to earn a scholarship to the University of San Francisco.

Living in San Francisco was a far cry from the suburban life he was used to. He was exposed to liberal politics and the San Francisco lifestyle, and began gravitating towards music, poetry, and politics. He befriended professors, revolutionaries, musicians, and anyone else who could help him understand and expand his worldview. He picked up his first bass guitar and soon quit the basketball team to concentrate on his music. In music and poetry, he found a way to relate to the world and express himself. He formed the Beatnigs, an abrasive, angry hip-hop/punk/industrial band focused on lashing out at society in the most hostile way they could. The band recorded an album and gained notoriety for underground shows they would throw, but they broke up after a couple of years.

After the Beatnigs, he and Beatnigs member Rono Tse formed the Disposable Heroes of Hiphopresy, a somewhat more straightforward hip-hop project. Franti continued to put his politics front and center in the music, which kept the band from reaching any real mainstream success. While hip hop and rap were firmly entrenched in their "gangsta" era, the Disposable Heroes were taking vocal stands against the first Gulf War, racism, violence, and other social issues. They became well known as an underground band, and were able to use that to open for such diverse acts as Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Arrested Development, and U2.

After a couple of years, however, Franti tired of putting forward a hostile and angry front on a nightly basis. He was proud of the work that the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprasy had done, but, as he put it, their music "wasn't even a record I would listen to at home. The problem with the Disposable Heroes was that it was a record people listened to because it was good for them – kind of like broccoli."

After disbanding the Disposable Heroes, Franti set his sites on making music that, while still political, was also accessible and was closer to his evolving political and social point of view of peace and community. The goal wasn't to avoid political statements, but it was about putting the music first, and then listeners could digest the politics after hearing the music. His influences strayed far from the aggressive hip-hop that he had made a name for himself performing.

This diversity and change of focus led to Franti bringing together an eclectic group of talented musicians to form Spearhead. Franti's vision for Spearhead went far beyond just political hip-hop. He wanted to put together a melting pot of influences and styles, and, most importantly, make music for people to enjoy first and foremost. The first result of this vision was the aptly titled Home, released in 1994 on Capitol. The album garnered almost universally positive reviews and gave Franti an opportunity to have his voice heard on a wider scale. The album was at times angry, fun, peaceful, and controversial, but it was always diverse. While the album was a critical success, the diversity of the music made it difficult for radio to categorize the band, which led to very little airplay.



Over the next couple of years, the personnel in Spearhead evolved considerably, but Franti kept the band moving forward. The band's second album Chocolate Supa Highway was harsher than Home, and dealt with more difficult subjects. The album included guest appearances by Stephen Marley and Joan Osborne.

After Chocolate Supa Highway the band left Capitol Records, frustrated with the fact that the label was encouraging the band to collaborate with artists that didn't fit their style. Because Capitol owned the rights to "Spearhead," the band changed their name to "Michael Franti & Spearhead" and formed their own record label. Stay Human was released in 2001, and the album took a strong stand against the death penalty as well as other issues. The album was split between songs highlighting the wrongs and injustices of the world and songs helping people cope with what they saw.

With Stay Human the band really began finding their voice around how to express not just anger but also hope in the music. This tightening of their sound became even more pronounced with 2003's Everyone Deserves Music. From the more pop-influenced title track to the quieter "Bomb the World" and the funky "We Don't Stop," the songs first were able to engage the listener and then convey their message. The band still wasn't experiencing any radio success, but worldwide touring, consistent festival performances, and their own annual "Power to the Peaceful" festival, the band was developing a solid following not only in the hip hop community but in the jam band community as well.

In 2004, angered by the new war in Iraq, Franti traveled to the Middle East, accompanied only with his manager and some friends. He visited Iraq, not under the banner of the U.S. government but simply by himself, and also traveled to Palestine and Israel. He performed acoustically on the streets of Baghdad, in the homes of Iraqis, and for U.S. soldiers. This experience not only led to the creation of Spearhead's next album, Yell Fire!, but also to a movie that Franti released that chronicled his trip. That movie, I Know I'm Not Alone highlighted not just what Franti saw in Iraq but also the different sides of the story, from families living in the war zone to what the Americans thought about the conflict.

While Franti's first experience in filmmaking was a positive one, the album that came out of that experience was an even bigger success. Yell Fire! is simply an amazing mix of rock and hip-hop, of idealism and realism, and of angry political commentary and hope. Front to back, the album was both an amazing success both musically and in conveying it's message. The album had better sales than any of the band's previous efforts, although it still wasn't a mainstream success. What it did do is lay the groundwork for the band to build off of. Franti got heavily involved in politics, including actively campaigning for Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign. The band continued to tour non-stop, including dates at major festivals.

The band returned to the studio to record 2008's All Rebel Rockers, an album that was significantly more hip-hop and reggae influenced than Yell Fire! The band brought in the production team Sly and Robbie for the album, as well as a variety of guest vocals. The album's sales were initially solid, and on the same level as Yell Fire! In 2009, the band released their first single from an album since 2003's "Everyone Deserve's Music" with "Say Hey (I Love You)." The song was started a slow rise until it eventually peaked at #18 on Billboard, and the success of the single brought plenty of sales for All Rebel Rockers as well.

The success of "Say Hey (I Love You)" and All Rebel Rockers led the band's fanbase growing very quickly. The song became a regular track in dance clubs and on pop radio stations, as well as in movies. The band went from playing small clubs to large theaters, and got much higher billing at festivals. That didn't change the band's message, however. They continued to highlight political issues in concert both through their songs and through speakers, booths at concerts, and other opportunities.

In early 2010, the band went out on the road with John Mayer to open a string of arena shows. During this tour the band would often play free acoustic sets outside of the arena early in the day before playing their opening set. They were also writing and recording a new album, and would often debut brand-new songs on tour that had been put together just hours before. The result of this process The Sound of Sunshine is set to be released later this month, and the title track has been another mainstream hit for the band.

In the end, the story of Michael Franti & Spearhead is not one that would normally have ended with mainstream success, and I believe that the story with this band is far from over. I've said for a while that I think that this band is ready to make a major break into mainstream success, far beyond just one or two hit singles. It will also depend on how the band handles the current expectations. There's a real expectation of success now, that The Sound of Sunshine will be not only a critical success but also a commercial one. How Franti and the band balance their new, broader fan base with their political music will go a long way in determining how far Spearhead will go in the future.



























Phish announces tour, Hallowween plans

Phish will be spending Halloween in the Northeast for the first time since the mid-90's. They'll be doing their "Halloween costume" show in Atlantic City, part of a three-show run at the Boardwalk Hall. They'll also hit plenty of places along the East Coast that they haven't played in 10 years or more. No word if this is just the first leg of a more extended run.

October 8 Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Festival
October 10-12 Broomfield, CO—ISTBANK Center
October 15-16 North Charleston, SC—North Charleston Coliseum
October 19 Augusta, ME—Augusta Civic Center
October 20 Utica, NY—Utica Memorial Auditorium
October 22 Providence, RI—Dunkin Donuts Center
October 23-24 Amherst, MA—Mullins Center
October 26 Manchester, NH—Verizon Wireless Arena
October 29-31 Atlantic City, NJ—Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall

5 more years of Hangout?

Promoter of the Hangout Music Festival which held it's inaugural festival this year in Gulf Shores, AL, met with city officials to secure a permit to hold the festival there for the next five years. This year's festival took on additional significance when the beach party turned into a fundraiser for victims of the oil spill. There will likely be a ruling on additional festivals next year, but, at the moment, city officials seem to be behind it.

Gov't Mule to take 2011 off

Gov't Mule recently announced that they're planning on taking most of 2011 off, other than playing "very few select shows." The band has been touring since 1994, and Warren has a solo album coming out. He'll likely be out promoting that as well as pulling his normal duty with the Allman Brothers. Hopefully they return full force in 2012.

Furthur adds shows

Furthur continues to add to their schedule, putting together a few new shows. They'll be playing the Northrop Auditorium in MN as well as 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, the sites of some legendary Dead shows.

November 8 Minneapolis, MN—Northrop Auditorium
November 9 Ames, IA—Stephens Auditorium
November 11 Saint Louis, MO—Chaifetz Arena
November 12-13 Chicago, IL—UIC Pavilion
November 14 Cincinnati, OH—U.S. Bank Arena
November 16 Reading, PA—Sovereign Center
November 17 Baltimore, MD—1st Mariner Arena
November 19 Worcester, MA—DCU Center
November 20-21 New York, NY—Madison Square Garden

Yonder Mountain String Band joins Las Tortugas

Las Tortugas Dance of the Dead, the Halloween festival held in Groveland, CA, got a boost when Yonder Mountain String Band was announced as a performer this year. Yonder will join ALO, The Mother Hips, 7 Walkers, Tea Leaf Green, and a reunited Blue Turtle Seduction for the festival. Yonder is making a special trip out west, as their current tour has them in Vermont on the 28th and in Maryland on the 30th. They also announced that they'll be playing in St. Louis for New Years this year, with a run at The Pageant for the 30th and the 31st. The show on the 30th will feature an opener, while the 31st will be "An Evening With Yonder Mountain String Band."

October 2 Charleston, SC—Patriot's Point (with Widespread Panic)
October 3 San Fransisco, CA—Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
October 15-16 Ozark, AR—Harvest Music Festival
October 19 Pittsburgh, PA— Mr. Small's Theatre
October 22 New York, NY—Nokia Theater
October 23 Washington, DC—9:30 Club
October 24 Portland, ME—Port City Music Hall
October 27-28 Burlington, VT—Higher Ground
October 30 Baltimore, MD—Rams Head Live
November 3 State College, PA—State Theater
November 4 Indianapolis, IN—Vogue Theater
November 5-6 Chicago, IL—House of Blues
November 9 Milwaukee, WI—Pabst Theater
November 10 Columbia, MO—The Blue Note
November 11 Omaha, NE—Sokol Auditorium
November 12-13 Lawrence, KS—Liberty Hall
December 30-31 St. Louis, MO—The Pageant

Halloween with Robert Randolph

Robert Randolph and the Family Band announced that they'll be celebrating Halloween with a pair of shows in DC on the 29th and 30th. The band is also getting ready to launch an extensive tour, including headlining shows as well as opening for the Zac Brown Band. They're out supporting their recent album We Walk This Road.

September 5 Charlestown, RI Rhythm & Roots Festival
September 6 Rutland, VT Paramount Theatre
September 10 Lowell, MA Lowell Summer Music Series
September 11 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
September 12 Clark, NJ Union City MusicFest – FREE SHOW!
September 16 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 17 Lubbock, TX City Bank Coliseum *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 18 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 19 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 23 Reno, NV Lawlor Events Center *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 24 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 25 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion *opening for Zac Brown Band
September 26 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *opening for Zac Brown Band
October 6 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
October 8 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 9 New Orleans, LA Tipitina's
October 11 Baton Rouge, LA Varsity Theatre
October 12 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Soundstage
October 13 Knoxville, TN The Valarium
October 16 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre
October 17 Lexington, KY Busters
October 19 Bloomington, IN Bluebird Nightclub
October 20 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
October 22 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head
October 23 Albany, NY Hart Theatre @ The Egg Center for Performing Arts
October 24 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Music Hall
October 26 State College, PA The State Theatre
October 27 Toronto, CA The Mod Club
October 29 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
October 30 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
November 11 New Haven, CT Toad's Place
November 12 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
November 13 New York, NY Terminal 5

Keller Williams announces Kids

Seeing as Keller Williams has done just about every other type of music, it seems inevitable that he would eventually release a kid's album. The album, aptly entitled Kids, is set to be released on October 26. Keller will promote the album with a run of shows as a part of "Yo Gabba Gabba Live." I'll definitely be picking this one up for my son, but I just can't see myself going out to support a show like "Yo Gabba Gabba." Anyways, welcome to the kid's music team Keller!

August 26 Outer Banks Brewing Station Kill Devil Hills NC
August 27 Music on the Mountain Top At The Old Fairgrounds Boone NC
September 2 Bottle & Cork Dewey Beach DE
September 4 Stir Fry Music Revival Festival Morrisville PA
September 11 The Catskill Chill Music Festival – Camp Minglewood Hancock NY
September 12 Infinity Hall Norfolk CT
September 24 Bourbon Theatre Lincoln NE
September 25 Ames Community Auditorium Ames IA
October 1 Pisgah Brewing Company Black Mountain NC
October 3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Speedway Meadows San Francisco CA
October 8 The Jefferson Theater Charlottesville VA
October 14 Bluebird Nightclub Bloomington IN
October 16 Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival Ozark AR
October 21 Sellersville Theater Sellerville PA
October 23 Magnolia Music Festival Live Oak Fl
November 6 Rock For Hunger Orlando FL
November 12 INB Performing Arts Center Spokane WA (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)
November 13 Tacoma Dome Tacoma WA (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)
November 14 Memorial Coliseum Portland OR (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)
November 15 Hult Center for the Performing Arts Eugene OR (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)
November 16 Rock For Hunger Orlando FL (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)
November 18 Memorial Sacramento CA (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)
November 20 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA
November 21 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium San Francisco CA (Yo Gabba Gabba! Live)


Railroad Earth announces tour

Railroad Earth will be releasing their self-titled album on October 12, and will be hitting the road for an extensive tour in support. They'll be doing shows with Toubab Krewe and Donna the Buffalo, and they'll be spending Halloween in New York and New Years Eve in Denver as part of a three-show run.

9/16 Madison, WI—Barrymore Theater (with Toubab Krewe)
9/17 Chicago, IL—House of Blues (with Toubab Krewe)
9/18 Fargo, ND—The Venue (with Toubab Krewe)
9/21 Bozeman, MT—Emerson Cultural Center (with Toubab Krewe)
9/22 Missoula, MT—Wilma Theater (with Toubab Krewe)
9/24 Portland, OR—Crystal Ballroom (with Toubab Krewe)
9/25 Seattle, WA—The Showbox at the Market (with Toubab Krewe)
9/26 Eugene, OR—McDonald Theatre (with Toubab Krewe)
9/28 Arcata, CA—Arcata Theater (with Toubab Krewe)
9/29 Crystal Bay, NV—The Crystal Bay Club/Crown Room (with Toubab Krewe)
10/1 San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore (with Toubab Krewe)
10/2 San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore (with Toubab Krewe)
10/9 Roseland, VA—The Festy Experience
10/14 Ozark, AR—Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival
10/15 Austin, TX—La Zona Rosa
10/16 New Orleans, LA—Tipitina's
10/21 Live Oak, FL—MagnoliaFest
10/22 Charlotte, NC—Visulite Theatre
10/23 Carrboro, NC—Cat's Cradle
10/29 New York, NY—The Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza (with Donna the Buffalo)
10/30 Boston, MA—The Paradise (with Donna the Buffalo)
10/31 Ithaca, NY—State Theater (with Donna The Buffalo and Sim Redmond Band)
11/5 Cleveland, OH—Beachland Ballroom
11/6 Grand Rapids, MI—The Intersection
11/7 Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark
11/26 Stroudsburg, PA—Sherman Theater
11/27 Stroudsburg, PA—Sherman Theater
12/2 Londonderry, NH—Tupelo Music Hall
12/3 South Burlington, VT—Higher Ground Ballroom
12/4 Skowhegan, ME—Skowhegan Opera House
12/11 Philadelphia, PA—World Café Live
12/29 Denver, CO – Odgen Theater
12/30 Denver, CO – Odgen Theater
12/31 Denver, CO – Odgen Theater




I really hope that you all enjoyed the column this week, and I hope that I did justice to Franti and Spearhead. There aren't many people in the music industry that I respect as much as Michael Franti. You may not agree with him all the time, but he's genuine, he's honest, and he stays very true to himself first. A mixture between music and politics is always controversial, but, when it's done well, it's great to see. Some may find Franti's politics too far from their own to support his music, but for those who fall close to where he is, no one does it better.

I also want to bid a very fond fairwell to 411Mania's own Michael Melchor. After hanging around here at 411 for an ungodly long amount of time, the man is moving on to bigger and better things. Well, he had already moved on to bigger and better things but still graced us with his presence, but, this time, something had to give. The guy has rocked it out here for a long time, and, if we actually all worked at an office together or something, I'm sure we'd throw a hell of a party. As it is, he'll be missed. Best of luck to ya Double M!

Thank you once again for sticking around. Hope you enjoyed it. I especially hope that all the new folks that J.R. brought on board last week stick around. If you haven't yet, you can find more Jam Central Station on Facebook, and, until next time, Jam On!