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Taken from BBC - Tyne Music - Spearhead & Michael Franti (December, 2003)
Return of the valiant Buffalo Soldier
Michael Franti, activist, multimedia artist, writer, singer and poet returns to University to spell out a few home truths. Roots stayed back late to learn more.
 | | The Mighty Franti |
Reviewed by Roots
Michael Franti is a true renaissance man; activist/multimedia artist, writer, singer, poet.
In one guise or another, Franti has been strumming our collective consciousness for almost 20 years.
Franti emerged asformative member of the San Francisco-based avant-garde industrial jazz collective the Beatnigs.
Later he resurfaced as Rono Tse's other half of the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, rap's socio-political poets.
Today Franti's firmly settled down as front man of funky agitpop-pers Spearhead.
Listen & Learn
2003 has been a good year for Franti and Spearhead as they crusade valiantly through the world's student unions and festival circuits, reaffirming their status as a formidable (and best value for cash) live act.
A healthy three hour set is usually only arranged 15 mins before they go one stage.On 10 December, Franti brought his blend of infectious tunes and thought-provoking lyrics to a gathering of loyal fans at Newcastle University Students Union.
Of course, there's a new album or project to plug. Everyone Deserves Music was released earlier this year and is rumoured as one of his most 'accomplished' albums so far.
| 'We can bomb the world to pieces, but we can't bomb it into peace' | | Michael Franti: Bomb The World 2003 |
Diverse and eclectic in both style and content, Everyone Deserves Music could be described as the world first ever 'funkular' concept album, spanning the gamut of music of black origin.
Soca, Jazz, Jazz-funk, rap, hip-hop, human beat box, highlife, rock, punk, reggae, classical, calypso - on one album. Enough already! Sometimes, just sometimes, less is more.
Franti Towers
| | Michael Franti: Bohemian Angel |
Despite the musical smorgasbord, that is modern day Spearhead, one tune in their vast repertoire, stands out; the infectious 'Bomb the World' which boasts lyrical, 'We can bomb the world to pieces, but we can't bomb it into peace'The highly receptive and somewhat suggestible audience lapped up Franti's every word, imbibing every beat.
Charismatic on stage, at 6'6" Franti towers over his band members, outstretched arms like a modern day martyr, resembling a bohemian angel of the north.
Crowd arouser
While Franti delivers his message of universal love, rapper and human beat box Radioactive, (I know, it's soooo 80's) sliced into the lyrics and beats with freestyle renditions of Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World, Jacko's Billie Jean and all time crowd arouser 'Smells like Teen Sprit'.At the end of the marathon set, Franti jumps into the audience to lay hands on his fans, who bask in his celestial aura. It's all a bit emotional.
 | | The Mighty Franti |
The adoring hordes dispersed into the night, satiated, happy to be touched by the mighty Franti.I stuck around and managed to get an audience with the man himself, who unfortunately had a sore throat, but I can lip read.We spoke in hallowed voices of a few of Michael's favourite things, and coincidentally, a few of mine: the death of Princess Diana HRH, HIV and Aids, Mr Bush, Mr Blair and 9/11.He was then distracted by a giant sized bad of lime tortilla chips and cheese dip, so we said our good-byes.Whilst I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening, met a few old faces, heard a few good tunes, got caught up in the meaningful wonderfulness of it all, I left feeling I'd attended a familiar worthy workshop.
But that's not such a bad thing.
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