Michael Franti and Spearhead!!

This was the best day so far in my life as a Seattle-ite! I happened to be the 10th caller a week or so ago, and won a ticket to see Michael Franti and Spearhead perform live in the studio at the Mountain radio station, called the Mountain Music Lounge. They are opening for John Mayer tonight at the Key Arena, which I passed on due to a.) money, and b.) the acoustics suck in there! So I was super psyched to win this opportunity.
Now, I didn't know a lot about Michael, but like everyone else, "Say Hey (I love you)," that infectious, happy tune, reeled me in last year, along with "Hey World (All Rebel Rockers)."
I got to the studio on time at 12:15 p.m. The sun was shining, it was warm out, and I scored parking right in front of the building at 1100 Olive Way. God was smiling on me! Up to the 16th floor, and we were whisked into a lovely view room, with pizza and beverages, and desserts waiting for us. There were some other contest winners, others who paid and then just those important looking people who get in everywhere. Everyone was really fun and excited!
Once the band arrived we were swept into the lounge where there were seats and a small stage. I was in the front row, no less than 5-feet from the band! Michael is very tall and handsome - and he hasn't worn shoes for 10 years! Although the music is reggae, reggae fusion, rock-ish, funky with a tinge of hip-hop, he is Native American, African American, Irish, German and French - a real mutt! But he's gorgeous with sparkling dark-brown eyes, and a fit yoga physique. To Michael's right was bassist Carl Young, who has been with him "forever," then to Michael's left, former studio engineer now guitarist, J Boogie, who had THE most infectious smile I've ever seen! He was sooo happy, and enjoying himself sooo much. After the set he came right up to me, and I remarked on his happiness, and he said it was me - he was watching me, and thought MY smile was infectious! I'm in love!
Then, the gorgeous Jolene, a singer with the most beautiful face and voice - like an angel.
They opened with the title track from their forthcoming CD (due in summer) called "Sound of Sunshine." It's a very optimistic song, and Michael's introduction was touching. For a time, I was able to let it go - all the shit, you know? He said we all need to practice sunshine, wake up every morning and feel glad to be alive. He told a story of how he got sick (recently) in Italy, and the Italian doctors told him it was his gall bladder. So, he got back to the states, meanwhile getting sicker and sicker, and was told it was a hernia. It turned out to be a ruptured appendix....his belly was distended and it looked like he was four months pregnant! Anyway, it damn near killed him, so with this new CD he's examining life and death.
Much of his work has had a political/activist theme. For example, he was in Iraq in 2004 singing in the streets. He told a funny story about how he was singing "you can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it to peace" - which he wrote after 9/11 (and has made it's way to t-shirts and protest signs all over the world) - and the people just wanted him to play one of his happy songs - no more war songs!
Anyway, the next song they did in the studio, will also be on the new CD, and was called "Hey, Hey, Hey." He said they couldn't come up with a better title! It was very cool. Regarding "Say Hey (I love you)," which put them on the map, he said he was really sort of blown away, because the CD had been out awhile, and the song just kept picking up steam. Then one night they were in Minneapolis, and he had on a top 40 station, and he said they were playing "Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift...then Michael Franti and Spearhead?" Blew him away. It was funny!
He said when they perform now, often times the crowd is diggin' them (because they are so good), but then when they do that song, it's like, "Oh, it's these guys!"
When asked about life on the road, well times have changed. These guys don't throw TVs out their hotel room windows or any such nonsense. Michael said, "maybe we'll throw our cell phones off our yoga mats."
Cute.
The third song, "I'll be Waiting," was very sweet, also to appear on the upcoming CD. Right now Michael is building a yoga retreat center in Bali, called "Stay Human," also the name of a 2000 CD. We are all invited to come!
So, the big question, about John Mayer, who they are on tour with: Mayer, as you may or may not know, has caused quite the media storm lately. Highly publicized romances with Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, then a couple of pretty bad interviews, particularly one in Playboy, made him look like a real ass. He made some pretty disparaging remarks about women, people of color, etc.
Michael said he has talked to John about it, and he feels really bad.
"He's going through a lot of transformation right now."
No doubt. Michael said Mayer is indeed a very gifted singer/songwriter, and especially guitarist, and he's really trying to change his image with this tour. We can only hope, because I'm a fan, but he has behaved very badly. Now I wish I was at the show.
So, they closed out our little show with - of course - "Say Hey," and it was rollicking! Everyone was clapping and J Boogie was on his feet jamming it out on his guitar, like 2-feet from me. Did I mention I love him?
After the show, we all got personally autographed really cool posters, and a meet and greet. I hugged every single one of them, and we chatted it up...got my picture taken with the band. And Michael like my necklace! I was wearing my Swarovski crystal peace sign necklace I got in Paris.
This was just the best day. Sunshine, great music, peace and love!