Michael Franti and Spearhead, Wilmington, NC 7.27.12

Before the Richmond show, as we were talking about Spearhead on facebook, a friend had mentioned that I should come see them at her hometown venue in Wilmington, NC this weekend. The show was sold out, but she had a couple extra tickets. It seemed crazy, but as soon as Richmond was done I knew I wanted more, and would do whatever it took to get it.

So I rather impromptu-ly decided to just do it. Got the afternoon off work, rented a car, grabbed a hotel reservation. On July 27th, I set out on the 5.5 hour road trip to Wilmington. Now, I love road trips. I love them even more when I am by myself. Time to think, time to listen to music, sing at the top of your lungs, buy gas station junk food to keep you company, stop at random places, see places you've never seen before. It is just what life is about.

I arrived in good time and met up with this friend and her husband. We actually didn't know each other well, had only met a handful of times. But I quickly realize they make me laugh.. and that's all I want and need in a friend.

We went into the venue and I was so surprised that it was SO tiny. A very small, in the woods, 900 seat amphitheatre. You are basically eye level with the band, although there is a barricade between you. We were essentially second row and made it to the front row by mid-set.

This was probably the best show I have ever seen. The setlist was a great mix of old favorites and new sing-alongs. Michael Franti was very talkative and told stories about where and why and how some songs were written. He played the one that is "my" song that he wrote for his kid going away. They were rocking it out as always but the proximity of the view made it very special. About mid-set, Michael Franti pointed to my friend and told her to come over the barricade. (It's quite the haul over it, so I'm very proud of her for going despite her hestitance). He had brought her up for the set break where he has people pretend to play the guitar while he runs to the back for the next song. She just ran with it and rocked out on stage, jamming it out with Jay Boogie.

They closed the set with a new song - Long Ride Home - that just spoke to me because I had done this crazy road trip just to get there. Loved how they all came to the front of the stage and engaged us all in a sing along. It was just a very special night, and I was so happy I went.

Here's one of MF's videos from the night - upside down but you can see me clearly - if you knew what to look for! :)
http://yfrog.us/jchspwcsptozkuqhxhszbjqfz

Michael Franti and Spearheard, Richmond, VA 7.25.2012

On Wednesday, July 25, 2012 I went out to the National in Richmond by myself to see my old favorites Michael Franti and Spearhead. I had debated buying tickets and unreasonably long time, because it was a Wednesday night and I had to work and I am unbelievably boring like that nowadays, but at some point the old me took a stand and said "screw you, you're going".

So I went. I grabbed a good drink as I walked in, and made my way to the front side stage. Small crowd due to the weeknight, but already could tell it would be a fun crowd. I made friends with a woman next to me who had won the poster contest for the night and had been back stage before the show. I was on my iphone and had posted on facebook joking that I would be getting on stage tonight. The show started with that energy that Spearhead shows are classic for. Everyone Deserves Music - one of my favorites.

A few songs in I left to get another drink. Contest lady saved my spot. Those drinks are very strong, funny how that happens when you drink doubles.

So about 4-5 songs in, they start playing "All I Need Is You" which is a great song, very sexy, but it's a slow song, which allows the ADD part of me a little window of "hey, I wonder what fascinating things are happening in my iphone" so I look down and start reading responses to my post on facebook. The post I'd made about getting on stage. And then it came to my attention that something was happening. I can't remember if someone tapped me on the shoulder or I just naturally looked up, but when I did, I saw Michael Franti on the end of the stage pointing to me and crooking his finger - come up here. I didn't hesitate, and that must have been the liquor. I knew I was busted.

In retrospect, it all happened in slow motion. I walked up the steps to the stage, he held out his hand and pulled me up. I just stood there, didn't know what to do. He walked up to the mic - I couldn't hear everything he said but I knew he was calling me out for "texting" during the show, and that we weren't going to text we were going to dance. Then he pulled me off to the side, and we danced. Together. All I remember is that smile. That gorgeous smile. I said "we've met before my friend". He probably couldn't hear me. He then walked back to the mic and continued singing "All I Need Is You" - get it - all he needs is me, to get off my damn phone and pay attention. He turned and motioned to me to come to him, so I did, and we put our arms around each other. He was sweaty and gross and glorious. It was about in that moment that I realized in my vodka induced haze that I was on stage. With Michael Franti. With a whole hell of a lot of people staring at me. He then said something else into the mic, and asked what my name was - I sad KC and he said "give it up for KC". I then quickly got off stage.

The rest of the night was a blur. A high from the moment, people coming up to me and saying things about me being on stage. Vodka. It really was a bit too much for a drunk introvert to take in. I'm now convinced I looked like a fool, and just stood there like a dumbass. But man, what a story..

Franti Reprise

Well, I am just now coming down off the high from the Michael Franti week.. it really was such an amazing time. I really was a fan of his music for years. And I peripherally knew things about him as a person - knew he was into yoga, knew his political beliefs (which mirrored my own), watched his documentary that he made when he traveled abroad. I admired him, certainly, but had never researched him in the sense that I would know his birthday or how many kids he had or whatever other details you pick up when you're really interested in the PERSON and not just the ARTIST.

So as all of this was happening, I started paying more attention. I read his wikipedia page on the plane trip. I watched youtube videos. And I found that his kindness, compassion and true interest in humanity is authentic and sustained. I found that my experience with him is not all that unique. I found that my story is like any other he's heard through the years. Which is what almost makes him even more impressive. He hears so many stories, meets so many people, yet doesn't seem to tire of making every effort to meet every pair of eyes, shake every pair of hands, hug everyone who needs a hug. I won a contest for tickets. That's it. But he just gave and gave and gave. And that is simply amazing. And it's inspired me to try and do the same in my life. We all have our trials, and I don't think I tend to be too depressive about mine, but this whole experience has led me to try and find the positive and focus my energy there instead of dwell on the negative.

A lot of this also has to do with my admiration of all talented people. I have brothers who can sing and write poetry/music, write stories. I am fascinated by people who can tell stories, make music, move people with their words and thoughts and melodies. I would give anything to have that talent, but it's just not there for me. I am smart, educated, can be quite funny if I know you well enough to let my guard down, but that particular brand of talent has always escaped my grasp. So I am always a fan of the people who have that - whether celebrities or just someone I meet on the street. To know I occupied the thoughts, however briefly, of someone I admire and believe to be vastly talented - the very same brain cells that creates these words and music I find inspirational - well, that's just a huge compliment.

So again, I have to thank Michael Franti - and all the other people I saw along the way in the story who were just as kind - for an amazing week!

Michael Franti

Michael Franti and Spearhead are one of my favorite bands. I was turned on to the music in 2002 and quickly became a huge fan. He is an amazing lyricist and an even more amazing performer and even more amazing social activist (or maybe not so much activist than voice). I finally got to see them live a few years back at the 9:30 Club in DC right before I participated in a March on the Pentagon war protest. Perfect weekend.

Since then, I've caught them every time they ever came near me.. several times in Richmond. And in the meantime, I've played the music for my family and everyone has fallen in love with them - young, old and disabled!

Two years ago, I was flying to Louisiana to take custody of my niece and nephews and I went to a DMB show in Manassas with Michael Franti & Spearhead opening the night before. I sat in the audience, completely overwhelmed with fear and resentment and felt like I was giving up my whole life. And then MF got on stage and introduced a song with a story about his son coming to him and wanting to move to New York, and he knew he had to let him go - he had raised him as best he could and now all he could do was send him in to the world to succeed or fail. And then he sung the song he wrote from that experience, which was beautiful. And in that moment, I had this epiphany that I was now entering into the most important job I'll ever do and that anything I am giving up doesn't mean a single thing anymore. And just like that, I was at peace. So I left the concert, a couple songs in to DMB's set, and walked into my new life.

So that's the background. Skip forward to last Tuesday. MF & Spearhead are opening for John Mayer and I knew the nola show was the night I was flying in for a birthday trip, but, I already had tix to the Cville show on 3/16. But on Tuesday night, MF announced he would be playing on the streets of nola before the show. I was excited, but didn't know if I could get there from the airport in time! Then they announced a contest for you to simply tell them why you NEED tickets to the show. I made a quick post and told my story (not the paragraph above though!) and also posted a video of my nephew dancing to their music. And I won! Next thing I knew, Michael Franti's facebook account had emailed me and asked some questions and the end result was he gave me tix to the nola show and the backstage passes for the Cville show for my family!

Everything travel wise worked perfectly on Wednesday so my friend and I rushed to the arena. The small acoustic show was amazing. After, he was meeting anyone who wanted to meet him. I was ambivalent about introducing myself - I figured I could just do it at the Cville date and I was slightly afraid that someone I admire so much may disappoint me. But I asked my friend if she wanted to and she said sure, so, we waited and she eventually asked for a picture which I then took. As we started to back away, MF looked at me and then came straight for me and hugged me.. now it would just be weird if I waited for Cville so I went ahead and said, "hi, I won your fb contest". He immediately acted almost like a fan of MINE which I have to say was an amazing feeling! He started saying "oh that's you! I want to interview you! And started calling his photographer over." Knowing that these videos wind up on their website, I kind of freaked out and asked please no. He was extremely gracious and asked if he could at least get a picture with me. At this point, the whole thing is just so surreal (he's asking ME to take a picture with HIM?) so of course I say yes.

Then I tell him the story above, his music's effect on me the night before I got the kids. I really couldn't tell you if it was coherent. But he did hug me at least two more times (it's like trying to hug the jolly green giant, I seriously need a step stool! lol). Then he asked if he'll see me in North Carolina (which was a mistake from our exchange of emails) and in that portion of the conversation it occurred to me that it was REALLY HIM emailing me this whole time! Or at least he was paying attention to what was being said.

The show that night was amazing... this is the largest setting I've seen this band in and they are the absolute perfect opener! Eventually, they posted a new episode of Frantv on youtube and he actually gave me a shout out at the end!

Then the Cville show came around, tonight. I wasn't sure if they were going to follow through on the passes, since I hadn't heard anything. But I finally got an email from a Franti contact.. only, she said "I just talked to Michael and he said he wants to give you a pair of tickets for tonight." I wasn't sure how to respond, since we had tickets - was this a "no" to the backstage pass? But then she emailed again and asked how many passes I needed so I replied stating we didn't need tickets but we had four people. She said we'd have "after show" passes at the door.

Toward the end of the night, as he was about to play that song I told him about, he started his normal intro, and then he said "and I met a girl recently. She's very shy. But she is taking care of three kids that aren't her own right now, whose parents can't be with them. And she sent me a message on facebook, and I want to say how amazing she is, and she's in the audience tonight." Well, that's what I remember, although I've heard he said my name and talked about my story in relation to the song. I couldn't believe he paid attention to my story enough to introduce that song with it!

So then we had to ask 47 people to find out where to go with our "after show" passes. We eventually wound up 'backstage' in an area you can't normally get to, but we were just stuck in the hallway. The usher said he didn't know where we needed to go, that someone may just come and get us. We waited for a few minutes, and I was just about to give up and leave when a British guy walks by and says "are you KC?" He then introduces himself as Michael's tour manager. He asks us to wait in a room. Then he comes back a few minutes later and says Michael wants us to COME BACK TO HIS DRESSING ROOM!!! Warns us we'd be going right past Mayer and basically not to make a fool of ourselves (as if, that tool!;) and then leads us through a maze into a room... where I hear Michael Franti say .... wait for it... "is that our KC?!" I mean, seriously?

And then there were introductions and the chatting with the kids, and he repeatedly asked us to sit down and just hang out for awhile but I wasn't comfortable with that b/c my nephew can be a handful. We took a few pictures, and then I said we didn't want to take up too much of his time and we made our way out. My mom's first question was how many other fans were backstage.. JUST US! He made that much of an effort - to send his tour manager to seek us out - to have just us in his dressing room! Have you ever even heard of such a thing?!

After the show, I recieved an email from Ben Renschen, the photographer/videographer from the show. He was sending pictures that he had taken backstage. In our brief email exchange, I was again so impressed by the character and spirit of the people MF surrounds himself with. You can tell these people are living their dreams, and it's so uplifting to be a part of that, if even for just a moment in time.

How amazing is this story? I mean, really? I have been a music fan for as long as I can remember and I have never had anyone go to these lengths to make a fan feel special. This man exudes peace and love and I adore him. And the band kicks some serious ass too. :)