This was actually the fourth time I saw Spearhead. The third was the aforementioned Snocore Icicle Ball, the second was the Berkshire Mountain Music festival in August 2001, and the first was when Spearhead was an afterthought on the Smokin' Grooves Tour 1996 with the Fugees, Cypress Hill, Ziggy Marley, and A Tribe Called Quest. I, unfortunately did not catch on at Smokin' Grooves as I was too enthralled with the Fugees and Cypress Hill collaborating on 'Boom Biddy Bye Bye.' So I missed out for 5 years, but Spearhead took me by storm at Berkfest 2001 after a lineup change, a new batch of songs, and a new CD, "Stay Human." And now that I know, I'm never going back.
What is a Spearhead show? Take 1 part each of rock, hip hop, soul, and funk, add a dash of political rally, a heaping teaspoonful of community gathering, and top off with a hefty dose of spiritual revival. Mix thoroughly, and drink deep down. Let it flow through your blood, let it make its way into each cell of your body, and feel its power.
The unmistakable figure of Michael Franti heads the Spear. Franti is the lyrical and ideological force behind the Spearhead "exspearience," and has seemingly boundless energy, goodwill, and positive vibrations. He is an individual almost larger than life, standing at a barefoot 6' 6", with bandana unsuccessfully corralling his many dreadlocks flying every which way, and bright, engaging eyes and a smiling face. On stage, Franti carries no pretense, no false enthusiasm. He is genuinely excited about making music and bringing people together, and is unafraid to address the crowd, jump off stage and lead a conga line through the crowd, bring people up on stage to dance, and have himself a damn good time. "I'm gonna show you something BEAUTIFUL!!", he exclaims. "I'm gonna take you higher! Come with me, we're gonna take it to the next level!"
And you do, because everyone around you does, because Spearhead does. You are all in it together.
But Franti does not simply entertain. While he is skilled at moving and working a crowd, he is equally adept at public speaking. Franti, after all, is a thinking man, and through music means to preach his message of love, peace, and acceptance of all humans. His lyrics are politically and philosophically potent, and yet, unabashedly positive. Franti manages the impossible, in that he can address the serious issues of modern society without losing his positive outlook on life. In the same song, a Spearhead song can lay out the frustration of the working class and extol the beauty that is a blade of grass sprouting through cracks in concrete, combat the corporate palm-greasing in high levels of government and proclaim their love for the healing power of music. Franti takes on very difficult topics with grace and poise, and while critical and strong-minded, his speech is never hateful. He strives to bring people together by those very basic universal ideals that we all carry simply by being human.
Backing Franti is a collection of accomplished musicians, who masterfully put out everything from rock to reggae, hip hop to house, folk to funk. There is something musical that will appeal to any listener. Spearhead's amazing range is evident in the songs that they covered at the Paradise, including Bob Marley's "Exodus," Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," Salt N' Pepa's "Push It," the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The music at a Spearhead show will quickly yet seamlessly change from the deep roots reggae of "Listener Supported" or a live version of "People in Tha Middle," to the soulful, jazzy keyboard interlude of Kevin Choice. This can lead into an acoustic guy-with-guitar song such "Bomb the World", or an unmiked, spoken word piece entitled "Skin on the Drum" in which Franti trumpets to a hushed and attenetive crowd. Next: a rock and roll guitar solo, a drum breakdown, or a truly astounding vocal performance from the group's second MC, RadioActive.
At the Paradise, Boston native RadioActive brought hip hop fans into the fold with vocal percussion skills matched only by few. His more traditional beatbox was laser precise, and he often interwove it, to the amazement of the crowd, with his own baseline. He also beatboxes over a wooden panflute in a Rah Saan Roland Kirk-esque breakdown. This being a hometown show for RadioActive, longtime friend and fellow MC Shuman joined him on the stage for a segment of beatboxing and freestyle which was just as hilarious and theatrically entertaining as it was musically. Radio will fall into a wonderful rendition of Louis Armstrong singing "When the Saints Go Marching In," complete with modern scratches. And as adept as Radio is with his beats, his freestyle and lyrical flow is equally as impressive.
Throughout the music is a sense of community. Spearhead creates an environment where everyone feels welcome and accepted, a safe haven for all the freaky people out there. After all, according to Spearhead, "All the freaky people make the beauty of the world." And the band does not draw the line between themselves and the crowd. Each takes a turn addressing the crowd in their own way, looking out onto the mass of sweaty, happy, freaky people in front of them and giving a moment's respect as to what has been created.
Unfortunately, Spearhead's tenure at the Paradise did end, although it ended 30 minutes after it was supposed to. After the music stopped, though, each member of the band came out and mingled in the crowd, talking to people, graciously accepting thanks from grateful concertgoers newly revived, and sharing their own thoughts. I had the opportunity to speak with most members of the band, including Bassist Carl Young, RadioActive, and Michael Franti. Contrary to common rockstar practice, each took time to listen to me, look me in the eye, and give heartfelt thanks. I had a brief conversation about the local hip hop scene with RadioActive, talked gear with Carl (he plays a 6-string Modulus!) and shared my efforts of community building through live music (via Live Live) with Michael. Michael, although surrounded by dozens of people wanting to interact, took the time to listen to what I have to say, asked some questions about the Live Live project, and when asked to come on the radio and do an interview, tried to think how it may be arranged as to fit both our schedules. Instead of handshakes and waves, Michael preferred to envelop the people in huge bear hugs to show his appreciation.
When all was done, the time was about 2:00 AM, the band had just bowed out after not having sat down since they started at 10:30, the crowd slowly diffused out of the paradise abuzz in long-forgotten enthusiasm for living and motivation to create things positive in their communities, and a warm drizzle bathed Boston in a healing salve. I was exhausted, my muscles ached, but my spirit was lifted and my soul was light. Spearhead had given me music straight from the heart, shown me that community formed around positive forces is still possible, and revived my spirits. Despite the hardships earlier in the week, Spearhead had made it all seem possible once again.
It was no surprise, then, that I was greeted by a beautiful sunny day on Thursday morning.
- David Taus