Michael Franti’s Four-Hour Show At The Greek Theatre
Going to a Michael Franti show will leave you feeling energized and hopeful about the planet's future. I’ve never seen any performer put so much effort and care into a performance as Franti does. As a bonus, he makes time to hang out with his fans before and after the show.
The Soulshine Tour package is divided into two parts: one for yoga and one for a live concert. The yoga session began at four in the afternoon with 90 minutes of yoga.
Six hundred people of all experience levels, ages, shapes, and sizes gathered with their mats and formed a semi-circle in front of the Greek Theater stage. Yoga teachers Ryan Leier and Nicki Doane guided them through various poses while Franti performed soothing acoustic songs. Afterwards, he came out to talk with fans, sign their mats, and obliged with numerous selfie requests. Some changed out of their yoga wear and hung around for the show, while others were happy with the intimate late afternoon session and left.
Before the concert, I asked a few fans what they enjoyed about Franti’s music.
The doors opened at six, and the Franti followers quickly filled the outdoor theater. There didn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for the first set by Trevor Hall, the singer/guitarist from South Carolina, but when Brett Dennen hit the stage, the crowd came alive. The combination of his nerdy charm (red hair and glasses), confidence, and catchy pop tunes kept the long line of doe-eyed screaming teenage girls completely captivated.
SOJA — Soldiers of Jah Army followed next. The impressive Virginia reggae band features Rafael Rodriguez (trumpet), Bobby Lee (bass, vocals), Hellman Escorcia (saxophone), Jacob Hemphill (lead vocals, guitar), Patrick O’Shea (keyboards), Ryan Berty (drums), Kenny Bongos (percussion), and Trevor Young (lead guitar).
SOJA. Photo: Steve Roby
I’m not sure if it was their politically charged lyrics, Rage Against the Machine influence, or maybe Bobby Lee’s super-long dreadlocks, but they definitely whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
Before Franti performed, he brought out British singer Sona Rele for a short acoustic set. The two had met last year at NYC’s Ubuntu Benefit concert, where Franti was so impressed with her voice that he asked her to join the Soulshine tour and guest on his “11:59” video. Rele played acoustic guitar for three songs and then introduced Franti and Spearhead.
Franti’s fast-paced 80-minute set was captivating. One minute, he’s on stage, and the next, he's steadily climbing a grassy hill in his signature bare feet, where hundreds of loyal fans dotted the tree line.
Twenty minutes into his set, Franti caught his breath and stripped down to a simple white T-shirt on which Iraq and a peace symbol had been scrawled with a black marker. The singer reminisced about being a kid and, with parental permission, attending a UB40/Midnight Oil concert at the Greek Theater in 1985. “I fell in love with music at that show,” said Franti, “and knew I wanted to do that someday.”
Then Franti brought out his mom Carole, for whom he sang the uplifting “The Sound of Sunshine.” As the two danced together toward the end of the song, the crowd witnessed Franti’s dream of stardom had come full circle.
Franti also discussed his Do It For The Love Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to people in advanced stages of life-threatening illnesses, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans, by taking them to live concerts. “Life Is Better With You” was dedicated to them.
Franti finished the four-hour show with “Say Hey (I Love You).” He invited about 30 hyper children on stage and gave one young girl the chance to sing solo.
Since The Greek is situated on the hills of the UC Berkeley campus, a strict sound ordinance ends the music at 11 p.m. to prevent echoes. Usually, Franti would have done an encore but instead started into “I’m Alive” with a hint of The Proclaimers’ “500 Miles” mixed in.
Instead of leaving the stage, Franti walked barefoot (he’s usually shoeless) back into the crowd to personally thank everyone for coming.
Program Notes
The Soulshine Tour featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sonna Rele, SOJA, Brett Dennen, and Trevor Hall
Date: June 21, 2014
Venue: The Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Musicians: Michael Franti (lead vocals, guitar), Carl Young (bass), Manas Itiene (drums, percussion), Raleigh Neal II (keyboards), and Jason Bowman (guitar).
Sonna Rele
Set list: Time | Oh, My God | Jay Z In A Bar |
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Set list: I Don’t Wanna Go | Hello Bonjour | Light Up Your Lighter | All I Want Is You | Stay Human (All The Freaky People) | Yell Fire | The Sound Of Sunshine | 11:59 (w/ Sonna Rele) | One Step Closer To You | Just A Friend | Life Is Better With You | Forever By Your Side | Say Hey (I Love You) | I’m Alive (Life Sounds Like)/I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
