Michael Franti & Spearhead

May 19, 2010







Michael Franti & Spearhead



Last fall, we had the treat of catching a couple of shows featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead as part of the Traveling Circus and Medicine Show tour that also featured the Counting Crows and Augustana. Kathy & I both thought that Franti & Spearhead were the hi-light of the show, which is saying something considering that I am a huge Counting Crows fan. We vowed that if Franti ever returned to South Florida as a headliner that we would try and go see him again. Well thankfully for us, he decided to kick off his solo summer tour at the Fillmore in South Beach.







Kathy & I made the easy drive up to South Beach, checking into the Clay Hotel and grabbing a bite to eat on Lincoln Road before heading over to the venue a couple of blocks up Washington Avenue. Franti & his band Spearhead did something that I had never seen in attending close to 1000 concerts, they set up their gear for a free pre-show mini concert on the sidewalk outside the venue. Thankfully I was able to grab some videos of this (and the show itself) from youtube so that you can check it out.

“Say Hey” –Preshow * Recorded by Steve @ Cheesehead Productions

We had never been to the Fillmore which is part of the Jackie Gleason Theatre complex and it is too bad because it is a great and well designed venue, with a large layered floor area in front of the stage and seats beyond that that gradually slope up offering a good view from just about everywhere. There are also a number of huge beautiful chandeliers inside, the entire place is first class.

“Hey, Hey, Hey”*Recorded by Steve @ Cheesehead Productions

The opening act was one that neither of us are familiar with, One Eskimo. They played about a 40 minute set that featured their mostly acoustic ambient sound that though very different than Spearhead was quite good. The band hails from London and they are worth a listen. We are always happy to hear new bands, especially when they are as good as these guys.

“Everybody Ona Move” * Recorded by Steve @ Cheesehead Productions

Franti’s music is a blend of reggae,hip-hop, funk and rock and this tour is to support the release of his upcoming new CD, “The Sound of Sunshine” and we were treated to a number of the new cuts during the energetic, wonderful show. The energy the man brings to the performance is contagious and the crowd was energized from the outset.







It also helps that he is incredibly fan friendly, often leaving the stage and venturing out into the crowd while playing, sometimes for extended periods. He also has a habit of bringing people from the crowd onstage to join him, even strapping guitars on some audience members. In what has become a staple of his shows, he wraps things up by bringing up any children in the audience ( and I was surprised how many were there) to join him in playing his radio-friendly hit “Say Hey, (I Love You)”. It was a great show.









Michael Franti & Spearhead Website

SPACE

May 15, 2010

Cheeky & Chris



* photo by Tom Flip

SPACE

It has been another wonderful weekend for the arts in Key West. Kathy & I had the good fortune to head out each night, catching the great selection of the wide range of diverse offerings that the island has to offer. We started off at the opening night of the fantastic new SPACE show by our friends at Key West Burlesque, caught one of the CD release shows of another friend, Rock Soloman and closed out the weekend catching the wonderful performance of “Danceworks VIII” presented by the Key West Contemporary Dance Company and the CoffeeMill Dance Studio.



While we enjoyed them all, the unquestioned hi-light was the spectacular show at Kelly’s by the folks at Key West Burlesque. The final show of the season, the SPACE show was a fun and frolicking trip through the galaxy featuring the talents of the wonderful veteran cast of actors, dancers, performers and singers including Tatah Dujour, Brandon Beach, Chad Newman, Cheeky Derriere, Moana Amour, Rocky Bottom, Golly G, Lolla Lafleur, Marquee Vonfister, Chris Schultz, Buffy L’Orange and Marky Pierson. Special guests from Baltimore, Trixie Little & The Evil Hate Monkey completed the talented group.



Chad

The show featured campy sets and costumes that referenced all of our favorite space movies and tv shows and included a wonderful selection of music as well. It is hard to really describe Key West Burlesque, it really is something that needs to be experienced and this show would make a great way to start. There may still be tickets available for the shows this upcoming weekend, but even if you miss this show, no visit to Key West is complete without checking out one of their shows or revues, plan ahead to make sure you can catch a performance.

* photo by Tom Flip

*photo by Tom Flip

You can check out their website (link below) to keep up with future shows and to revisit some of their past triumphs. Special recognition to the wonderful photographer Tom Flip and KW Burlesque for sending out a couple of the photos included here. Photography at the show is generally not allowed, so I have to rely on the photos they provide to give you a glimpse.

Rock

Rock & Michael



Another friend of ours, Rock Solomon, was back in town this week promoting a new CD of original music called “Unlocking the Window”. He played two shows, we made it to the gig at the Art Bar where we purchased the new disk and watched him perform. He really has grown as an artist and his alternative, pop, jazz fusion works well. You can listen to the new CD or place an order for one through Rock’s website.



DanceWorks VIII



We closed out the weekend by attending a dance recital at the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center that was presented by the Key West Contemporary Dance Company along with faculty and student dancers from the Coffee Mill Dance Studio. The program featured a huge cast of young dancers, performing a wide variety of dance styles.



Leigh & Kyla



We had a number of friends who had children as members of the cast and I have to say that we were duly impressed. From the joyous fun of watching little 4 year olds perform to the skilled perfection of the experienced instructors, it was a really enjoyable afternoon. This was the eighth in a continuing series of performances and while I don’t know how we missed the first seven, we plan to be back for the next
one.



Key West Burlesque

Rock Solomon website