I really needed a Michael Franti show. It was the end of a long and depressing summer. Each week brought a new revelation or outrage. And then, Charlottesville. Instead of “Thank God it’s Friday,” it was always “Oh God it’s Friday.”
The August 15th, 2017 show on the Peoria Riverfront was just what the doctor ordered.
I had been to several Michael Franti and Spearhead shows over the years and always left the venue with a little more spring in my step and smiling just a little more than before. This show was no different.
Franti’s songs were upbeat, positive and had an infectious energy. The band also strived to encompass the audience in the music, inviting people up on the stage to sing along. At the end of the show the band came down from the stage and had everyone singing and swaying to the bumper music “Imagine.”
I recorded the show and uploaded it to archive.org. I set up my microphones in front of the soundboard, about 30 feet from the stage. There was a small platform in front of my equipment. Initially, I thought it was for video cameras or lighting, but the band played from that platform for a significant part of the show. As a result, I got great photos, but the sound quality was a bit ragged compared to other shows I have recorded. No matter; the energy of the show comes through quite nicely.
The band is fine with the audience recording and on-line sharing, so this is NOT a bootleg. Feel free to download and enjoy it. It might raise your spirits as well.