Date: 16th August 2006

Venue: Corn Exchange

Ok, first up, this is not going to be an unbiased review, I love seeing Spearhead live, in fact I think they may be the band I have seen live the most in all my years of going to gigs, and the keep getting better every time I see ‘um!!

Start off, Xavier Rudd, one man band consisiting of a shit load of percussion, a Digeridoo, a mouth organ and guitar. Very very tribal feel to what he was doing live, would probably go down very well at something like Global Gathering and Marc did point out that there was a good chance we would see him hug a tree after the show!! I liked some of what he did, but I was just so excited about seeing Franti and the boys that I was just desperate for him to get on with it. The Edinbuggers took to him very well and he got a good response.

9.20pm GI starts making his way down to the front of the crowd with one intention, jumping about like a crazy person to one of his favorite bands. This might not seem like much, but anyone who is a regular attender at concerts with me knows that I normally just stand at the side and nod in time with the music in approval, NOT at a Spearhead concert, the energy that is generated at one of these gigs and the vibe that the band puts out just makes me jump about and dance around like an eejit all night!!

9.30pm, Spearhead start to appear on stage going straight into “Time to Go Home” from the new album “Yell Fire!” Manas Itene on the Drums, Dave Shul on Guitar, Sticky on Percussion and keyboards, the coolest bass player in the world, Carl Young (no-one looks cooler in shades and a doo-rag than Carl!) but no Franti! You can hear his vocals on the track, but no sign on stage, but then just as the chorus is about to kick in, the 6Ft6″, Barefooted, Dreadlock Sporting Profit of Peace comes bounding onto the stage and the welcome from the crowd is deafening and everyone starts jumping about and dancing and the mood for the night is set.

For those of you not in the know, Franti started off his career with the sucessful Hip Hop outfit “Disposible Heros of Hiphoprisy” in the early 90s. He was quite an angry young man back then and very political. He is still political but more about peace and love these days. The latest album “Yell Fire”, similar to the others, draws on on Frantis’ musical skills reggie, rock, hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz and a whole host of others and when played live give you an amazing night of music.

The crowd seem to feed from the music and in turn Franti and the boys feed from the crowd reaction and you just feel that you are part of something special. Franti spends the whole time rockin the crowd, jumping about like a mad man and getting the crowd to do the same.

You get your money’s worth as well. The band played for 1 and a half hours non stop and probably would have played for more if it wasn’t for licencing laws!!! In that time, lots of songs from Yell Fire! were played, my favorites being “I know I’m Not Alone” and “Everybody Ona Move” but favs from the “Stay Human” album like “Rock The Nation” and “Everybody Deserves Music” from the album were also on the set. Who am I kiddin’, the whole damn set was blinding!!!

The band are just inspirational, I challenge anyone to not be moved by the lyrics or feel down after seeing such an uplifting show that is musically excellent, makes some sound political points and still makes you feel good by the time you leave!!

Ok ok, enough fanboy stuff, but i am not alone in my opinion. I dragged Bigal to see them a few years ago and he has been a fan ever since and has also got Ruthy into them as well. I also had built the show up so much that Marc was skeptical that this band could live up to the hype I was giving them. But Marc was suitably impressed.

They plan to come back in December, I will be there as I am sure Bigal, Ruth, Helen and Marc will be too. I urge everyone else to go for a bit of a Spiritual experience.

“Believe in Coexistence, Power to the Peaceful” - Michael Franti