Franti: Heavens.

So Dena and I saw Michael Franti & Spearhead last night. We also got to meet the band beforehand; pictures of that are up at IHEG's blog post here. (I'm standing next to Franti, looking short -- I am, for the record, about six feet tall. Michael is a tall, tall man. Incredibly nice, too.) Thanks a ton to WRSI and the IHEG folks for putting together that soundcheck meet and greet and for letting us come; that was terrific.

But for here, I want to say: bring your kids to see Spearhead. Sure, you'll have to explain some prominent odors, and they'll hear some language that no doubt they have never ever ever heard anywhere before, certainly not in your house, but it is an event of such pure joy and inspiration that you have to take them. We didn't, and I wish we had. (Well, at least 9-year-old Ella. Probably wouldn't have been good for 6-year-old Liam yet.)

There were some kids there, and Michael invited a few up on stage both during the Obama song, who danced around and sang some; a video of that song from another venue is here:



But then, for the end of the encore ("Say Hey (I Love You)," no surprise) a girl who was maybe 10 or 11 got on stage and just owned it. She sang a ton of it with Franti or with Cherine Anderson (a phenomenal singer who appears on All Rebel Rockers and opened the show, along with singing on several numbers), and this kid knew every word, danced with great energy, and was flat-out amazing.

So so good. If a video of it pops up, I'll post it.