because serendipity tells me so. It all started about two weeks ago, when I heard an old Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy song on our local public radio station. I loved them, back in the day. Their one and only album still gets some play on my now old-fashioned CD player. Jamming out to "Television" on KRCC made me wonder what they were up to now.
Then a few days later, I read a post on the Newspeak blog about hip hop, and decided to ask about the Heroes I once loved. A kind blogger told me that Michael Franti (half of the Heroes) had gone on to form a band called Spearhead. Being fairly modern-musically illiterate, I had never heard of this band. The name stuck in my mind however. (No pun intended. Really)
Fast forward to yesterday. While driving home from a conference where I learned nothing new about teaching, but remembered a bunch of stuff I had forgotten, I turned on the radio and there it was..... an indescribable music that caused me to have a near religious experience right there in my car. Turns out it was, you guessed it, Spearhead. They were playing live on E-town. I waited through all the annoying chit-chat of the host with Michael Franti, to get to the next song. It was this one. By the time it was over, I was soaring with the people in the crowd.
Later that night, I'm googling and youtubing and itunesing Michael Franti and Spearhead, and John says, "Oh yeah, JJ was telling me all about them when I picked the boys up on Friday. He said something about them playing here pretty soon."
I looked it up immediately. Mancos. Fucking Mancos, Colorado! Small town middle of shale Mancos! A six-hour drive from here! And on a Wednesday night!
But it's outdoors. All ages. Free for kids under 12. I wanna pack up the kids and road trip it out to nowhere to see a band I've only just learned about. I just might do it. Anyone wanna go with? Believe it or not, I actually KNOW people in Mancos who I'm sure would put us up for the night.
I've been listening to a lot of music over the past few years that isn't exactly what you would call pick me up and dance me around music. It's more like punch me in the heart and make me melancholy music . I love that stuff, I really do. But sometimes........ it's nice to remember that it's ok to want to be happy.
It seems I have a new Hero. Or at least a resurrected one.
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post script.....
So I'm walking to pick up the boys from school today with my friend Johanna, and she tells me that Spearhead is playing in Denver around Thanksgiving! I look it up. It's true. I already have tickets, and I plan on dancing with a bald head as if there were no tomorrow. 'Cause there might not be.
You can still come with if you want.
I forgot the best part.... it's an all-ages show at the Fillmore, so we're ALL going!
The whole band minus Michael was on my plane to Japan, and I sat right next to the guitarist.
wow! what did you talk about?!
there's one more for serendipity for ya.........
Serendipity indeed. I would drop everything and go with you if this were happening any other week but this week...I've got work bullshit to do.
We touched on politics, but mostly just talked about superficial bullshit, like where his favorite travel destination is and things like that. But we did talk about politics and human nature a bit.
I've been turned on to the cheesy yet catchy tunes of Spearhead since my trip to Japan. I like the pathos and the revolutionary tone of it all...I can't help myself. I'm a sucker for it.
On the way back, I sat next to a Californian who had just finished two years in Nepal teaching technology to kids....I get lucky when it comes to travel partners! Again, we talked about politics.
Very nice - I hadn't heard this before. An how cool about the free show.
I don't think Spearhead is cheesy, I think their message is so strong you want to shout along, but you might be so busy dancing you can't catch your breath! I am so going to the November show, and bringing my daughter too. Michael Franti speaks out in his music and other forums regularly on social injustice, war, and so many more problems. He is super bright, it's great to have a musical hero that is so goddamned smart. The serendipity of that song (which I had not heard before) made me cry glad/sad tears. love you sue!!!
Sue, I saw a Michael Franti show this summer. I had never heard of him before. I stood mesmerized, standing perfectly still in a crowd of jumping people, for at least an hour. There is something very compelling about him: his look, his music, his message...something.
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