On Following the White Rabbit... Pt. 2

In Part 1 I tell you about how I ended up with backstage passes to meet singer-songwriter Micheal Franti.

I haven’t forgotten!

But I have decided that writing about a show is weird. I could certainly describe to you everything that happened blow-by-blow, but that doesn’t really tell you anything about the concert. If you’re here I think the more important thing to you might be how it made me feel.

The crew at the show. You'll note my ecstatic smile. 

Getting to see Michael on stage and perform his show was really important to me. Michael has made his career with Spearhead (his band) creating uplifting music that brings people together of all-ages. On the emotional climax of his show during one of his songs he asks the audience if he has anyone in the show below 18 (crowd cheers), below 10 (crowd cheers). There’s usually kids 2 to 3 years old, and oftentimes infants in his shows! And he then turns around and goes the other direction in age: “above 70! 80? 90??” There was a 92 year-old in the audience the day that I saw him. All the folks over 70 join him on stage and have a dance party for one of the final numbers.

I think the reason his music connects with folks isn’t just because it’s catchy or fun to dance to. Michael himself has experienced real loss and isn’t afraid to write about it in his music. Before meeting him and diving deeper into his music I only had a theory that “Joy as an act of protest” could be commercially successful, and here’s someone who has shown me it’s not just possible, but a hungry group of great people out there just waiting to hear it.

After the show, I hung out on the bus with Michael, JC and Michael’s family and friends and it was a fantastic time. He played one of his new songs that he hadn’t released for us and it was CATCHY. I got to talk to his band and pick their brains. I didn’t want to seem like I clung on to JC just to get to Michael so I didn’t bother him too much, but it was encouraging just to see a culture of kindness win for once in this industry.

On Michael's tourbus after the show, chilling. 😱

Thanks for being patient with me. I know it was so long between when I first wrote to now. I’m enjoying and loving fatherhood, and the music industry is a hustle and grind and I love it. But it leaves little time for being creative and reflective.

On that note, consider becoming a part of my Patreon. I’m doing some new and different things over there with my live performances and building a catalog as well as thinking of other new perks. My blog here will always be free, but I do release exclusive content I either can’t release to the wider public, or it’s the really nerdy stuff: deep deep background on albums, projects, life in general.

Otherwise, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading.

In joy and love,

Reverend Doctor