Michael Franti & Spearhead

Michael Franti has consistently been a hip-hop visionary ever since the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy first exploded into our consciousness. While it’s becoming increasingly hip to rail against the invisible architects of globalisation, Franti has persistently stuck to his pacifist preacher guns with little regard for fickle trends or fascist fashions.

It all begins exceedingly well. Cuts from his excellent third album are all present and politically correct, baying for our attention and gently rocking us with their slo-mo funkiness. Franti’s huge frame takes command of the stage straight from the traps, soulfully rapping, singing and generally appealing to our sense of global compassion. The tragedy is that his electric presence and energy only serve to show up the tedious limits of his over-laboured band. Guitar and bass solos are so painfully long you sometimes feel you’re stuck in a never-ending episode of Later With Jools Holland out-takes. Interestingly, the band’s best performance is a faithful cover of Bob Marley’s ‘Exodus’, but it’s still a case of far too little while it’s far too early. Current single ‘Rock The Nation’ sees a welcome quickening of pace, delivered with a much better sense of collective confidence and conviction. He splices the chorus with the familiar rap of ‘Television – The Drug Of The Nation’ and quite simply, we’re all thrilled to bits. Franti is at his best when he diverts into one of his good-humoured and well meaning monologues, offering intelligent and well-informed insights into the Oldham riots and articulate reflections on issues of race and ethnicity. You can’t help but boogie to Franti’s call to unite with “all the freaky people of the world”, but as his Spearhead colleagues had already bored us to death in the process, it just wasn’t cooking enough.