MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD October 13, 2006

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
With special guests
COMMON MARKET
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 7:30PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Two years ago MICHAEL FRANTI decided to “walk his talk” and traveled to the war zones of Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This wasn't a USO green zone sponsored visit -- Franti and his team organized a trip that would take him to the core of the red-zoned, war torn neighborhoods of Baghdad, the West Bank and Gaza Strip with his guitar, video cameras and the intent to experience first hand the human cost of war. Out of this journey, Franti has created a compelling documentary film titled I Know I'm Not Alone and a searing, reflective new album of original songs titled Yell Fire! recorded in Kingston, Jamaica and Franti's hometown of San Francisco. Ironically, Franti's journey to the war-ravaged Middle East inspired his most uplifting set of songs to date. The Kingston sessions brought in the godfathers of riddem Sly and Robbie on live drums and bass, percussionist Sticky Thompson along with Spearhead bassist Carl Young and guitarist Dave Shul. Franti has always spoken his mind through his music: from his early punk rock band Beatnigs, to the industrial-noise of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, to the thinking-man's hip-hop of Spearhead. While seeing “Yell Fire!” to completion back in San Francisco, Franti began editing the hundreds of hours of footage from his travels in the Middle East. What emerged was an intimate telling of how war affects the individual: the cab driver, the soldier, and the aspiring young musician. It was during this process that the film and album became inextricably linked. In addition to his groundbreaking recordings and globally acclaimed live concerts, Franti is a renowned speaker for social justice and human rights. He has lectured at many of this country's top universities, including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford, and shared the stage with the likes of Mohammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, and Gloria Steinem. In 2005, Franti became the first recording artist since Johnny Cash to perform at the maximum security, level 4 section of Folsom State Prison. Yell Fire! and full-length feature film I Know I'm Not Alone are slated for release this summer.

Tickets are $27.00 plus applicable service charges and go on sale Friday, August 11 at noon and are available online at ticketmaster.com or hob.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at (206) 628-0888

Official Website: http://hob.com/tickets/eventdetail.asp?eventid=40672