Paradise Performing Arts Center, Paradise, CA

Very often, Chico is torn between two or three different worthy acts in town or near town on the same night. So it was Saturday night, September 27th when Spearhead and The Ben Taylor Band brought some sweet music to Paradise. At first it seemed that Willie Nelson in Red Bluff or The World Music Fest in Chico had taken away a lot of potential fans. Later on it looked like a full house with almost everyone on their feet.
Ben Taylor is the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. He looks like his dad somewhat and sounds like his dad in a serious way. Ben took to the stage with shaved head, Yoda-like ears, baggy cargo pants and an oversized pullover, bringing with him a band of four other youthful players. Kudos to the bass player that kept dancing and to the drummer who kept it interesting and tight with a very small drum kit.
Live, the Ben Taylor Band had a lot of rock and hip-hop influence. During his second song he spoke out about his support to end cannabis prohibition and broke out with a song boasting the hook "don't say no / just let it grow." Another song was dedicated to bi-polar and schizophrenic women. Ben's dance style was like that of any gangsta rapper you can think of. After a quick forty-minute set, Ben welcomed Spearhead.
When Spearhead took the stage, much of the audience jammed to the front of the room. Lead singer Michael Franti opened with his own hip-hop-influenced version of Bob Marley's "War." The band consisted of bass, guitar, keyboard, drums and percussion, plus vocalist Radio Active. They played "Runfayalife" from their 1994 CD Home, and a few cuts off of 2001's Stay Human such as "All the Freaky People" and "Do Ya Love." However, most of the show pumped their new album Everyone Deserves Music. Songs like "We Don't Stop" and "Bomb The World" promoted peace themes. Franti has a gift of being able to get people to link arms and sing a silly song together.
One real show stopper of the night was when Ben Taylor joined Franti on stage for a number. Radio Active played his voice like he was a three piece band. He gestured as if bouncing an imaginary basketball and then shrunk it down to an imaginary ping pong ball. He looked like Satchmo and did a great job of imitating the legendary Louis Armstrong. He hummed the tune of "Billy Jean," and the rest of the band joined in as Franti did the moonwalk.
My only criticism of the performance is that at times Spearhead was too ambitious, using too many sounds and styles at once — it sounded like mush. They need to learn to play the space more. The volume of sound required ear protection and made it difficult to fully enjoy the show.
Michael Franti made his points about the current world situation. He said "I don't believe it when the media announces that America has a 65 percent approval rating for the war in Iraq. I did a little survey of my own. Out of six billion people on the planet none of them wants to get their house blown up."
Spearhead's music can be described as folk and world music influenced hip-hop / rhythm and blues. A feeling of genuine unity and good vibes filtered through the audience. Steve Schumann can take credit for bringing a fine show to the area.
– Words and photo by Kozmic Kev

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