Micheal Franti - BE USEFUL!

Portland, Oregon
1.4.9



“We can bomb the world to pieces, but we can't bomb it into peace.”

~ Michael Franti

BE USEFUL!

So the trip has ended and Kaya has landed in the Portland area. Along our journey we have met and been supported by so many unbelievable people. We wish to thank all three of you actually reading this post/blog. We wish to thank the kind souls that sent beer money, offered spaces in their homes/yards to park our weary bones, family, friends and any else we forgot to thank. Our lives wouldn’t be possible without YOU!

So we last left most of you in somewhere in the Redwoods. We headed to Eli at German Auto in Arcata, California. A Great mechanic who has been working on Kaya since the time we were stoned and pulled out of a Northern California camp ground with the top still up. Eli kindly replaced the top with a hemp top. This trip Eli just performed some basic routine keep Kaya running maintenance.

Nothing memorable about the day other than we traveled between Arcata and Eureka narrowly missing a Buskateer in Eureka. A Buskateer is someone who purchases a Volkswagen Bus and becomes addicted to them. That encompasses every single owner I have met so far.

Fast Forward… passed up two mountain passes in a blazing snowstorm on Christmas EVE. A strange orange air-cooled bus followed behind us. The BF Goodrich over sized tires held the snow and ice – maybe not as good as my old Nokians but damned close – and certainly not anywhere near as bad as Nokians perform on mud. Suicide.

Had the most fantastic three days hanging out with Lisa’s parents. I cooked a turkey dinner to which I will – I swear – post the details of how to make the juiciest turkey you ever sunk your teeth in. Dance to the bassline all night long.

We drove through yet another snow storm to get up to first Poulsbo, Washington… to see Lisa’s amazing Aunt and Uncle… then eventually Vancouver, British Columbia. BC for two FUCKING AMAZING Michael Franti and Spearhead shows. He is by and far the most influential musician alive today. No one even comes close to him and his message. Perhaps I sound like a deranged fan. I challenge you. Go see Spearhead in the front row and tell me you do not feel it. The experience is nothing short of seeing a cross between a Bob Marley show and a Grateful Dead show. Both had/have legendary qualities about them.

You tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
When I cannot bear the truth
You tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
Help me make them all come true

Tell me that the rain won't fall today
Tell me that the tax man lost his way (oh, oh)
Tell me that the hurtin aint gonna hurt no more
Tell me that somebody stopped the war (please tell me)

Tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
When I cannot bear the truth
You tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
Help me make them all come true

I said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Tell me that the whole world's wonderful (yes it is)
Tell me that the bank account's too full
Tell me that we all got plenty of time, time, time (tell me somethin)
Tell me that I ain't gonna lose my mind

Tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
When I cannot bear the truth
Tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
Help me make them all come true

And you know I'm just a man
With my heart in my hand
You tell me things at home
And go once more and leave me alone
And even though I got no place
For I'm on the run from the man
Just hold on to me
Just hold on to me

Everytime I need a prayer
Everytime I need to share
Everytime I need someone to hold on to me

Tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
When I cannot bear the truth
Tell me lies, lies, lies
Sweet little lies
Help me make them all come true

Help me make them all come true
Help me make them all come true
Help me make them all come true
Help me make them all come true
Help me make them all come true
Tell me that the whole world's wonderful

Look, I really do not want to sound like a rabid fan. Michael has an amazing message set to Carl’s throbbing bass…. stay for tomorrow! So many have waxed on about Spearhead more eloquently than ever could. Let me say he makes me and Lisa want to be more responsible and better people. Two amazing show later… I am hooked. I want to follow them and see every show. I could be the first Spear-it with a dancing bear bus trailing behind… Michael I can cook VEGAN food well!

Starvation is the creation of the devil, a rebel
I'm bringin' food to the people like a widow
bringin' flowers to a grave in the middle
of the city isolation is a riddle
to be surrounded by a million other people
but to feel alone like a tree in a desert
dried up like the skin of a lizard
but full of colour like the spots of a leopard
drum and bass pull me in like a shepherd
scratch my itch like a needle on a record
full of life like a man gone to Mecca
sky high like an eagle up soaring
I speak low but I'm like a lion roaring
baritone like a Robeson recordin'
I'm givin' thanks for bein' human every morning

(chorus)
Because the streets are alive with the sound of Boom Bap
can I hear it once again
Boom Bap tell your neighbour tell afriend
every box gotta right to be bomin'
because the streets are alive with the sound of Boom Bap
can I hear it once again
Boom Bap tell your neighbour tell a friend
Every flower got a right to be boomin'

Be resistant
the negativity we keep it at a distance
call for backup and I'll give you some assistance
like a lifesaver deep in the ocean
stay afloat here upon the funky motion
rock and roll upon the waves of the season
hold your breath and your underwater breathin'

To be rhymin' without a real reason
is to claim but not to practice a religon
if television is the drug of the nation
satellite is immaculate reception
beaming in they can look and they can listen
so you see don't believe in the system
to legalize you or give you your freedom
you want rights ask em', they'll read em'
but every flower got a right to be bloomin'
stay human
(chorus)

All the freaky people make the beauty of the world

You see Y2K ya know is a moment
in time we find that we can open
up a heart that's locked or been broken
by the pain of words not spoken
or shot by guns a still smokin'
Cartwrights out on the Ponderosa
or drive by bang in Testarossa
we need to heed the words of Dalai Lama
or at least the words of yo mama
take a mental trip to the Bahamas
steam your body in a stereo sauna, sauna, comma

Now Lisa and I are figuring our next steps carefully. So many things to decide – where to live, what to do for a living. Oh the smell of Pancetta and Garlic is enveloping our interiors. Briny olives and cheap merlot fill our souls!

o.k fast forward yet even a few more days by. Lisa and I had the most wonderful experience of meeting several the Samba-ites… 1621, Climber John, GWTWTLW (WHEW – hard to remember that one) Carterzest and many others. No disrespect to the unnamed. I did just return from Rogue Brewery in Newport after drinking XS Imperial IPA, XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine and XS Double Dead Guy and taste of the XS Porter and Charlie the Beer – an unoffered beer named after a favorite bartender who left. Charlie was the shit. Yeah. Buzzed in the bus at a campground.

ASWAH LISA and LUCY still trying to figure out life!

p.s. several portions of the story were left out and will be snuck in sometime soon…

I AM A HUMAN BEING!