JH Underground – news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming

After nearly two decades of touring, Michael Franti and Spearhead have become big stars. “The Sound of Sunshine” was a radio hit, and the band’s music can be heard on various TV commercials.

But for Franti, headlining Saturday at Targhee Fest, life wasn’t always so sunny. Check out Live at the Baobab, for instance, for more incisive and somewhat darker social commentary. Early in his career, a major influence was the rap forefather Gil Scott-Heron.

When Scott-Heron died in May, the music world mourned his passing with various remembrances. One of the most insightful and personal came from Franti, and it shed light on the soulfulness in which Spearhead’s music is rooted.

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Posted under Deaths, Music

Tags: hip-hop, michael franti, reggae, targhee

Athletes and music fans are gearing up for a festive weekend, starting Saturday morning with the Pole Pedal Powder. There are a lot of events to keep track of, so here’s a summary:

• PPP starts at 8 a.m. P-P-Participants must pick up bibs between 4 and 5:45 p.m. and attend pre-race meeting today, which begins at 6 in the events tent at JHMR. No word yet on how deep the alpine course will be.
• Music Under the Tram: The Foundation plays New Orleans-style funk and rock from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Rotating Superstructure plays an opening set on the main stage, in the front parking lot, starting at approximately 5:15 p.m. The indie pop-rockers, who grew up in Jackson, return from Portland.
• Katchafire, the Maori reggae band from New Zealand, performs a free concert from 6:30 to 8:45. That leaves plenty of time for tailgating! Let’s hope the band got good directions this time. Fireworks to follow.
• The Deadlocks take the festivities Furthur at the Mangy Moose, starting around 9:15. $10 at the door, or $8 in advance online. We’re giving away a pair of free tickets — in the comments below, say you’re in, and the winner will be chosen by random drawing at 3 p.m. Saturday.

As if that isn’t exhausting enough, the festival continues Sunday.

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Posted under Music, Ski Resorts, Sports

Tags: jackson hole mountain resort, pole pedal paddle, reggae, teton village

Come July, Grand Targhee will be a Soul Island at 8,000 feet in the Tetons.

The Funky Meters, Little Feat and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are among the headliners for the seventh annual Targhee Fest on July 15-17. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Michael Franti and Spearhead are returning in what is shaping up to be the festival’s best lineup yet.

Also on the bill are crooners James McMurtry and Jason Spooner. Tickets will go on sale April 1, with a limited number of $99 weekend passes.

The Meters, New Orleans’ seminal funk band, and venerable Southern rockers Little Feat will close the festival on Sunday, July 17. Franti will headline Saturday night, while Friday’s lineup pairs divas Jones and Potter.

Targhee will add more artists in the coming weeks. The second annual Battle of the Bands will award opening slots to three local groups.

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Posted under Music, Ski Resorts

Tags: festivals, funk, grace potter, jazz fest, michael franti, new orleans, reggae, rock, targhee

Let’s hope they consult a better map this time.

Katchafire, the Maori reggae band that got lost and canceled its appearance at last summer’s Targhee Fest, is slated to headline the Jackson Hole Mountain Festival on March 26.

The seven-piece band from New Zealand was one of the most anticipated acts for Targhee, and the mix-up — apparently the musicians thought they were headed to a “Targhee, Wyoming” near Laramie — caused no small amount of disappointment among fans.

This time, the group will play for free at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the centerpiece of a weekend that includes the Pole Pedal Paddle, Coombs Classic and other festive events.

Package deals of lifts, lodging and lunch are available for $99 per person, based on a two-night minimum and quad occupancy. Click here for details.

The slow burn of Katchafire just might be hot enough to lure back the D.O.G. Rasta Team — recently relocated to Oregon — and have Iron Monkey/Taste of Consciousness MCs Adam and Christian in full regalia.

Posted under Music, Ski Resorts, Sports

Tags: festivals, jackson hole mountain resort, marijuana, pole pedal paddle, reggae, skiing, snowboarding

Fire up the party bus. Anthony B. returns to the Knotty Pine in Victor tonight, bringing with him a taste of Jamaica.

The reggae star put on one of the best shows of the winter last year.

JH Underground is giving away two free tickets, a $50 value. In the comments, say you’re in, and at 4 p.m. today I’ll choose the winner in a random drawing. Your name will be on the guest list for tonight’s show.

Tickets are for sale online till 3 p.m., or call the Knotty at (208) 787-2866.

Posted under Music

Tags: knotty pine, reggae, teton valley

All the freaky people are still shaking, after Michael Franti and Spearhead capped probably the rowdiest Targhee Fest yet on Sunday with an epic performance that felt more like a spiritual revival.

Considering that the campground jam session — featuring Vince Herman‘s Great American Taxi, Margo Valiante and the accordion player from Equal Eyes — was still going strong at 3 a.m., many of us are still washing the dirt from our toes and clearing out cobwebs.

I’ll have more to report on the festival later, but a few words about Franti: When he wasn’t ushering dozens of kids on stage, healing the sick and solving America’s green energy future, he beamed so much positivity on those slopes that he could have defused a nuclear bomb.

“Don’t let a moment slip away,” he urged, while bounding barefoot through the crowd. The song was inspired by his recent hospital visit for a burst appendix. On this weekend and this day the song’s message particularly resonated with me: “I’m glad to be alive.”

Posted under Music, Religion, Ski Resorts

Tags: festivals, michael franti, reggae, rock, targhee