Michael Franti & Spearhead with HIRIE - A Night of Joy, Love, and Sunshine at The Riviera Theater

Chicago, July 23, 2025

Photos and Review By Ernesto Raul Aguilar

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when an artist’s energy doesn’t just reach the crowd but runs straight through it. On July 23, Michael Franti & Spearhead brought that kind of electricity to a packed Riviera Theater in Chicago, turning the historic venue into an experience of love, movement, and soul-stirring connection.

Opening the night was HIRIE, the reggae-pop powerhouse whose radiant charisma and velvet voice warmed up the room like the first sunbeam on a summer morning. Backed by a tight, dynamic band, she cruised through a set that included “I’m High,” “Queen,” and the fan-favorite “Sensi Boy.” With lyrics that balance empowerment and playful freedom, HIRIE gave the audience both groove and grounding, an invitation to let go and be present.

And that presence only deepened when Franti took the stage.

Launching straight into “Welcome to the Family,” Franti didn’t wait to build momentum, he was the momentum. Within minutes, he was off the stage and weaving through the crowd, high-fiving, hugging, and making the audience not just feel seen, but held. From the dance floor to the balcony, he didn’t miss a section, literally running up to serenade the rafters.

Franti’s set was a joy-saturated journey that spanned more than 20 songs, from the anthemic “I’m Alive” and “Good Day for a Good Day,” to “Only Thing Missing Was You,” where HIRIE returned to the stage for a heartfelt duet.

One of the night’s most emotional moments came halfway through the show, when Franti paused the high-energy celebration to share a personal story about the recent passing of his mother. Reflecting on missed phone calls and late-night exhaustion, he urged the crowd to make time for love.

Among the crowd was one fan whose story was as full circle as they come. Mallory Crisafulli, now a teenager, first saw Franti in 2018 and got to sing with him on stage. She returned to the Riviera this year, holding a large sign with a photo of that moment, asking if she could join him again. Franti saw it and just like that, she was back on stage, singing with the same joy she did as a child, this time with a signed poster and a memory rekindled.

That’s the thing about a Franti show, it’s not a concert; it’s a communion

Closing the night with hits like “Say Hey (I Love You),” “Rise Up,” and “Shine,” Franti gave every person in the room something to take home, whether it was a lyric, a beat, a hug, or a message.

And maybe that’s why fans like Mallory stay connected for so many years. As she told me, “[His music] just brings a lot of peace to me... like I had somebody to go to. It opened up a whole new world.”

And on this night, in a room full of rhythm and strangers turned family, that world felt wide open for all of us.

FULL MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD GALLERY HERE