Artist: Sage Francis
Date: June 6, 2010
Venue: The Music Box @ The Fonda
City: Hollywood, CA
Sage Francis
Photo by Nicolas Bates
Written by Lindsay Murphy
Rhode Island indie-rapper/spoken word artist Sage Francis possesses a leviathan persona and loud opinions, and he injected this mix into his performance for an entertaining show at The Music Box in Los Angeles.
Francis’s set consisted mainly of songs from his recent release Li(f)e. With this album, he controversially shifted to an indie rock theme and collaborated with an array of big names, from Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla to French composer Yann Tiersen.
The tour supporting this album is notable because it includes a live backing band, who vibed incredibly well with the MC. Free Moral Agents, brainchild of The Mars Volta’s keyboardist Isaiah Owens, performed their own material as an opening act before flushing life into the show while supporting Francis.
The hooded Francis sauntered onstage sans lights to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” joining in singing toward the end. The lights switched on and so did Sage, exploding into “Three Sheets to the Wind.”
Free Moral Agents vocalist Mendee Ichikawa, dressed in a swishy white skirt, black cardigan, and massive black bow hovering over her dense curtain of bangs, put an intriguing spin on Francis’s songs. Bassist Dennis Owens and guitarist Jesse Carzello, bobbing their heads and grooving their instruments, infused an element of funk into the show.
Francis’s voice boasts an incredible cadence, his lyrical consonance, assonance, rhythm, and speed swirling together to create its own sound. Even if one had no knowledge of English, listening to him would be fascinating. The moments when the music receded and Francis spewed spoken word proved to be most mesmerizing.
His candid lyrics are brimming with religious references, social commentary, political criticism, emotional vulnerability, and shocking imagery, all tied together with clever puns and punchlines.
Francis is a charismatic showman, and he spouted opinionated remarks and interacted engagingly with the audience between nearly every song. At one point, Francis removed his suit coat to reveal a Celtics sweatshirt; he then jokingly taunted the Lakers-loving audience between songs, educing both boos and laughter from the crowd.
He colored his song delivery with the same captivating energy. Set standouts included “Crack Pipes” and “I Was Zero.”
Although the venue was half-vacant, perhaps a product of his numerous SoCal appearances, the attending crowd made up for absentees in enthusiasm. They often rapped right along with him and belted out the choruses of songs old and new.
Francis finished his show with “The Best of Times,” and in a surprise move, the venerable Yann Tiersen appeared onstage, accompanying the band on violin. Free Moral Agents and Yann continued playing as Francis bounded into the crowd, offering hugs, handshakes, and photo ops with ecstatic fans.