Summer Camp, Post #22: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Surprised as I was by how good Dumpstaphunk was, I knew P-Funk was the tops. The band specializes in crazy funk, pointless jams and repetitive, suggestive chants. It works though, because every member of the band comes on stage believing everything they sing, and it ends up being the closest thing to a minstrel show in the 21st century (save for all the racism).
I have seen George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars back in 2006 at the House of Blues in Chicago (it was the same band. For all of you who don’t know, P-Funk is basically made up, at any given concert, of any of the members who decide to show up) and Parliament-Funkadelic (sans Clinton) at Urbana’s Sweetcorn Festival in 2007. I know what to expect, that it would be funky, complete with many members and crazy outfits.
The band started a little late, but it wasn’t terrible. Security for Summer Camp told us that we were only allowed to shoot the first three songs of the band…which ended up lasting 40 minutes (remember when I said “pointless jams”? I wasn’t joking). During that time, Clinton did not even appear on stage, which was kind of a gyp to the photographers.
Also, let me clarify when I say “pointless jams.” Maybe that isn’t the best phrase for it, but their songs go long, and meander with solos, chants and grooves. The musicianship is never less than top notch, and while it can sometimes be an exercise in testing one’s patience, they are always great shows.
This show was no different. The band came on and introduced the audience to the world of P-Funk. This includes ridiculous phrases such as “get off your (butt) and jam” or “it would be ludicrous to think that we are new to this, we do this, this is what we do.” These phrases were repeated and repeated, and by the end, the audience had no choice but to believe them.
The band’s music was high-energy throughout, with Garry “Starchild” Shider orchestrating a lot of it while Clinton wasn’t on stage. Oh, did I mention he was in a diaper?
P-Funk grooved along until Clinton finally decided to get on stage. When he did, he did it slowly. The man is 66 years old, but I don’t think that was why he was moving slowly…I think it was another reason…something that was referenced many times through their set…drugs. The band is all about the marijuana, which they explicitly asked for on a number of occasions.
When Clinton did do anything, it was through small gestures. These small gestures got the crowd so excited though. It was almost as if they were in awe of just seeing him. Clinton didn’t sing much, and when he did sing or talk, it was in a very gruff voice, barely able to hold itself up. The years of drug abuse and whatever else he did have taken a toll.
Still, seeing him was entertaining, and believe it or not, those were minor quibbles. It is obvious that these days the band itself is the show, and they are a funky band. The band tore through “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker” and “Flash Light” almost completely on their own, and the crowd ate it up. Singers Kendra Foster and Belita Woods showed their chops off, especially Foster when she sang a slowed down version of “Bounce 2 This” from the 2006 album How Late Do You Have 2BB4UR Absent?”
The band played for a solid two hours, leaving the stage about 10 minutes late. At the end, it was just Clinton, who just seemed very happy. As the crew started to break down the instruments, he lead the audience through chants of “we want the funk, give up the funk” and “get off your (butt) and jam.”
The show is a hard to one to review, so look at the photos that will be posted by tomorrow to see what was really experienced.