Finally, and much too late, here's my field report from the two recent shows in Paris. I'm sorry for the delay, but I had a lot of stuff going on the last days, and only tonight I found the time to sort out the pictures... Anyway, I'm happy to have witnessed two truly awesome P-Funk shows, hope you'll like my little impressions!
P-Funk's Worldwide Operations 2011: Tour shirt back
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Paris, France
June, 23, 2011
If you've ever been to Paris, you probably know the almost-red-light-distrct in Montmartre, the famous "Moulin Rouge" varieté club, or the area around the "Pigalle" metro station. Well, that's where George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars played on Thursday, June 23rd. Not IN the infamous Moulin Rouge, but in the club "La Machine" associated with and situated next to the former. I arrived quite early in the evening, and although i did buy my tickets beforehand, what i saw made me freeze and think "DANG, how am I gonna get to the front rows here?"...
Yes, all these people on the pic are actually queuing...
After some chats, i gladly found out that this massive amount of people wasn't queuing for the P-Funk show, but for the Moulin Rouge show next to it... Phew! The show was announced to start at 8pm, and after spending some 1.5 hours in front of the club, they finally opened the doors at 7.45pm to let us hungry funksters in. The "La Machine" club is one of a kind, rather posh and fancy (5 Euros for the small beer? 9 for the large one? Your choice!), but with a nice atmosphere - and as i was told (and indeed found out later), it is also known for its great acoustics.
La Machine @ Moulin Rouge, Paris
Opening for the P was a group of Parisian rockers, which included 2 former members of the great, unfortunately now-defunct crossover band FFF. I saw FFF opening for Clinton in the early 90s, so this was some kind of a nice revival, although the group played only two songs.
Opening Act (w/ former members of F.F.F.)
P-Funk finally hit the stage at around 9 o'clock... ...kicking it off with Butt-To-Butt Resuscitation! A blinder of an opening song, and a really great way to start the show... WOW! The band started all instrumental with the heavy guitar riff, and later the background singers joined them, adding the vocals. I'm gonna go back - come and take me there! Paris... P-Funk... Party... Here We Go!!!
Butt-To-Butt-Resuscitation!
Only some minutes into the groove, George Clinton joined the crew on stage, and soon they launched into Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On. The guitar-driven classic was played in a remarkable slowed-down way, as were the songs and interpolations integrated into it: Good To Your Earhole, Bustin' Loose and Pumpin' It Up. The Dr. seemed to be both in good shape and in a great mood, singing large parts of the lyrics, always keeping the band on the one. The Verge coda nevertheless included a routine which was new to me: George telling the band to play very quiet by way of crouching down, and then to kick back LOUD by rising up again. Not only was this very effective sound-wise, but also the message was crystal clear: "You read i was hospitalized, uh? Hell, here i am, back in full effect! I'm not only in control just like i've ever been, naw! I'm also still capable of commanding this bunch of bad-asses physically!"
Still the captain of the mothership: George Clinton
George Clinton / Billy "Bass" Nelson
"We got that Doo Doo - we got that shit!" the Dr. made the crowd repeat after the song ended, followed by the "Ludicrous Poem", and a second later, the distinctive synth line of Flash Light shook the house. I could be mistaken, but my feeling (also on show 2) was that they shortened the song, and Sir Nose (aka Carlos McMurray) was on stage after only a few seconds. The usual interpolation of The Electric Spanking Of War Babies was done, as were Sativa's rap parts, Somethin' Stank and Hard As Steel. (Not Just) Knee Deep followed immediately, and this was a looong version to my ears. I knew that Belita Woods probably wasn't to appear, and i have to be honest: I greatly missed her! However, Kendra took over on the Sentimental Journey part, and she did a bloody good job with that, filling the gap and still adding a lot of her personal touch to it. Of course Greg Thomas did his scat thang, and of course the Won't You Come Fly part was done... but needless to say it was the Kidd who totally KILLED IT and made us all go ballistic with his guitar solo, teaming up with Rickey Rouse. Speaking of Rickey: I was sceptical at first, i have to admit... But dude has definitely found his place in the band in my humble opinion, and he's far from the ego player i thought he was when i first saw him live, only two years ago. Finally, i should note that Foley had one of his really LOOSE moments on the kit during Knee Deep... LOL! Still, nothing but love for the guy!
Greg Thomas and the Malka Horns
P-Funk guitar army: Rickey Rouse and Kidd Funkadelic
"Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time...." I don't know what this was, and i'm not a guitar player, so i might be talking BS now... But the first take of Maggot Brain was scary! Either Michael used a very, very strange effect pedal, or he managed to echo his own playing in a reverb-style i've never heard before. Maybe someone is able to shed some light on what this was, but it definitely was awe-some! The Kidd, however, obviously thought different about it, and re-launched the song after some minutes, playing the trademark song again from scratch. Not the first time I've seen him do it, but this definitely didn't look or sound like technical issues. What we got in the end was of course a very great, very long version, and what Mike got was a thunderous applause.
GC doing the intro to Maggot Brain
Michael Hampton and Danny Bedrosian during Maggot Brain...
...and Garry Shider's guitar...
Steve Boyd did his thing next, taking over on Bop Gun, which was followed by Gamin' On Ya and Undisco Kidd (with Kendra and Kim doing a great job once more). Red Hot Mama closed this part of the show, and i have to state that Kim Manning, just like Rickey Rouse, has totally grown on me. I know her shrill singing still isn't everybody's taste, but i think she's been integrated well into the show by now, and on the proper spots. Actually, this was probably one of the best performances of RHM in a long time for me, the sound was good enough not to drown Kim in the guitar-wall-of-sound, and the Dr. helped out on the mic whenever it seemed appropriate. Ride on, red hot momma, girl, you sure look good to me!
Kim Manning and George Clinton during Red Hot Momma
Next up was the incredible Mary Griffin with just another superlative: Probably the best and most energetic Dr. Feelgood I've seen her do, and that sure means a lot! Especially during her opening lyrics, she closely brought together the motives of "Dr. Feelgood" and "Dr. Funkenstein", paying tribute to GC, and i thought it was a nice move to do so. I wouldn't mind her doing a different number by now, but what i saw was brilliant, once again.
After a short reprise of the earlier "Doo Doo" thing, it was time for some P-Funk classics y'all... Give Up The Funk was followed by a sick nasty Night Of The Thumpasaurus Peoples, including the May We Funk You lines, and what i already assumed to be the closing jam. But then, P-Funk took it to another level once more. Atomic Dog was played, and the crowd went nuts again over what sounded like the second closing jam. Still not enough? Well, then maybe Mothership Connection will quench your thirst! Throw in some Dr. Funkenstein, add a little Everything Is On The One, go back to Star Child and leave the audience shivering after a long, magical, taking-us-all-to-church Swing Down Sweet Chariot, including the Martial Law riff. Yes, it was scary! Throw in a final pinch of To The Window, To The Wall, and close the show with some heavy jamming... Et voilà, you just left a formerly funk-hungry crowd speechless after 2 hours and 40 minutes of hardcore P. Well, almost speechless... After the band left the stage, you could hear Paris yelling "Shit, Goddamn, Get Off Your Ass And Jam!" and "We Want The Funk" for several minutes...
Kim Manning on the mic, the Dr. in full control
So, how to sum it all up? Well, let me say this: What we got was one of the finest performances i've seen in a while. Pretty much standard setlist-wise, but with a band that was totally on point, playing extremely tight, and led by a George Clinton who literally showed everybody who was, is, and always will be the Dr. It was absolutely great to see him so very active, on stage for almost the complete show, and singing and shouting extensively. During those parts when he wasn't needed on the mic, he chose to sit on the drum podium, still reigning the band like a king on his throne, virtually. I loved to see him in that "new" role just the same, and if this world is a just one, this band will be able to go on and funk out night after night for 10 or 20 more years, with the legend of legends sitting center stage and ruling and directing a mob of all-stars...
The King of Funk - always and forever
I might need to add some other details, for example that neither Frankie "Kash" Waddy is on this tour (being on the road with Bootsy), nor Kevin Shider, nor Belita Woods (for well known reasons). The most notable omissions from the setlist probably were Up For The Down Stroke, Bounce 2 This, Slingshot (aka the Get Down Like James Brown) & the Poo Poo Man Jam, One Nation and Cosmic Slop. Greg Thomas was supported by the horn section of Malka Family and/or Juan Rozoff (consisting of 4 guys, so that's 5 horns in total!). And yes, as much as these French guys know to blow their horns, P-Funk definitely needs to get a new horn section.... Finally, i don't know if it was just the superb sound of the venue, or really a new feature, but I've heard Lige play some slap-tricks on bass which i had never noticed before.
Setlist:
Butt-To-Butt Resuscitation
Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On / Good To Your Earhole / Bustin' Loose / Pumpin' It Up / Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
'That Doo Doo' Rap / Ludicrous Poem
Flash Light / The Electric Spanking Of War Babies / Somethin' Stank / Hard As Steel / Flash Light
(Not Just) Knee Deep
(incl. Greg Thomas Rap / Sentimental Journey / Won't You Come Fly)
Mother Earth Intro / Maggot Brain
Bop Gun / Gamin' On Ya
Undisco Kidd
Red Hot Momma
Dr. Feelgood
'That Doo Doo' Reprise
Give Up The Funk
Night Of The Thumpasaurus Peoples / May We Funk You
Atomic Dog
Mothership Connection (Star Child) / Dr. Funkenstein / Everything Is On The One / Mothership Connection (Reprise) / Swing Down Sweet Chariot
To The Window, To The Wall (Chant) / Outro Jam
Start: 20:55 (tuning) / 21:05
TRT: 2 hrs 34 min (w/out tuning)
Lineup:
George Clinton: vocals
Michael Hampton: guitar
Rickey Rouse: guitar
Shauna Hall: guitar
Billy "Bass" Nelson: guitar, bass
Lige Curry: bass
Rico Lewis: drums, vocals
Foley: drums
Danny Bedrosian: keyboards
Greg Thomas: sax
Malka Horns (4 guys): horns
Steve Boyd: vocals
Poo Poo Man: vocals
Paul Hill: vocals
Kendra Foster: vocals
Kim Manning: vocals
Patty Walker: vocals
Sativa: vocals
Mary Griffin: vocals
Michael "Clip" Payne: vocals
Carlos "Sir Nose" McMurray: dancer
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Jazz à La Défense
Paris, France
June, 26, 2011
With regard to the fact that i hopelessly went too extensive with the former review, i'll try to cut this one down to the differences. Bottom line is: The show was pretty much the same and almost as tight (though not AS TIGHT, in my opinion) as the first one, but it was cut shorter due to the festival setting.
- The show was announced for 8pm
- Keziah Jones opened with an acoustic set (8:23 pm - 9:31 pm)
- P-Funk played from 9:58 pm to 11:45 pm (103 minutes)
Keziah Jones opening for P-Funk (acoustic set)
- The show took place in the midst of the strictly-business district "La Défense" in the northwest of Paris. Imagine glass and skyscrapers and more glass and more skyscrapers... and nothing else. No real roads, no shops, no bars. Just money, glass, steel and greed... I've never seen such a strange and unfunky surrounding for a P-Funk show. Like my man Sebastian (hi!) said, they should've played "Wizard Of Finance"...
Some impressions of La Defense...
- The band played a jazzy instrumental for "Hard As Steel", instead of the usual instrumental (never heard that before).
- Notable moment: Michael Hampton was not on stage for his signature solo on "Knee Deep". Rickey Rouse played it instead, and, when he was almost finished, suddenly Michael ran unto the stage, grabbed his axe and played the whole solo again! (So in fact, we heard the same solo twice.)
- Atomic Dog started with small interpolations of "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" (from "Why Should I Dug U Out?")
- After only 85 minutes (!!), the show seemed to be over. Yet, the audience called for MORE of course! After some time, Danny, Billy Bass, Mike, Rickey and Clip came back on stage and played "Maggot Brain". Michael "Clip" Payne was on drums for the first half of the song (!) before Rico joined them and took over.
- After an 11 minute "Maggot Brain", the remaining band members kicked off "Red Hot Mama". George Clinton re-entered the stage as well. After only a few minutes, the festival guys pulled the plug, in the middle of the song. The band kept playing for fun for like 1 minute, and then it was over. Only Rico was still sitting at the kit and continued playing for like another minute.... And the crowd kept the "We Want The Funk" chants goin'...
Setlist:
Butt-To-Butt Resuscitation
Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On / Good To Your Earhole / Bustin' Loose / Pumpin' It Up / Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
'That Doo Doo' Rap / Ludicrous Poem
Flash Light / The Electric Spanking Of War Babies / Somethin' Stank / Hard As Steel / Flash Light
(Not Just) Knee Deep
(incl. Greg Thomas Rap / Sentimental Journey / Won't You Come Fly)
Dr. Feelgood
'That Doo Doo' Reprise
Give Up The Funk
Night Of The Thumpasaurus Peoples / May We Funk You
Atomic Dog
Encore:
Maggot Brain
Red Hot Momma (cut)
Start: 21:58
End: 23:23 / 23:45
TRT: 1 hr 47 min (incl. encore)
Lineup:
Same as above
+ Susanne Alt (alto sax)
Fantastic review and pics, cheers!
ReplyDeleteWhere can I get one of those T-Shirts?
Thanks again