Photos and Review by: Lev Avery-Peck
Show photos HERE
George Clinton, known by the titles ”Prime Minister of Funk” and “Dr. Funkenstein,” more than epitomizes that most contagious of musical genres. He has been bringing his special blend of funk music to the grateful masses since the 1970s, as the mastermind behind the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. From the evidence of his performance at the House of Blues, he is rocking just as hard today as he was when his journey started.
His nearly 3 hour long performance was everything an audience could expect from this funk legend—and more. From the second George Clinton stepped out on the stage, you could feel the chemistry of the band flowing through the crowd. Clinton’s funk is wonderfully multidimensional: you can’t miss the combined elements of other musicians: Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Pink Floyd in the high pitched guitar riffs; jazzy sax solos; and the classic funky bass lines we expect in a funk song. All this creates a beautiful masterpiece of sounds that mesh together so perfectly it leaves you humming and bobbing your head for hours, maybe days, after the show. Clinton gives us that big band jazz feel with a stage packed full of singers and musicians, each with a strong stage personality. Funk is a puzzle that Clinton has figured out.
Bridging that gap between generations, Clinton summoned crowds of people who have been with him from the beginning and many who appeared to have been born in the last 15 years. Funk is a genre that everyone can listen to, dance to and enjoy, and the gathering at House of Blues provided strong evidence of that.
Going through all the classic Funkadelic and Parliament songs, Clinton offered awesome renditions of P. Funk and then Give Up the Funk, followed a few songs later by One Nation Under a Groove and then Eddie Hazel’s Maggot Brain, played by Hazels more than competent replacement, Michael Hampton. This is a magical song full of wailing guitar lines flowing with emotion. It reminds me of classic Jimi Hendrix and is made complete by one of the best solos by Hampton I’ve heard. The ecstatically weeping guitar sound literally makes you well up with emotion, a wonderful and unforgettable funk euphoria. Finishing strong with Mothership Connection, even after the house lights came up Hampton was still shredding on the guitar.
No one in the crowd wanted to leave and neither did the band. George Clinton is no longer sporting his rainbow colored hair. But he is still that same funky man we know and love.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at the House of Blues Boston – MA
